🕳️ One of the World's Longest Lava Tubes
Cueva de los Verdes forms part of the immense La Corona lava tube, which stretches for more than 7 kilometres. Created during the eruption of La Corona Volcano, the tunnel extends from the volcano's slopes all the way to the Atlantic coast. It is considered one of the longest and best-preserved lava tubes in the world.
The same volcanic system also includes Jameos del Agua and the Túnel de la Atlántida, the submerged section of the lava tube that lies beneath the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Completely flooded with seawater, this underwater passage is not open to visitors and remains the focus of scientific research and exploration by experienced cave divers.
Visitors to Cueva de los Verdes explore approximately 1 kilometre of this remarkable volcanic network. The guided route passes through galleries of varying heights and widths, revealing solidified lava channels, soaring vaults, and the unmistakable traces left behind by rivers of molten rock that flowed here thousands of years ago.
💡 Did You Know?
Although visitors explore only about 1 kilometre of Cueva de los Verdes, the entire La Corona lava tube extends for more than 7 kilometres. Its final section lies beneath the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is known as the Túnel de la Atlántida.
🏴 A Refuge from Pirate Raids
For centuries, the people of Lanzarote lived under the constant threat of pirate and corsair attacks. Situated along important maritime trade routes linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas, the island was an easy target for raiders. During the 16th and 17th centuries, pirates repeatedly plundered coastal settlements, looting homes and capturing islanders to be sold into slavery.
In times of danger, Cueva de los Verdes became a vital place of refuge. Hidden beneath a thick layer of solidified lava, the vast lava tube provided a safe haven where local residents could remain out of sight until the threat had passed. Its natural passages and spacious chambers offered shelter not only for people but also for their most valuable possessions.
Today, visitors admire the cave for its dramatic lighting and extraordinary volcanic formations. For generations, however, it was remembered as a place of safety and hope for the people of northern Lanzarote.
💡 Did You Know?
One of the most notorious raiders to attack Lanzarote was the Ottoman corsair Morato Arráez. In 1586, his men plundered the island and captured many of its inhabitants, who were taken away into slavery. It was events like these that made natural refuges such as Cueva de los Verdes invaluable to the island's population.
💡 Did You Know?
Many people assume that Cueva de los Verdes means "The Cave of the Greens" and refers to the colour of the rocks. In fact, this is a common misconception. The cave takes its name from the Verdes family, who once lived near its entrance—not from the colour of its interior.
🎨 Jesús Soto – The Artist Who Revealed the Cave's Beauty
Although Cueva de los Verdes was formed thousands of years ago, its present-day appearance is also the result of human creativity. In the 1960s, artist Jesús Soto designed both the lighting and the visitor route, choosing to highlight the natural beauty of the solidified lava rather than conceal it.
Thanks to his carefully positioned lighting, visitors can appreciate the remarkable colours and textures of the volcanic rock while still feeling as though they are exploring an almost untouched cave. It is Jesús Soto's vision that has transformed Cueva de los Verdes into not only an extraordinary natural landmark but also a superb example of the harmonious relationship between nature and art.
🎼 An Underground Concert Hall
One of the largest chambers within Cueva de los Verdes has been transformed into a remarkable underground concert hall. Thanks to its exceptional natural acoustics, it regularly hosts classical music performances, chamber concerts, and a variety of cultural events. Surrounded by ancient volcanic rock, audiences enjoy an atmosphere unlike that of any conventional concert venue.
The hall can accommodate around 500 people, and its outstanding acoustics mean that many performances require little or no sound amplification. Despite being located deep beneath the surface, the chamber has retained its natural character. The lighting and visitor facilities have been carefully designed to blend seamlessly with the volcanic surroundings, enhancing rather than overshadowing the cave's unique beauty.
💡 Did You Know?
The concert hall inside Cueva de los Verdes seats around 500 people and is considered one of the most unusual performance venues in the Canary Islands. Thanks to its remarkable natural acoustics, many concerts can be held without the need for additional sound amplification.
