🐪 Dromedaries in Timanfaya
Along the road leading to Timanfaya National Park lies Echadero de los Camellos, the starting point for short dromedary rides through the volcanic landscape. The route follows the lower slopes of Timanfaya Volcano and lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Although these rides are now one of Lanzarote's popular tourist attractions, dromedaries arrived on the island long before tourism. From the 19th century, they played an essential role in local agriculture, helping farmers work the land covered by thick layers of volcanic ash. They transported water, firewood, crops, and building materials, and thanks to their broad feet, they moved across the soft volcanic terrain much more easily than horses or donkeys. Over time, they became one of the symbols of Lanzarote's rural landscape.
Today, the rides follow a designated trail along the southern slopes of Timanfaya Volcano. They are operated by the Municipality of Yaiza, and the station also includes a small visitor centre explaining the history of dromedaries on the island.
💡 Did you know?
Although many people refer to them simply as camels, the animals in Timanfaya are actually dromedaries, which have one hump. Two-humped camels, known as Bactrian camels, come from the colder regions of Asia and have never been used for agricultural work on Lanzarote.
🎨 César Manrique and the Birth of Tourist Timanfaya
When plans were made in the 1960s to open Timanfaya to visitors, an important question arose: How could this extraordinary volcanic landscape be made accessible without covering it with hotels, parking lots, and billboards?
One of the key people who answered this challenge was César Manrique—artist, architect, and Lanzarote's greatest ambassador. Together with architect Jesús Soto, he designed the facilities that remain the park's iconic landmarks today.
The best known of these is El Diablo Restaurant, built on the summit of Islote de Hilario. Its circular, glass-walled dining room was designed so that visitors could enjoy panoramic views of the volcanic landscape from almost every seat. The building's distinctive architecture blends harmoniously with its surroundings rather than competing with them.
However, Manrique's vision extended far beyond a single building. He believed that tourism should develop hand in hand with the protection of the landscape. For this reason, he insisted that infrastructure should remain as unobtrusive as possible, allowing visitors to admire nature—not concrete. This philosophy continues to be one of the foundations of Lanzarote's conservation and tourism strategy.
Thanks to this approach, Timanfaya has become not only one of the Canary Islands' greatest attractions but also an outstanding example of how tourism can flourish while respecting nature and the local landscape.
💡 Did you know?
It was César Manrique who designed the famous "Devil of Timanfaya"—the small metal sculpture that has become the symbol of Timanfaya National Park and one of Lanzarote's most recognizable icons. He drew inspiration from the legend of a devil living in the Mountains of Fire and from the dramatic power of the island's volcanic landscape.
🎬 Timanfaya in the Movies
The dramatic landscape of Timanfaya National Park has inspired filmmakers from around the world for decades. Its vast lava fields and colourful volcanic cones have repeatedly served as the backdrop for prehistoric Earth, distant planets, and post-apocalyptic worlds.
Scenes for films such as One Million Years B.C., Krull, Enemy Mine, and Stranded were filmed here or in the immediate surroundings of the park. More recently, Lanzarote's volcanic landscapes also appeared in Marvel's Eternals. However, those scenes were filmed around Volcán del Cuervo, outside the boundaries of Timanfaya National Park.
💡 Did you know?
For decades, science fiction filmmakers have chosen Timanfaya because its landscape is so extraordinary that it often requires little or no special effects. Long before the age of computer-generated imagery, Lanzarote's volcanic scenery convincingly portrayed the surface of distant alien worlds.
📖 Find out more...
If you're fascinated by Lanzarote's volcanoes, be sure to visit El Golfo and the Green Lagoon, Los Hervideros, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes, and Caldera Blanca. Each of these places reveals a different chapter of the island's volcanic history and offers a deeper understanding of how powerful eruptions shaped Lanzarote's extraordinary landscape.
🔥 Geothermal Demonstrations
One of the most fascinating highlights of Timanfaya National Park is the geothermal demonstrations, held near El Diablo Restaurant. These simple but impressive experiments reveal just how much heat is still trapped beneath the surface.
The most famous demonstration involves pouring water into a deep hole drilled into the ground. Within seconds, the water turns into steam, which erupts high into the air like a geyser. However, this is not a natural geyser. The effect is created when the water is instantly heated by the extremely hot rocks beneath the surface.
Another spectacular demonstration uses dry straw or small branches placed into a shallow hole. After a few moments, the material bursts into flames on its own, ignited solely by the intense heat rising from underground—without the use of matches or a lighter.
