Hiking on Lanzarote is like walking across another planet. This is a stark, sculpted island of black lava fields, russet cinder cones and vast skies, where the drama comes not from forests or peaks but from raw volcanic geology and the endless Atlantic light. The walking is generally gentle underfoot, but the environment is unforgiving — there's next to no shade anywhere — so this is an island where preparation matters more than fitness. Get it right and the otherworldly scenery is unlike anything else in the Canaries.
This is the island detail behind our wider guide to hiking in the Canary Islands. Here are Lanzarote's best walks, from a giant crater to the cliffs of the wild north.
Caldera Blanca
The island's classic hike climbs Caldera Blanca, a huge, near-perfect volcanic crater rising from the lava sea near Mancha Blanca, on the edge of the eruptions that created the Timanfaya badlands. The route crosses a jagged lava field to the base, then loops up onto the crater rim, where you can walk right around the vast bowl with staggering views over the volcanic plain to the sea. It's moderate in effort but long and totally exposed — a proper half-day, and the best free walk on the island.
Photo: maczopikczu · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · scaled
The Tremesana route in Timanfaya
The heart of Timanfaya national park — the "fire mountains" of the 1730s eruptions — is strictly protected, so you can't wander the lava freely. Instead, the park runs occasional guided walks, of which the Tremesana route is the best known: a ranger-led walk through a normally off-limits corner of the park, explaining the geology, the lichens colonising the rock and the way islanders farm in the ash. Places are limited and must be booked in advance through the park, but it's the only way to walk deep into this landscape on foot.
Because Timanfaya's core is a guided-access park, book the Tremesana walk well ahead through the official national park service — spaces fill quickly and it isn't a route you can simply turn up and do. It pairs well with the bus-tour "Ruta de los Volcanes" through the park's core.
The Famara cliffs and Risco de Famara
For a complete change of mood, head to the wild north-west and the Risco de Famara — a soaring wall of cliffs plunging to the golden sweep of Playa de Famara, with the little island of La Graciosa offshore. Clifftop paths run along the top with immense views, and trails link the old capital of Teguise and the artists' village of Haría in its green "valley of a thousand palms". This is Lanzarote at its most spectacular on foot.
Coastal walks
Much of the best easy walking on Lanzarote hugs the coast. You can stroll the black-and-ochre volcanic shore around El Golfo and its green lagoon, wander the salt-pan landscapes of Salinas de Janubio, or follow flat seafront paths between the resorts. These are ideal for gentler days, families or an evening walk when the light turns the lava gold — but note that even coastal Lanzarote offers little shade.
Walking the coast is also the best way to appreciate how the island's celebrated artist and architect, César Manrique, worked with rather than against the volcanic land — many of his creations sit right beside these shores, and a coastal stroll often links naturally to one of them.
Guided or self-guided?
Caldera Blanca, the Famara clifftops and the coastal paths are all straightforward to do self-guided with a map or walking app — there are no forests to get lost in, and the open terrain makes navigation simple, if exposed. The one route you cannot do alone is inside Timanfaya's protected core: the Tremesana walk is ranger-led and must be booked through the national park. For everything else, the challenge on Lanzarote isn't route-finding but managing the sun, so plan your timing rather than your guiding.
Difficulty and when to go
| Route / area | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal paths (El Golfo, Janubio) | Easy | Flat volcanic-shore strolls |
| Famara clifftop trails | Easy–moderate | Cliff and ocean views |
| Caldera Blanca | Moderate | The classic crater walk |
| Tremesana (Timanfaya) | Easy–moderate (guided) | Ranger walk into the fire mountains |
Lanzarote is warm and dry all year, and its low altitude means no real cool season on the trails — which cuts both ways. Winter and spring are the most comfortable for walking; high summer can be brutally hot on the exposed lava. There's no green "wet north" here to escape to, so timing your walk for the cooler hours matters more than the month. See our best time to visit guide for detail.
Shade is the big danger on Lanzarote — there is almost none anywhere. Walk in the early morning or late afternoon, never the midday heat; carry far more water than seems necessary; and wear a hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream without fail. The lava underfoot is razor-sharp and ankle-turning, so proper boots are essential. Wind can be fierce on the Famara cliffs. Tell someone your route and check the forecast before you head into the badlands.
A hire car is the easy way to reach the trailheads and combine a walk with the island's famous César Manrique sights, which sit close to many of the best routes.
Bleak, beautiful and utterly distinctive, Lanzarote offers walking you'll find nowhere else. Respect the sun and the lava, plan around the heat, and browse more things to do to fill out your trip.