Lanzarote is part of the Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve, which encompasses the island and the northern islets. The UNESCO Global Geopark Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands also extends across the entire island of Lanzarote.
Renting a holiday apartment in Lanzarote can be part of your personal travel planning.
Nature
The biosphere reserve includes extensive volcanic lava fields, known as malpaís, as well as numerous craters in Timanfaya National Park. It also encompasses shallow seabeds with great biological diversity.
Timanfaya is a geosite of the UNESCO Global Geopark with numerous volcanic structures. Timanfaya includes one of the largest historic lava fields in the world, which formed during a volcanic eruption between 1730 and 1736. The La Corona lava-flow tunnel is 7.6 kilometres long; its final 1.6-kilometre section is flooded.
El Jable is a sensitive ecosystem for species adapted to wind and drought, including the houbara bustard and the cream-coloured courser.
Culture
Traditional agriculture in Lanzarote includes sowing under ash and using volcanic cinder deposits beneath inverted volcanic cones. La Geria is an agricultural landscape where vines and other fruits are grown in hollows dug into lapilli. La Geria has an established wine culture with tourism-related use and is part of the La Geria Protected Landscape Area. Traditional agriculture in El Jable also uses sand to retain moisture for growing potatoes, sweet potatoes, melons and watermelons. Wines from Lanzarote with a Denominación de Origen designation can be sampled at local bodegas.
The Mirador del Río was designed by César Manrique: the building, excavated into the terrain and clad in volcanic rock, has arched windows framing El Río and the Chinijo Archipelago. It is located on the Risco de Famara opposite El Río, the strait between Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
The Cueva de los Verdes is part of the volcanic tunnel formed during the eruption of the La Corona volcano. Its galleries served as a refuge for the population from pirate raids from North Africa in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Castillo de San José is a fortress built for defensive purposes in the 18th century and has housed the MIAC – International Museum of Contemporary Art since 1976. The MIAC collection includes works by Canarian, national and international artists.
At the Jardín de Cactus, thousands of cacti from five continents are arranged on terraces that preserve the shape of the former quarry. There, terraces, paths and walls made of volcanic rock follow the relief of the former quarry; basalt monoliths left behind after extraction were incorporated as sculptures. The Casa Museo del Campesino includes the Plaza de los Artesanos, a place associated with Lanzarote's traditional crafts.
Jameos del Agua contains a natural cave lake inhabited by a globally unique species of albino crab. The complex also includes a volcano museum with interactive activities and has an auditorium in a volcanic cave where concerts and events take place.
Experiences
The official visitor routes in Timanfaya National Park include the Ruta de los Volcanes, the Ruta de Termesana and the Ruta por el Litoral. The Ruta de Termesana is a guided hike of approximately two kilometres with minimal difficulty through areas featuring structures from more recent volcanism.
Lanzarote has natural pools that formed behind lava flows that advanced into the sea after volcanic eruptions. The Montañas del Fuego can be visited on a guided bus tour through a landscape of volcanic cones and lava fields.
Geographical location
In the vicinity of Lanzarote, a ferry connects the port of Órzola in the north of the island with Caleta de Sebo on La Graciosa; the crossing takes approximately 25 minutes.
