In one single day. Reality? It felt more like being led into two completely different galaxies connected by a single, six-kilometre-long Atlantis Tunnel – a volcanic tube created by the eruption of Corona volcano.
Locals say that when Monte Corona decided to “spill its guts” thousands of years ago, it didn’t just create lava fields. Apparently, a long vein of molten rock opened beneath the island, and it still feels as if Lanzarote is hiding its own underground city.
We visited Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes on Lanzarote and brought back a personal comparison of these two cave systems under the Corona volcano. Here’s why one impressed us with organized commercial charm while the other stunned us with raw, gigantic authenticity.
The Atlantis Tunnel: where Lanzarote stretches beneath the sea
Of its total length, 1.5 km lies below sea level – a unique phenomenon in the world. Geologists could talk about it for hours. I’ll just say this: walking through a place that transforms into a submerged cathedral under the ocean does tickle both the ego and imagination.
Jameos del Agua: Crabs, an Auditorium and a Touch of Commerce
The Atlantis Tunnel
Our first stop was Jameos del Agua – the section of the tunnel closest to the coast, transformed by César Manrique into an architectural-natural symphony. They say Lanzarote is his open-air gallery. Here he added something extra: cafés, a restaurant, souvenir shops… because why not admire nature with a cup of coffee in hand?
“Please, one step forward – would you like paella, or perhaps a glass of wine?” someone called out before I even saw the salt lake.
The Salt Lake and Blind Crabs
The lake is home to tiny, one-centimetre-long blind albino crabs (Munidopsis polymorpha) – an endemic species that hasn’t seen sunlight for thousands of years.
And no, do not throw coins into the water. This tourist habit kills them and is strictly forbidden.
We walked from Jameo Chico through the restaurant toward the tunnel, then through Jameo Grande and Jameo de la Cazuela. Everything shaped by Manrique’s hand – white surfaces, lava stone, palm trees and vistas that feel like nature designed them after a long negotiation with an architect.
A Surprise Inside the Jameo de La Cazuela Auditorium
A concert here sounded like a whisper from the volcano itself. Even though the salt lake is iconic, it was the underground auditorium that stole the show. Its acoustics echo the Sydney Opera House, while its atmosphere feels like a scene from a novel where you expect a shaman – or at least Manrique with a glass of wine – to appear between the rocks.
And yes, the commercial touch is palpable. Beautiful, but a bit too polished for me.
Practical Tips Before Visiting Jameos del Agua
- Tickets & Savings:
Buy the combined ticket (Bono 3/4/6 Centros Turísticos) online. If you plan to visit other Manrique sites (such as Mirador del Río or Jardín de Cactus), you’ll save 30–50%. - Timing:
This is a very popular attraction. To avoid the crowds (and café queues), arrive right at opening time (usually 10:00) or about an hour before closing. - Parking:
Parking fills up quickly but is free. - Crabs:
Throwing coins into the salt lake is strictly forbidden, as it pollutes the water and kills the endemic blind crabs. - Clothing:
It’s cooler and more humid inside – bring a light sweater even if it’s hot outside.
Cueva de los Verdes: A Journey to the Center of the Earth
A kilometre further awaited a cave that once sheltered locals from North-African pirates. Today it shelters tourists from the illusion that Lanzarote is only about beaches and wine.
And without sugar-coating:
If I had to name five places on the island that truly moved me, Cueva de los Verdes would absolutely be in the top three.
Gigantic, Authentic, Mystical
This is a completely different league from Jameos del Agua. No cafés., no paella, no souvenirs. Just cold darkness, lava walls and the feeling you’re visiting the volcano itself.
Collapsed Chambers, Lava Cathedrals, Stories
The tunnel contains at least 16 collapses, forming “jameos” – natural windows into the underground world.
Locals hid here from pirates during the 16th and 17th centuries. Picture it: while the coast burned under the sun, people knelt in this darkness, hoping to survive.
The cave name comes from the Verdes family, who once grazed livestock in the area. Not exactly the stuff of all-inclusive brochures – but history isn’t meant to look filtered.
Important Tips for Visiting Cueva de los Verdes
- Guided Tours Only:
Visits are only possible with a guide. The tour lasts about 50 minutes. Tours run in Spanish/English; check the schedule if you want the English group. - Restrictions:
The cave is narrow and low in places. Not suitable for people with claustrophobia or mobility issues (steep steps, slippery surfaces, low ceilings). Strollers are forbidden. - Waiting Time:
Expect 30–60 minutes wait in high season. Groups leave at intervals. Waiting time tends to be longer than at Jameos del Agua, where movement is free. - Photography:
Lighting is minimal and atmospheric. For sharp photos without flash, you’ll need a camera or phone with good low-light sensitivity.
Cueva de los Verdes & Jameos del Agua: Two Ends of the Corona Volcano Tube
Both sites – Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes – belong to a single monumental geological formation: the volcanic tube created by the eruption of Monte Corona. The tube is more than 6 km long. Cueva de los Verdes represents its raw, untouched section, while Jameos del Agua is the collapsed portion (a jameo) transformed by the artist César Manrique.
Conclusion: Two Worlds, One Island
If Lanzarote knows anything, it’s that beauty doesn’t live only on the surface. Sometimes it hides deep below your feet, in a tunnel the volcano carved with a sense of humour even Manrique might envy.
Jameos del Agua vs. Cueva de los Verdes are like two chapters of one book.
Tell us your view — which one captivated you more?
The first shows what art and commerce can do to a place. The second shows what nature can do without a single advertising poster in sight.
Tommorow we will see Lanzarote miradors.
