Timanfaya National Park Lanzarote is, without debate, the island’s main attraction — and at the same time a meticulously organized journey into a place where nature still breathes.
In our personal guide, we explain why Timanfaya is often called a lunar landscape and how you can visit it despite the fact that entering on your own is strictly forbidden. We bring practical tips for the bus tour, whether the camel ride is worth it, and why the restaurant El Diablo cooks without electricity.
Is Timanfaya a classic hike, or more of a controlled experience?
How we ended up on the Moon without ever leaving Earth
“Are we going to Timanfaya?” Johnny asked.
“Sure,” I said. “Once in my life I’ll let someone drive me through a planet that looks like pre-apocalypse.”
Timanfaya National Park: The Moon Without Leaving Earth
Timanfaya National Park Lanzarote is impossible to skip. Not just because it’s the island’s top attraction, but because it’s literally forbidden to explore on your own. No matter how motivated you are—or how strong the geyser blast behind you—walking into the protected zone is off-limits.
There are only two ways in:
- The official bus tour from the visitor centre
- The camel tour, which moves at the speed of a tired snail and mostly serves to make your wallet lighter and your holiday photos more “camel-themed”
Visitor Centre Timanfaya: Where the Earth Cooks Your Lunch
This is where everyone starts: the beating heart of the Timanfaya ritual.
They grill chicken over a geothermal pit. They pour a bucket of cold water into a hole and the earth shoots it back as a steaming geyser. Then they offer magnets, T-shirts, postcards of volcanoes… and finally they usher you onto the bus.
Inside the bus, silence.
Until the first viewpoint.
Then the crowd starts shifting left–right–left, trying to catch the best shot of the lava fields. The bus suspension cries softly, but holds.
Montañas del Fuego: A Landscape NASA Could Put on a Poster
Timanfaya was born from eruptions between 1730 and 1736 that turned the south of Lanzarote into a volcanic archive of every possible shade of ochre, grey, and sulfur yellow.
There are only two craters you can reach on your own feet:
- Caldera Blanca
- Caldereta
Everything else is behind glass—the bus window doubling as a lunar module porthole. And yet it fascinates: 25 craters, vast frozen lava seas, and silence that feels older than language.
El Diablo: The Restaurant That Doesn’t Need Electricity
The legendary El Diablo restaurant uses the natural heat of the earth. No stove. No oven. Just a gaping hole radiating nearly 300°C.
Chicken cooks faster here than our morning ambitions.
We ordered beer instead. After geysers, volcanoes, and a bus full of dehydrated enthusiasts, it felt deserved.
A Frozen Magma World in Black and Rust
The lava fields of Timanfaya are dramatic—sometimes theatrical. Layers several metres high create scenes performed in three colours:
- black
- a thousand shades of rust
- and sunlight that refuses to turn off
Camel Tour Timanfaya: A Crowd-Pleasing Spectacle (Our Honest Take)
Let’s keep this simple:
We ignored the camel tour. And we don’t regret it.
The camel convoy waits for buses like salvation. The ride lasts only minutes, covers maybe a kilometre, and everyone looks equally bored—camels, handlers, and the mass tourists imported by TUI.
The real value? The toilet, because there’s nothing else around.
We Tried Entering the Park on Foot… and Were Immediately Shut Down
We found two unofficial paths. They might lead toward the craters. But rules are rules—and the rangers patrol faster than our optimism.
A girl dressed entirely in black emerged from the lava field like a post-apocalyptic messenger.
“You cannot go. Rangers turn you around,” she said.
She pointed to my bright orange jacket and shook her head. She’d made it 2 km in before they caught her. First warning is polite, she said. The second comes with a fine in the hundreds.
That’s when I realised the all-black outfit wasn’t fashion but strategy. We turned back. No need to test the ranger’s reflexes. Instead, we headed toward El Golfo.
Timanfaya National Park Lanzarote: A Lunar World You Can Only Enter Under Control
If you want to see the largest lava field in the Canary Islands from above, check out the video we recommend—it captures the mood perfectly.
Timanfaya is stunning, dramatic, and absolutely unique.
It’s a lunar world with supervised entry.
Not a classic hike.
Not freedom.
It’s an organised journey into a landscape where the earth still breathes heat from the underworld.
And honestly?
It’s still worth every minute.
Practical Tips for Visiting Timanfaya National Park Lanzarote
⏱️ When to Go and How to Avoid the Crowds
- Go at opening time (around 9:00):
The biggest rush is from 11:00–14:00 when tour buses arrive. - Expect queues:
In peak season, the car queue at the entrance can be long. Patience helps. - Afternoon alternative:
After 15:00 the crowds thin out. Geothermal demonstrations usually run until closing time.
🚌 Transportation & Access Rules
❗ Access on foot, bike, or private car is strictly forbidden in the protected zone (Montañas del Fuego). You can only enter via the official bus tour, included in the ticket price.
- Bus tour duration: 30–40 minutes.
- Commentary available in Spanish, English, and German.
🎟️ Tickets & Prices
- Tickets are purchased directly at the entrance gate.
- If you’re visiting multiple César Manrique sites (Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Río, Cueva de los Verdes…), buy a Bono 4/6 for cheaper entry.
- Cards and cash both accepted.
🐫 Camel Tour – Worth It?
- Camel rides are not included in the Timanfaya ticket. Cost is separate.
- The ride is short (15–20 minutes) and more of a staged photo-op than exploration.
🍽️ Facilities & Food
- El Diablo Restaurant: Try the volcanic-grilled chicken if you like the idea of geothermal cuisine. Prices are slightly higher.
- Toilets: Only at Visitor Centre / El Diablo or Camel ride station. Nowhere else on the route.