Although these demonstrations look dramatic, they are completely safe and are performed only by park staff in specially designated areas. They offer one of the best opportunities to witness firsthand that Timanfaya remains an area of exceptional geothermal activity.
💡 Did you know?
The geothermal demonstrations take place in an area where the rocks reach temperatures of around 350°C just a few metres below the surface. That is why no external energy source is needed to create the famous "geyser" effect—the natural heat stored underground does all the work.
🌋 The Route of the Volcanoes – What Will You See?
The highlight of a visit to Timanfaya National Park is the Route of the Volcanoes (Ruta de los Volcanes)—a scenic 14-kilometre route that can only be explored aboard the park's official tour bus. Restricting private vehicles helps protect this exceptionally fragile volcanic landscape from damage.
During the journey, you'll pass dozens of volcanic cones, vast fields of solidified lava, and immense stretches of volcanic ash where almost no vegetation can survive. The scenery changes around nearly every bend—from black and dark grey lava flows to striking shades of red, brown, ochre, and orange. These spectacular colours result from different minerals and the way the lava cooled during successive eruptions.
Along the route, you'll see several distinct types of solidified lava. In some places, it forms smooth, gently undulating surfaces, while elsewhere it creates jagged, razor-sharp rock fields that resemble a frozen sea of stone. You'll also spot small cones formed by gases escaping from flowing lava, as well as layers of volcanic ash deposited during successive explosions.
The tour is conducted without leaving the bus, while the driver or an audio guide explains the history of the eruptions, the park's geology, and the most interesting landmarks along the way. This allows visitors to explore areas that are normally closed to the public while preserving one of the world's best examples of an 18th-century volcanic landscape.
💙 Zwiedzo-Maniacy Tip
Try to sit on the left-hand side of the bus. For most of the journey, this side offers the most spectacular views of the volcanic cones and vast lava fields. During the high season, it's worth joining the queue early to have a better chance of choosing your seat.
🌋 Where Does the Name "Mountains of Fire" Come From?
The central part of Timanfaya National Park is occupied by a group of volcanoes known as Montañas del Fuego, or the Mountains of Fire. The name refers to the violent eruptions of 1730–1736, when glowing lava, volcanic ash, and gases burst from numerous fissures across the landscape.
Although the volcanic slopes are peaceful today, extremely high temperatures still remain beneath the surface. For this reason, the name "Mountains of Fire" is far more than a poetic expression—it is a reminder of the immense natural forces that shaped this extraordinary landscape.
It is worth remembering that Montañas del Fuego is not the name of the entire national park, but only its most iconic central section. Timanfaya, on the other hand, is the name of the national park itself and comes from the former village that was destroyed during the great 18th-century eruptions.
💡 Did you know?
Montañas del Fuego is home to more than 25 volcanic cones and craters formed during the historic eruptions. Together, they create one of Lanzarote's most recognizable and spectacular landscapes.
🔥 Why Is the Ground Still Hot?
Although nearly 300 years have passed since Timanfaya's last major eruptions, extremely high temperatures still remain beneath the surface. This is what makes Timanfaya National Park one of the few places in the world where such remarkable geothermal activity can be observed.
At the hottest locations, scientists have measured temperatures of around 350°C at a depth of only 3 metres. In deeper research boreholes, temperatures have reached approximately 600°C. However, this does not mean that molten lava is flowing just beneath the surface.
The heat comes from extremely hot rocks located deep underground. This thermal energy gradually rises toward the surface through a network of fractures, carrying hot gases and steam. As a result, some areas of the ground become much hotter than others.
Scientists are still studying the geological structure beneath Timanfaya. It was once believed that a shallow magma chamber lay beneath the park. Today, researchers know the situation is more complex, and there is no conclusive evidence of a large body of molten magma beneath the surface. What is certain, however, is that the underground rocks still store enormous amounts of heat left behind by these relatively recent volcanic eruptions.
This stored energy is what makes Timanfaya's famous geothermal demonstrations possible. Water poured into specially prepared boreholes instantly turns into steam, while dry straw bursts into flames without the use of matches or any other external source of fire. You'll learn more about these fascinating demonstrations later in this article.
💡 Did you know?
The ground surface in Timanfaya is usually not much hotter than in other parts of Lanzarote. It is only a few metres below ground that the rocks reach temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius. That's why visitors can safely walk along the designated paths, even though the powerful heat from past eruptions still lies hidden beneath their feet.
