We are walking in the mar de lava – sea of lava – where massive blankets of solidified lava lie at the foots of Montaña Blanca, Lanzarote. Since seeing hot molten lava flowing off Guatemala’s most active volcano, Volcan Pacaya, I’ve become somewhat of a volcano buff. Sadly, there’s no sign of red burning lava flowing here, the volcano has after all been dormant for the past three hundred years.
But there’s more to Lanzarote than bubbling lava. The volcanic activities have also created some of the island’s most interesting nature spots in the form of outlandish formations, oddly-colored lagoons and savagely wild beaches. Here’s a look at some of my favorite natural attractions on the Spanish island of Lanzarote.
Timanfaya National Park
There’s nothing more thrilling for a volcano buff than seeing the remnants from an earth-shaking eruption: still covering the entire Timanfaya National Park with black, tar-like, earth bowels. Driving through the volcanic area, you’ll find yourself in the midst of ashes that stack up as tall as a tour bus, and grazing the top of a volcano crater.
In the 1700s, the ferocious volcano had exploded into life, spewing deadly lava, killing many and nearly destroying life on Lanzarote. Today, it is one of the most visited spots in Lanzarote, and rightfully so, with a rich geographical value that comes with it. The Restaurant El Diablo, once again designed by Cesar Manrique, sits at the park’s visitor center.
El Golfo
The volcanic black sand sprawling across a backdrop of edgy rocky cliffs is the setting for several futuristic films such as Enemy Mine and One Million YearS B.C..Here, you’ll also find El Charco de los Clicos, a lime-green lagoon creates a stark contrast to the sea and surroundings. The lagoon gets its greenish color from the algae that grows within the lake.
Los Hervidores
Along the coast from El Golfo, the enchanting cliffs of Los Hervidores are a collection of naturally formed caves and inlets, a result of the tumultous waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Gazing down at the blowholes in the volcanic rocks, you can spot the island’s semi-precious mineral Olivine in abundance.
Cuevas de los Verdes
This extensive underground volcanic tunnel, running over six kilometers long, is a result of the eruptive activity of nearby La Corona Volcano. The unique extra-terrestial-like interior of the tunnel awes visitors with sky-high ceilings and lava channels. Potholes are filled with waters so calm you can see the tunnel’s roof reflected immaculately on its surface.
Playa Papagayo
This assemblage of coves and virgin beaches can only be reached via a dirt road or hike – which perhaps is the reason why it’s kept in pristine conditions. The crystal clear waters and variety of hiking opportunities on the cliff’s edge makes the stretch of naturally formed beaches some of the best on the island.
Getting there
It takes only four to five hours from the UK to reach the warm shores of the island and flights to Lanzarote are frequent and cheap from most British airports. Budget airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet andMonarch fly from various cities in the UK including London, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Where to Stay
There’s a great range of accommodation options on Lanzarote that caters to different types of travelers. I highly recommend basing yourself at Costa Teguise, a quiet and less touristy part of the island. A new hotel in Lanzarote worth checking out is the Barceló Teguise Beach, an adults only hotel, completely renovated to offer visitors an avant-garde style and calm, soothing environment. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean from your balcony, as well as the Bay of Teguise and Cucharas Beach – just 150m away.
Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by Barceló Hotels & Resorts.
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