The year was 1730. Huge fireball eruptions spewed burning hot lava all across the Atlantic Ocean. This went on for a good six years, experts believe. What was left is what we see today, a popular holiday resort just off the coast of the African continent. But your average holiday in Puerto del Carmen isn't why I'm writing this article. No, the reason for this article is in fact because I have a passion - and it's for finding really interesting tourist spots to hit up. And if you're in Lanzarote, this is about as hot as it gets!
The hay burning is a must see
Timanfaya and the Montanas del Fuego (Mountains of Fire), sits in the central part of the island in the Parque Natural de los Volcanes and it's a stunning day out that you shouldn't miss.
Timanfaya is all about natural fire - in other words - volcanoes.
Your first stop upon arriving is the hay burning exhibition - a man adds hay to a seemingly unremarkable hole in the ground - and a few seconds later it catches fire..heated by what remains of a live but perfectly docile volcano (docile and volcano are relative terms!)
Moving swiftly on, you then witness a tour guide pouring cold water down, again, a seemingly innocent hole in the ground. Sure enough, a few seconds later, steam erupts high up into the sky!
Of course, if you even vaguely focused on chemistry lessons at school, this is basic stuff. But it's impressive nonetheless and the other tourists I was with thought it was amazing!
All this against the magnificent backdrop of the national park and you find yourself being drawn in to the whole experience.
The steam eruptions are impressive!
Food is now a big income generator for the attraction and, having tried it, I can kind of see why. You see, you can order lunch in the very nice restaurant, to be cooked over the open volcano.
The picture to our left shows half chickens being prepared by one of the chefs and the aroma from that grill was really making me hungry by this point!
So, in we went for lunch..!
I ordered the half chicken for lunch, cooked over the volcano. Boy, was it unusual!
I had never had food cooked over a live volcano before and if you think it would just taste like a normal bbq chicken (as I did) then you would be wrong. The chicken had a very earthy taste. Not sour or bitter, just very earthy. Cooked perfectly and accompanied by half a jacket potato, some Canarian salad and locally produced peppers, I simply loved this lunch. Including a soft drink, came to €22 - not bad.
Conclusion
Included in your ticket price is a 40 minute guided coach tour of the volcanic fields. You don't need to book, you just get on the next available coach. The road tour is off limits to car drivers now so it's a really worthwhile trip - especially as it's included in your ticket price.
Overall, for the €12 ticket price you'd be crazy not to do this tour when in Lanzarote.
Directions:
Getting here by hire car is the easiest method of transport but you can use the excellent public service bus from all of the tourist resorts on the island.
Entrance is charged when you arrive and you then drive about a mile to the centre itself. It is (at the time of writing) €12 per person. However, I would recommend buying a 'three site' pass which can include other attractions for around €23 - giving you effectively free entrance to one of three or four attractions. I bought my three centre ticket here: ventaonline.cactlanzarote.com
Recommended visit time (inc. lunch & coach tour): 3 hours
Add comment
Comments