Best Hikes in Lanzarote

At the northeastern tip of the Canary Islands, the island of Lanzarote stands as one of the most important of the Canary archipelago. Like all the Canary Islands, in Lanzarote there are many things to see and do, including hiking, as it is a volcanic island, it has a very complicated topography that is ideal for hiking activities. Many ascents and descents, as well as some endearing landscapes is what awaits you in Lanzarote.

No matter if you have too much experience or too little; in Lanzarote there are routes of all levels of difficulty, so you will not be able to refuse all the options. Near the sea, up the mountains, with a lot of exercise and also with a lot of relaxation: the hiking trails in Lanzarote are really phenomenal. Do you dare to get to know them?

Lanzarote is an island that has a shape similar to an oval, with flattened tips. When seen on the map, as is the case with almost the entire Canary archipelago, many people think that it would be perfect to walk around the island. Although this is technically possible, we are talking about nearly 200 kilometers, so I suggest you do it in sections, starting with the section in the southeast between Playa Quemada and Playa Blanca, bordering the Natural Monument Los Ajaches, a protected area with conservation standards.

That is a route of about 21 kilometers and its difficulty is moderate, because, although there are no major ups and downs, the sun is inclement and it is not short. In addition, although most of the time the route is properly demarcated, sometimes it intertwines with the coast. If you go on your own, I advise you to swim in the different beaches you will see, such as Pozo, La Casa and Papagayo beaches. You will also find the wells of San Marcial de Rubicón and its respective archaeological zone very attractive.

Just before arriving at Playa Blanca, you will find the Castillo de las Coloradas. On the beach, I recommend you sit down to eat at a seafood restaurant or see all the options you have for some of the best boat tours from here. As the tour is not always demarcated, I advise you to do it in a group.

Practical information

• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Length: about 21 kilometers
• How the trail is: most of the sections are marked, but when entering the beaches this is lost, so it is not recommended for groups of beginners without a guide.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to pass by several beaches and go swimming in them.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is a very long route with a very irregular path.

When you arrive at Quemada beach you will realize that it is one of the most fantastic places on the island. It is a practically virgin beach , with a very dark color, similar to the earth with only a few white houses around it. If you took the coastal route, this beach is located halfway between Playa Blanca, at the southern end, and Arrecife, the capital, so today I propose to go from Playa Quemada to Arrecife, a city worth visiting.

In total, it is about 20 kilometers along the coast. Although it is quite a long route, the truth is that the complexity is very low, because it is done along the coast without major irregularities in it. What you should be aware of is that the tide is calm, because if there is a strong tide the route along the beaches can be tortuous. You will pass by the best beaches of Lanzarote, in addition to Puerto del Carmen, Puerto Calero and following the path of the sea, you will be in about five hours in Arrecife.

Depending on the time of day you go, I suggest you go with a loose long sleeve shirt to protect you from the sun and bring plenty of water and food, because it is a fairly inhospitable route.

Practical information

• Difficulty level: Low
• Length: about 20 kilometers
• How the trail is: the trail follows the coastline, so there will be no need for demarcation. It is important to be aware of the tide
• Advantages of this option: you will be totally disconnected from the urban hustle and bustle.
• Disadvantages of this option: the route is long and the areas through which it passes are very inhospitable.

Traveller tip
In routes like this, the sun can be inclement. That is why you need to have plenty of sunscreen and even an umbrella to try to protect yourself. Remember that this is an excursion to an inhospitable place, so you must be prepared to keep walking.

On the west side of Lanzarote is the Timanfaya National Park, one of the most important in Spain, which preserves the volcanic origin of the island, with more than 25 volcanoes. Behind all this chain of volcanoes there is a small coastal strip that is worth walking from end to end.

This trail can be easily walked, because it is about 5 kilometers without major slopes. It is the only trail allowed within the national park that can be done without a guide. In general, you start from El Golfo, where there are different hostels and where you can buy food. When you are there, walk north to El Paso, a phenomenal beach where you can spend the rest of the day.

You have to keep in mind that you are in a national park, so any waste you will have to carry with you. Also, it is a totally protected environment, so the commerce you will find is very basic. This is a perfect trail for tourists who want to disconnect and watch the sunset because the sun sets right in front of this coast.

Practical information

• Difficulty level: Low
• Length: about 5 kilometers
• How the trail is: there is demarcation of the national park's own trail. The route requires good shoes and sun protection.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to see a coast in excellent environmental preservation.
• Disadvantages of this option: the route is short and has no major landmarks.

Although the south of Lanzarote always gets all the attention, the north coast also has many attractions and even more if you walk along the coast between Costa Teguise and Arrieta. I suggest you to go to Costa Teguise, a very popular place which is the southern end of this route and from there start walking about four hours until you reach Arrieta, very close to Punta Mujeres.

