🇪🇸Timanfaya

Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote is a dramatic volcanic landscape with live geothermal demos, camel rides, and a lunar-like atmosphere that fascinates children.

Your family guide

Walking on the moon: Timanfaya with your family

“Watch grass ignite from underground heat, then a geyser erupt from a ranger's bucket. Timanfaya shows you the earth isn't finished yet.”

— San & Jo

Timanfaya National Park is one of those places that stops you in your tracks. The moment your family steps into this volcanic landscape on the southern side of Lanzarote, the colours alone are jaw-dropping: deep black lava fields, rust-red craters, and shifting shades of orange stretching as far as you can see. It is raw, dramatic, and completely unlike anywhere else in Europe.

What makes Timanfaya so special for families is that the drama is built right in. You don't need to hike for hours to find something extraordinary. Within minutes, a park ranger will pour a bucket of water into the ground and children can watch a geyser shoot up in front of them. Grass ignites at just 2.5 metres below the surface. The earth here is still very much alive, and children absolutely love it.

The park is entirely geological, covering 51 square kilometres of volcanic soil created by eruptions between 1730 and 1736. NASA even used it as a training ground for Apollo 17 astronauts because it looks so much like the moon. That's a fact children love sharing with their friends.

Southern LanzaroteCanary Islands, Spain

51 km²Volcanic national park

Year-roundBest April to October

Best things to do

Best things to do in Timanfaya

Ruta de los Volcanes bus tour

This is the heart of any Timanfaya visit. The 14-kilometre bus route winds through the volcanic core, past enormous craters and vast lava fields, with audio commentary in Spanish, English, and German. It takes around 35 to 45 minutes and the views through the windows are genuinely breathtaking. Kids sit glued to the glass.

Arrive early to avoid the longest queues for the bus

35-45 minutes

Live geothermal demonstrations at Islote de Hilario

Rangers pour water into a pipe in the ground and a geyser shoots up. They hold dry grass over a crack and it bursts into flames. Surface temperatures just a few metres down reach between 400 and 600 degrees Celsius. These live demonstrations are the highlight for most children visiting the park and the reactions are priceless.

Stand close but not too close when the water geyser fires up

15-20 minutes

Lunch at El Diablo restaurant

Designed by local artist César Manrique, El Diablo restaurant sits right inside the park with glass walls overlooking the lunar landscape and the sea. The kitchen cooks food using volcanic heat at around 450 degrees Celsius. It is a genuinely unique dining experience and the views are extraordinary. Book ahead, especially in peak season.

Book a window table well in advance for the best views

1-1.5 hours

Tremesana guided walk

This guided trail inside the park takes you past historic fig trees and fascinating lava formations. Groups are kept to a maximum of 8 people, making it an intimate experience. It is a wonderful way to slow down and actually feel the landscape around you rather than viewing it from a bus window.

Pre-book through the park visitor centre as spots fill up fast

2-3 hours

Camel rides on the volcanic slopes

Just outside the main park boundary, you can take a camel ride across the volcanic terrain. It is one of those experiences that feels completely unique to Lanzarote and children tend to absolutely love it. The views from up on a camel looking out over the lava fields are surprisingly impressive.

Camel rides are operated just outside the park entrance near Echadero de los Camellos

20-30 minutes

Montaña Rajada hike

For families who want to go deeper, Montaña Rajada is an exclusive hiking destination within the park offering views over El Mar de Lava, the Sea of Lava. It is a more adventurous option and gives you a perspective on the scale of the landscape that the bus tour simply cannot match.

This route requires a permit and must be booked in advance through the park

2-3 hours

Combine with El Golfo and Los Hervideros

Just a short drive from Timanfaya, the El Golfo green lagoon and Los Hervideros sea caves make a brilliant half-day addition. The vivid emerald colour of El Golfo is genuinely surreal, and the sea caves at Los Hervideros are dramatic and exciting for kids. The Janubio Salt Flats and La Geria vineyard region are also close by.

El Golfo is free to visit and only a 10-minute drive from the park

2-3 hours extra

Our verdict

How Timanfaya scores for families

Kids

Geysers, fire, camel rides, and a landscape that looks like the moon. The wow factor here is off the charts for children of all ages.

Nature

One of Europe's most dramatic natural landscapes. The volcanic terrain, Barbary falcons overhead, and hidden lichen colonies make it genuinely fascinating.

Culture

The César Manrique-designed restaurant and the deep geological history give the park real cultural depth, though the focus is firmly on nature.

Food

El Diablo is a one-of-a-kind dining experience, but options inside the park are limited. Bring snacks for the kids and save lunch for the restaurant.

Budget

Park entry is reasonably priced, but camel rides, guided walks, and lunch at El Diablo add up. Plan your budget before you arrive.

Planning your visit

How long should you spend at Timanfaya?

3 hours

Quick visit

Bus tour, geothermal demos, and a look around the visitor centre. Enough to see the highlights.

sweet spot

5 hours

Sweet spot

Bus tour, live demos, lunch at El Diablo, and a guided walk or camel ride. This is how most families enjoy it best.

1 day

Full day

Add El Golfo, Los Hervideros, and the Janubio Salt Flats for a complete volcanic Lanzarote experience.

Fun facts

Things to know about Timanfaya

NASA trained here

NASA used Timanfaya as a proving ground when preparing astronauts for the Apollo 17 moon expedition. The volcanic landscape looked so much like the lunar surface that photos from the park were shown during astronaut training. Your kids are literally walking where moon explorers once practised.

The ground is boiling beneath your feet

Just a few metres below the surface, temperatures reach between 400 and 600 degrees Celsius. That is hot enough to instantly ignite dry grass, which park rangers demonstrate live. The last major eruption was in 1824, but the earth here has never really cooled down.

Say hello to El Diablo

The park's iconic mascot is a red devil statue called El Diablo, designed by Lanzarote artist César Manrique. He greets every visitor at the park entrance and has become one of the most photographed spots on the whole island. The name Timanfaya is thought to come from an old word meaning 'land of fire'.

Taste Timanfaya

What to eat near Timanfaya with kids

Papas arrugadas with mojo

Kids love it

El Diablo Restaurant, Timanfaya National Park

These small wrinkled potatoes boiled in heavily salted water are the ultimate Canarian comfort food. Served with red or green mojo sauce, they are simple, delicious, and almost universally loved by children. You will find them on every menu across Lanzarote.

Volcanic-grilled meat

Must try

El Diablo Restaurant, Timanfaya National Park

El Diablo restaurant cooks its meats and fish directly over a volcanic heat source at around 450 degrees Celsius. The result is beautifully cooked food with a genuinely unique story behind it. It is the only restaurant in the world that uses the earth itself as its kitchen.

Fresh grilled fish

Local favourite

Restaurante La Casona, Yaiza

Lanzarote's coastal location means fresh fish is always on the menu. Look for vieja (parrotfish) or cherne (wreckfish) at restaurants near the park. Simple, grilled, and served with papas arrugadas on the side, it is the kind of meal that feels exactly right after a morning in the volcanic landscape.

Queso de Lanzarote

Safe choice

Restaurante El Volcán, Tinajo

Local Lanzarote goat's cheese is mild, creamy, and a great snack for kids. You will find it served as a starter at most restaurants near the park, sometimes lightly grilled with a drizzle of mojo verde. It is a gentle introduction to local flavours that even picky eaters tend to enjoy.

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