Lanzarote Volcano Hike

We leave Madeira, Portugal, and return to the Spanish Canary Islands, stopping next at Lanzarote, the easternmost of the Canary Islands, 125 km (78 miles) from the north coast of Africa and the Sahara Desert.  We arrive in the capital, Arrecife, on the eastern coastline and explore the Los Volcanes Nature Park, covered by lava from eruptions that took place in 1730-36 and 1824

Hiking on the lava flow

Part of our walk is through vineyards planted in the volcanic soil.  The vines are planted in pits to reach moist soil, with a layer of ash capturing dew for irrigation and horseshoe-shaped stone walls to protect the vines from harsh Atlantic winds.

Volcanic vineyards

We walk across the volcanic ash over to Timanfaya National Park to visit a volcano cone formed from the final phase of the Timanfaya eruption in 1736.  We reach the cone and are able to walk inside and explore the interior of the volcano (La Candera Colorado).

Walking to the volcanic cone

Looking into the cone

We walk into the cone and wander.

Inside the cone

Landscape outside the cone

We then leave La Caldera Colorado and cross the highway to wander through more volcanic landscape in the park.

Looking back at La Caldera Colorado

Continuing into the park

This hike has been very different experience from our hike over the four-year-old volcanic ash in La Palma and a great view of an older, more-mature volcanic landscape.