🚶 Exploring the Cave
Your visit to Cueva de los Verdes begins at a natural opening leading into the lava tube. This entrance was formed thousands of years ago when part of the cave's roof collapsed, creating a distinctive volcanic sinkhole known as a jameo. Rather than carving a new entrance, the cave's developers simply adapted this naturally formed opening. When the site was prepared for visitors, only loose rocks and debris were removed, while stairways and walkways were added to provide safe access to the underground passages.
Cueva de los Verdes can only be visited as part of a guided tour. The route is approximately 1 kilometre long and leads through a series of spacious chambers and narrow passages within the ancient lava tube. Along the way, you'll discover spectacular volcanic formations, frozen lava flows, and impressive vaulted ceilings shaped by rivers of molten rock thousands of years ago.
The cave remains pleasantly cool throughout the year, so it's worth bringing a light jacket or jumper, even in summer. Although the route is well maintained, it includes stairs and uneven, occasionally slippery surfaces, making sturdy, closed-toe footwear highly recommended.
💙 Zwiedzo-Maniacy Tip
Take a moment to put your camera away and simply look around. The interplay of light on the solidified lava and the sheer scale of the underground chambers are far more impressive in person than any photograph can capture.
🎭 A Secret I Won't Reveal
One of the most memorable moments of a visit to Cueva de los Verdes is a remarkable optical illusion that has amazed visitors for decades. Carefully designed to enhance the experience, it makes ingenious use of the cave's natural features and a masterful play of light.
From the very beginning of the tour, the guides ask visitors not to reveal the secret to anyone who has yet to explore the cave. Thanks to this long-standing tradition, everyone has the opportunity to experience the same genuine moment of surprise and discover Cueva de los Verdes from an entirely new perspective.
Cueva de los Verdes – Lanzarote's Remarkable Volcanic Cave
Hidden beneath the northern part of Lanzarote lies an extraordinary underground world that remained untouched by sunlight for thousands of years. Cueva de los Verdes is one of the world's most spectacular volcanic caves, formed within a vast lava tube created by the eruption of La Corona Volcano. Once a refuge for the island's inhabitants during pirate raids, it now captivates visitors with its striking rock formations, dramatic lighting, and a famous secret that local guides carefully preserve until the very end of the tour.
📖 Discover More in the Guide: Lanzarote with César Manrique
The guide Lanzarote with César Manrique includes everything you need to plan your visit, including opening hours, ticket prices, parking information, directions, sightseeing tips, and an interactive map showing the island's key attractions. You'll also discover how to combine Cueva de los Verdes with Jameos del Agua and other sites connected to La Corona Volcano, making it easy to plan the perfect one-day itinerary in northern Lanzarote.
🌋How Was Cueva de los Verdes Formed?
The story of Cueva de los Verdes began around 21,000 years ago, when La Corona Volcano erupted in northern Lanzarote. Vast streams of molten lava poured from its crater, flowing downhill towards the Atlantic Ocean.
As the lava advanced, its outer surface cooled and solidified rapidly, forming a natural roof. Meanwhile, intensely hot molten rock continued to flow beneath this hardened crust. Once the eruption came to an end, the lava drained away, leaving behind a vast hollow passage. This is how the La Corona lava tube was created, with Cueva de los Verdes forming one of its most remarkable sections.
Over thousands of years, geological processes gradually shaped the cave's interior. Today, visitors can admire impressive vaulted ceilings, frozen lava flows, and striking patterns left behind by the ancient river of molten rock—powerful reminders of the immense forces that once shaped Lanzarote.
Unlike most caves, which are carved by water over millions of years, Cueva de los Verdes is the interior of an ancient lava river, making it one of the island's most extraordinary volcanic landmarks.
💡 Did You Know?
Although Cueva de los Verdes and Timanfaya National Park are both closely associated with Lanzarote's volcanic landscape, they were formed nearly 20,000 years apart. The cave was created during the eruption of La Corona Volcano around 21,000 years ago, while the dramatic landscapes of Timanfaya were shaped much later during the island's great eruptions of 1730–1736.