To get to Teguise, you can take buses that take you from Arrecife and there you can also return from Arrieta, so there will be no major problem. My advice is to take this route at sunrise, so you can see to your right how the sun is rising and saying good morning to you.

This trail is quite demarcated and is not done directly along the coast but on the side, because this area of the island has a large presence of cliffs, although the slopes are not complicated. Also keep in mind that, apart from Los Cocoteros, there is no major population in this area, so the trail is quite isolated. Take everything you need on the trail.

Practical information

• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Length: approximately 18 kilometers
• How the trail is: the trail is demarcated and is close to the coast, but not on it. The cliffs are very close and you can make stops for the beaches.
• Advantages of this option: you can arrive and leave by public transport.
• Disadvantages of this option: the cliffs can take you a bit away from the coast.

We continue doing one of the best tours in Timanfaya National Park, but now quite far from the coast. Are you up for a hike on top of a volcano? Don't worry: it's quite safe. The Caldera de los Cuervos is a crater of a volcano with extremely arid vegetation located inside this national park and it is possible to get close to the edge and even descend into the crater.

In total, the trail around the crater is no more than 4 kilometers long. The most complicated part is the ascent to the mountain, but it is a fairly quiet stretch and after that, it will be a very contemplative walk. Due to its ease, it is a route that can be done by the whole family and if you are looking for activities to do with children in Lanzarote, then you can include it in your list.

The parking is quite close and in total, the whole excursion can take about an hour and a half, so it is a short tour that will allow you to do other things during the day. You have to be attentive on the way because the wind is extremely strong, but it is the perfect place for you to take all the pictures you want.

Practical information

• Difficulty level: Easy
• Length: just over 4 kilometers.
• How the trail is: very simple, you just have to climb up to the crater and go around it.
• Advantages of this option: you have the opportunity to see the crater of a volcano from very close.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is a short route, so you will have to fill your agenda with other things.

The great thing about hiking in Lanzarote is that on the island there are all kinds of options to do different routes, so the duration will vary according to your routine. There are professional hikers who even take the challenge of walking around the island, but in general you can take long routes, about seven or eight hours, as well as other short ones that can last little more than an hour.

It is important that you do not get carried away by the desire and also calculate the distances. For example: a 20-kilometer ride can take seven hours, but it will also take you from one point to another, so you will have to calculate the duration of your return to the hotel according to the means of transportation you use and, if necessary, your budget. For that, I recommend the Intercity Bus, which is a network of public buses, or guaguas as they are known in the Canary Islands.

You should also keep in mind that, if you go in a group, the duration will be that of the group. Although the group has a pace to which many end up adapting, in this case it is important to know that, if you are faster or slower, you must have a work of adaptation and be comfortable throughout the tour, which means having patience for the slower ones and that the faster ones must wait a bit.

Lanzarote is a really beautiful island, because it mixes the most arid of the mountains and the most crystalline beaches. It is an island that goes from rustic to pure and when you walk the different hiking trails, you will realize all that it implies. Many of the routes go by the sea, so you can always have one eye on the ocean and the other on the land of the island.

However, there are many more things to see. And the landscapes change quite a bit. For example, on the route between Playa Quemada and Arrecife, you will notice how the landscape is extremely arid, almost desert-like, and the coast becomes rocky and dark. For this reason, Lanzarote has been compared to the surface of Mars. But when you go to the north of the island or Playa Blanca, in the south, you will see how the sea becomes even more peaceful and the vegetation is a little greener.

And what about the parks? Timanfaya is the most important one, where you can walk in a succession of volcanic craters that make up a truly unique landscape. All this makes Lanzarote a diverse destination for holidays and especially for walking, because there will always be different things to admire.

A common question among people who are new to hiking is whether they can hike alone, with their family, or if they should hire a guide. The truth is that it all depends, but there are always intermediate options. My advice is that, if you feel comfortable and if the path is demarcated, then there will be no problem in going on your own, as long as you carry a GPS or at least a compass that you know how to use in case of emergency.

The problem arises in the paths that are not fully demarcated or that are mixed excessively with the coasts. In this case, getting lost can be easy, so going with an expert guide or someone who has already done the route is necessary. The guides can provide you with the best information of the trail you are doing and therefore, give you the added value, because you will not only be exercising but knowing the details of the area.

There are also intermediate options, because in Lanzarote there are groups of hikers who will be happy to receive you and with whom you can join in their agenda, even if you go for a few days. In this case, the costs are considerably reduced and you do not need a guide to successfully reach the final destination of the route you have chosen.