Parque nacional de Timanfaya and Lanzarote’s lava fields
Published on 09/03/2026 at 13:02 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Parque nacional de Timanfaya on Lanzarote is a volcanic landscape of cones, lava fields and dark lapilli slopes. Declared a national park on 9 August 1974, it preserves the raw surface of the island’s Fire Mountains.
Timanfaya’s volcanic relief and 1974 status
The park sits in Lanzarote’s western half, in the Canary Islands, and spans the municipalities of Tinajo and Yaiza. Its protected area covers 5,107 ha, and the official record places its creation on 9 August 1974.
The same record names vulcanology, malpaís, volcanic cones, calderas and thermal anomalies among its values. That mix gives Timanfaya its force: a national park shaped by basalt, ash and rough topography rather than gardens or woodland.
The eruptions that defined the ground
Timanfaya is tied to the eruption sequence of 1730 to 1736, the event that transformed much of this part of Lanzarote. The landscape still shows cones, lava flows and fields of lapilli, with sparse lichen on the blackened ground.
The park’s history also belongs to Juan Carlos I’s reign, because the decree that created it was issued in Madrid in 1974 and later followed by reclassification in 1981. The legal status is part of the site’s identity, but the terrain remains the strongest feature: a field of fire turned into protected ground.
Islote de Hilario and the Route of the Volcanoes
One of the park’s named points is Islote de Hilario, from which the Route of the Volcanoes begins. The route runs through the main volcanic buildings formed during the 1730 to 1736 eruptions and passes a landscape of craters, lava and older cones.
The park’s visitor record also links Timanfaya with Mancha Blanca, where the main public-use infrastructure stands. That name belongs to the wider park story, alongside the volcanic forms that dominate the view across the interior.
Visiting Parque nacional de Timanfaya: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The park lies on Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, between Tinajo and Yaiza. The Route of the Volcanoes begins at Islote de Hilario.
- The ground is uneven and volcanic, with cones, lava and lapilli underfoot. The main experience is by route and viewpoint rather than long walks across open terrain.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the euro.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Parque nacional de Timanfaya on social platforms
These links open searches for Parque nacional de Timanfaya on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Parque nacional de Timanfaya
Where is Parque nacional de Timanfaya?
It lies on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, between Tinajo and Yaiza. The park is part of Spain’s volcanic island landscape.
What does a visit involve?
The Route of the Volcanoes starts at Islote de Hilario and crosses the park’s lava landscape by vehicle route. The ground is volcanic, rugged and largely open.
What makes it distinctive?
Its identity rests on the eruption landscape of 1730 to 1736 and the legal protection granted in 1974. Cones, lava fields and calderas define the park’s character.
