One of the most beautiful ways to explore Lanzarote is definitely trekking. Without being an Olympic champion, you can still exploit this island enormously for small and large walks. Trekking is very popular, there are trails of all levels, the landscapes are breathtaking and it will be almost impossible for you to be surprised by a storm. Most of the trails are also approved, fenced and well signposted so even if you are not an expert, it will be very difficult for you to get lost. A practical advice that I would like to give you is to always carry a backpack with you with the necessary (a windproof jacket, a hat, sunglasses, water and some snacks). It is not easy to find trees where you can take shelter or shelters where you can refresh yourself!
In this article you will find the treks in Lanzarote that I recommend you do and that I liked the most, from the easiest to the most difficult.
The most beautiful treks in Lanzarote: from the easiest to the most difficult
1. Trekking to Caldera de los Cuervos and Montana Colorada
One of the simplest treks within everyone's reach is definitely the one to Cauldron of Ravens, which is located at the northern end of the Parco dei Volcani, and was the volcano from which the famous eruption of 1730 originated. You start from this parking lot and cover a 5 km loop, practically all flat. The trail circumnavigates the vulcano of the crows and in one point it allows you to go down to the center of the caldera, but the difference in height is little. It will take you about an hour to cover it all. If you have more time, you can also go and see the Montana Colorada, which is on the other side of the LZ-56 highway. The starting point for the Montana Colorada is this parking lot; also in this case it is a very easy circular trek, lasting about 1 hour.
Difficulty level: easy (1 out of 5) - Duration: 1h (A/R)
2. Trekking from Playa Blanca to Playa Papagayo
An easy but very beautiful excursion that can be done in Lanzarote is the one that starts from the town of Playa Blanca and arrives, always skirting the sea, a Papagayo Beach ea Caleta de Congrio Beach. The path starts next to the Hotel Sandos Papagayo (exactly here) and always runs along the sea; you will have to go down to the beautiful beach of Playa Mujeres, go up, go down again Pozo Beach and go up to the Playa Papagayo car park. From here you will see the beautiful Playa Papagayo from above (the most beautiful and the most sheltered in Lanzarote in my opinion) and you can go down to relax in the sun or take a bath. Going further, however, you will reach Caleta de Congrio Beach, a beautiful long beach with white sand, but more exposed. The whole path lasts about 1h-1h 15 '(about 5 km one way), it is not well marked, but you will have no difficulty following it.
Difficulty level: easy (1 out of 5) - - Duration: 2h-2h30 ′ (A / R)
3. Trekking to the Corona Volcano
Another easy trek, but with a little slope is the one that reaches the caldera del Corona Volcano, the highest volcano on the island. The trail starts near the church of village of Ye, in the north of the island (exactly here) and is 4,6 km long. The difference in height is small, about 200 meters, and it will take you no more than 30-40 'to reach the caldera. The view of the caldera and the northern part of the island is truly magnificent !! The trail theoretically ends just above the caldera, but some venture even further; be careful though, especially if you don't have trekking shoes, because the terrain is quite rough and then getting off could be difficult.
Difficulty level: easy (1 out of 5) - Duration:1h-1h15′ (A/R)
4. Trekking to Risco de Famara
This trek is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and scenic in Lanzarote. It is not difficult, but there are some variations to make it so (if you really want to work harder!). Here too we are in the extreme north of the island, above the Famara cliff. The trail starts from Eremita de las Nieves viewpoint (exactly here); manage to get here by car before continuing on foot. From the car park you have to walk along the ridge, pass by the Radar station until you reach the Bosquesillo Park. The path is more or less completely flat and is about 5-6 km long at the most. Considering various photo stops, calculate about 2h between the round trip. The view from here is truly wonderful, you can see the whole Famara cliff from above and the view extends to the end of the island and La Graziosa. For the light, I recommend you do it in the afternoon and stop to see the sunset from above: you won't regret it !!
If you would like to work harder, you can also consider going down to the village of Famara and going up (or doing it in reverse, from Famara to the Mirador de Eremita de las Nieves). From the parking lot of the mirador you will see a path that descends in a serpentine along the Barranco de la Poceta.