Timanfaya National Park
The Mountains of Fire and the Greatest Disaster in Lanzarote's History
For more than six years, volcanic eruptions continuously tore through the heart of Lanzarote. Rivers of lava engulfed villages, farmland, and roads, forcing residents to flee their homes. This devastating catastrophe changed the island's landscape forever.
Today, this extraordinary place is known as Timanfaya National Park—one of the most remarkable national parks in Europe. Its vast black lava fields, striking red volcanic cones, and ground that still holds immense heat create the impression of another planet. Nowhere else can you better understand the immense forces of nature that shaped modern-day Lanzarote.
📖 Find out more...
In my guidebook, Lanzarote with César Manrique, you'll find practical information about visiting Timanfaya National Park, including directions, parking tips, up-to-date ticket prices, opening hours, and a map of the island's most fascinating attractions. It will help you plan your visit and easily combine Timanfaya with other nearby highlights on Lanzarote.
🌋 The Eruptions That Changed Lanzarote Forever
On the night of 1 September 1730, residents of southwestern Lanzarote were awakened by a deafening roar. The ground began to shake, and near the village of Timanfaya, the first fissures opened, spewing lava, volcanic ash, and gases into the air. No one could have imagined that this marked the beginning of one of the longest and most destructive volcanic eruptions in the history of the Canary Islands.
For more than six years, volcanic activity continued almost without interruption. As one crater fell silent, another opened. Rivers of lava gradually engulfed farmland, orchards, and villages, while thick clouds of ash buried the surrounding landscape beneath layers of volcanic material. By the time the eruptions ended, they had covered approximately 174 km²—nearly one quarter of Lanzarote's surface.
The greatest devastation occurred in the western and southwestern parts of the island. Entire settlements, including the original village of Timanfaya (formerly Chimanfaya), disappeared forever beneath the lava. Thousands of residents were forced to abandon their homes and move to safer areas of Lanzarote, while others emigrated to neighboring Canary Islands. Although there are no reliable records of the number of direct fatalities, the consequences were catastrophic. Some of the island's most fertile farmland, water sources, and vital roads were destroyed, dramatically affecting everyday life.
The eruptions finally came to an end in 1736, leaving behind a landscape that still appears almost otherworldly. Most of the volcanic cones, vast lava fields, and solidified rivers of magma that visitors see today in Timanfaya National Park were formed during this period.
These same eruptions also shaped the southern section of Lanzarote's west coast. Their legacy can still be seen around El Golfo and the Green Lagoon, as well as at the dramatic cliffs of Los Hervideros, where solidified lava has been sculpted for centuries by the relentless waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
However, Lanzarote's volcanic story did not end with Timanfaya. In 1824, new eruptions occurred near Tao, Tinguatón, and Nuevo del Fuego. Although they were much shorter and less extensive, they served as a powerful reminder that the island remains part of a geologically active archipelago.
💡 Did you know?
Not all of Lanzarote's famous volcanic attractions were created during the Timanfaya eruptions. Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua are part of a lava tube formed around 21,000 years ago by La Corona Volcano in the north of the island. Timanfaya is much younger—its iconic volcanic landscape was created during the eruptions of 1730–1736.
🏞️ How Was Timanfaya National Park Created?
After the major eruptions of 1730–1736 and the shorter volcanic episode in 1824, much of southwestern Lanzarote remained virtually untouched by human activity. Vast lava fields, volcanic cones, and ash-covered valleys were extremely difficult to cultivate or develop, allowing one of the world's best-preserved volcanic landscapes to survive.
In the 1960s, the area's exceptional natural value was recognized, and preparations began to make it accessible to visitors. A few years later, in 1974, Timanfaya National Park was officially established to protect Lanzarote's unique geological heritage from uncontrolled development and the growing number of tourists.
The park covers approximately 51 km², encompassing the most valuable part of the landscape created by the historic eruptions. Although lava covered around 174 km²—nearly one quarter of the island—many famous volcanic sites associated with these eruptions, including El Golfo, the Green Lagoon, and Los Hervideros, lie outside the park's boundaries.
At the heart of the park lies Montañas del Fuego (Mountains of Fire), a group of volcanic cones and craters that forms its most iconic area. This is where you'll find the famous geothermal demonstrations, El Diablo Restaurant, and the starting point of the Route of the Volcanoes. It's worth remembering that Montañas del Fuego refers only to this central section of the park, while Timanfaya is the name of the entire national park, derived from the former village that was buried during the 18th-century eruptions.
Today, Timanfaya National Park is one of Spain's most valuable protected areas and a powerful symbol of how nature's destructive force can, over time, become an irreplaceable natural treasure.