Difficulty level: easy (1 out of 5) - Duration:2h (A/R)
5. Coastal Trail from El Golfo
This coastal path runs inside the Timanfaya National Park and starts from the small seaside town of El Golfo. Leave your car here and proceed north, always skirting the sea. You will cross apocalyptic landscapes, made up of lava cooled in the sea. The path is not circular, so you can decide how far to go. You will then have to go back along the same path. This trek (the Coastal Trail) is one of the 2 treks that can be done with the guide (free of charge) by booking them well in advance from the National Parks website. Done with the guide lasts 5h. The other you can book is the Termesana Trail which starts from this visitor center (the Centro de Visitantes and Interpretación de Mancha Blanca) and lasts 2 / 3h. Another possibility to make a trek inside the Parco dei Volcani is to book it from this site; they will pick you up / drop you off directly at your hotel / apartment and then make a 3h guided trek.
Difficulty level: easy (2 out of 5) - Duration: 2/3h (A/R)
6. Trekking to La Graciosa
In front of the northwestern tip of Lanzarote is the small island of La Graciosa, which can be reached by ferry from Orzola in about half an hour. La Graciosa is entirely pedestrianized (except for a few cars of the inhabitants) and has no asphalted roads. To visit its magnificent beaches and its volcanoes you can use the bike (be prepared to work a lot!) Or directly on foot. My advice is to dedicate at least 2 days to visit the island (sleeping at least one night there) and explore it on foot. The slopes are not always in good condition and there is often too much sand, so you will still have to get off the saddle and take your bike on foot. Among the things not to be missed in La Graciosa there are certainly Beach of the Conchas (here you cannot swim though because the currents are very strong), Francesca Beach and Yellow Beach (perfect for bathing and relaxation), thenatural arch of Los Arcos, the village of Pedro Barba and Caleta del Sebo (where you will arrive by ferry). Find all the info in the article that I have dedicated to you.
Difficulty level: easy / medium (2 out of 5) - Duration: from 1 to 5 / 6h or more (A / R)
7. Trekking to the Caldera Blanca (and the Caldereta)
Another of the most beautiful and scenic treks in Lanzarote is the one at Caldereta and the Caldera Blanca. With its 445 meters above sea level and a diameter of 1200 mt, the Caldera Blanca volcano is the largest crater on the island. This volcano is located within the Timanfaya National Park and the path to reach its caldera starts from this parking lot, at the gates of Mancha Blanca, where you can leave your car. From here begins a route of about 10 kilometers (round trip) that combines paths, tracks and asphalt road, which reaches first La Caldereta, a smaller caldera near the main volcano, and then the base of the volcano. From here you have to then go up the slopes of the Caldera Blanca. The climb is not particularly difficult but you will have to pay attention to the wind at high altitude because you will walk right on the crest of the caldera, once you get up. The view you will have from here is unparalleled !!! You will see several volcanic cones in the colors of red and black and, in the distance, the sea. To walk the entire path, including various stops for photos and a snack, calculate about 4h30 ′. Bring plenty of water and something to eat. You can go up the Caldera Blanca on one side and go down on the other (see map below).
Difficulty level: medium (3 su 5) - Duration: 4h-4h30′
8. Way of the gracious
I close this article on the most beautiful treks that I recommend you do in Lanzarote with the technically more difficult and tiring one, the way of the gracioseros. As the name suggests, this is it the path used by the inhabitants of La Graciosa to reach Haria. In the restaurants of La Graziosa, in particular at the Girasol, there are some photographs that portray women carrying baskets full of fish and salt. This path descends along the breathtaking scenery of Risco de Famara, right in front of the canal that separates Lanzarote from La Graciosa. The itinerary starts from a point very close to the Mirador del Rio; from here you will see a cobbled path that you can take by car to park it before continuing on foot along the path. The latter is simple, but a bit demanding from a physical point of view (especially downhill) because you walk on a decidedly slippery lava stone and go from 600 meters at sea level up to the beautiful Playa del Risco. After taking a well-deserved swim (but watch out for the currents!), Move a little to the right of the playa to see the Saline del Rio. To return to the car you will have to retrace, this time uphill, the same path. Calculate at least 3 hours between ascent and descent.
Difficulty level: medium (3 su 5) - Duration: 3h (A/R)
You may also be interested in these other articles I wrote about Lanzarote and the Canary Islands:
- What to see in Lanzarote: all the places not to be missed
- How to organize a trip to Lanzarote
- Lanzarote: the most beautiful beaches and natural pools
- La Graciosa (Lanzarote): how to reach it, what to see what to do
- Smartworking from the Canary Islands: info and useful tips for digital nomads
- What to see in La Palma: the 'isla bonita' of the Canaries
- Fuerteventura: what to see and where to go
