Lanzarote excursions: things to do, tours and what each one really costs

Excursions in Lanzarote revolve around four things worth knowing before you book anything. Timanfaya National Park can only be visited with an online ticket for a fixed time slot. The centres designed by César Manrique are paid for one by one, because the multi-centre pass no longer exists. The best beaches in the south are best seen from a boat. And two neighbouring islands, La Graciosa and Fuerteventura, are 25–35 minutes away by ferry.

This guide is not the official website of any attraction. It tells you what is worth your time and compares the official price with the booking platforms: it is almost always the same, and what changes is the cancellation policy, the hotel pick-up and who actually runs the trip.

The island map: every guide at a glance

Tap any point to open its guide: price, opening hours, how to get there and which tours include it.

Distances are deceptive. From Puerto del Carmen, Timanfaya is about 33 minutes by car and the Jameos 42; from Playa Blanca, the Mirador del Río is about 70. So the resort you pick decides which excursions are easy and which eat up the whole day.

The 12 best excursions in Lanzarote

Ranked by what makes the island unique, by reviews and by price, with both the do-it-yourself option and the organised tour.

1. Timanfaya and the Montañas del Fuego

This is the visit that defines Lanzarote: the Ruta de los Volcanes (Route of the Volcanoes), 12–14 km depending on the source, through lava flows from the eruptions of 1730–1736, and the geothermal demonstrations on Islote de Hilario, where the ground is still hot. You cannot walk or drive freely around the park: you drive your own car to the car park and the route is done on the centre's own coach. Tickets cost €30 (children aged 7 to 12, €15). The El Diablo restaurant only serves meals during the centre's opening hours; "dinners on the volcano" are private agency tours, not an official service. All the detail is in the Timanfaya guide.

2. Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes

Two sections of the same lava tube from the La Corona volcano, 1 km apart. The Jameos were the first centre Manrique created: an underground lake with blind crabs 2–3 cm long, a white pool and an auditorium inside the rock (€17, no time slot, last entry 17:15). The Cueva de los Verdes is the work of Jesús Soto, not Manrique: a guided visit of about 50 minutes through a tube more than 7 km long, with an ending nobody should spoil for you (€17, timed). Read the guides to Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes.

3. La Graciosa

The island with no tarmac roads, about 25 minutes by ferry from Órzola. A return ticket costs €29 with Líneas Romero or Biosfera Express, the same from the ferry company as on the platforms. Once there you hire a bike or take a 4x4 taxi to La Francesa. Las Conchas is the beach in all the photos, but it is not for swimming: strong currents and heavy surf. There is currently no visitor cap and no tourist tax. More in La Graciosa.

4. Papagayo from the sea

The coves of Papagayo, south of Playa Blanca, are best seen from a boat. The cheapest option is the 2-hour mini-cruise from Playa Blanca (from €35). Full-day catamarans with food, drinks and kayaks start at €66. By car, the access track charges €3 per vehicle and takes cards only. Compare departures in boat trips and the coves in Lanzarote beaches.

5. Buggy tours through the volcanoes

The most-reviewed product on the island. Note: no buggy goes into Timanfaya National Park; the routes use tracks in La Geria, La Asomada or the north, depending on the base. The price is per two-seater vehicle, not per person: from €150 on the platforms and €130 (2 h) or €160 (3 h) on the website of Buggies Lanzarote in Puerto Calero. In two-seaters, several companies require the passenger to be at least 1.35 m tall. Details in buggy tours in Lanzarote.

6. The César Manrique route

Mirador del Río (€9), Jardín de Cactus (€9), Casa Museo del Campesino (free) and the Fundación César Manrique in Tahíche, his house built over lava bubbles (€10, or €17 with the house in Haría). The Fundación is private and not one of the Cabildo's centres. Watch the closing times: last entry at the Mirador is 16:40 and at the Jardín de Cactus 16:30. The whole route in César Manrique in Lanzarote.

7. El Golfo, Charco de los Clicos and Los Hervideros

The west coast is free: the green lagoon inside a volcanic cone (viewpoint only; you cannot go down to the shore) and Los Hervideros, where the sea bursts through lava caves. The Salinas de Janubio salt pans offer a 90-minute guided visit (from €22). Drive it south to north in the afternoon and stay for dinner in El Golfo. See El Golfo and the Green Lagoon.

8. Wine in La Geria

Vines planted in pits dug into the volcanic ash and sheltered by low stone walls. The cheapest guided visit is at Bodega La Geria (€15, three wines, under-15s free). El Grifo, which bills itself as the oldest winery in the Canary Islands, only runs visits Monday to Friday. If you are driving, forget the tasting: arrange transport. See La Geria and its wine.

9. The Puerto Calero submarine

A real submarine, 18.5 m long with 44 seats, that dives to about 30 m. Children from 2 years and non-divers can do it: there is no change in pressure. It costs €61.75 bought online on the Submarine Safaris website and €65 at the ticket office or on GetYourGuide, with a free bus from the three main resorts. See the submarine in Lanzarote.

10. Fuerteventura and Isla de Lobos in a day

The ferry from Playa Blanca to Corralejo takes about 25–35 minutes. As a foot passenger, Líneas Romero is cheapest: €20.50 one way, €39 return. The guided day trip costs €62, the same from the ferry company as on GetYourGuide or Civitatis. To land on Lobos you need the free permit from lobospass.com. More in Fuerteventura from Lanzarote and our review of the Fuerteventura ferries.

11. Dolphins and sunset boat trips

No trip guarantees dolphins. "Swim" on these tours means a swimming stop: swimming with wild dolphins is illegal within 60 m. The best-selling speedboat in Puerto del Carmen has the lowest rating among the top sellers (3.8 out of 5). On the latest list published by the Canary Islands Government, only five boats on the island are licensed for whale and dolphin watching, the Biosfera Jet among them. See dolphins and sunset cruises.

12. Walking among the volcanoes

Caldera Blanca (about 10 km over lava, no shade or water) and the Volcán del Cuervo (easy, you can walk into the crater) can be done on your own. The only way to walk inside the national park is on the park's own free guided routes, which must be booked. The best-selling "Timanfaya" hikes (from €44) run through the Parque Natural de Los Volcanes, next to the national park rather than inside it. The Famara cliff path (Camino de Los Caleteros) has been closed since the rockfall of 12 May 2026. See hiking.

Our picks to get you started

1

The essentials in one day, no driving

Timanfaya, Jameos and Cueva de los Verdes with hotel pick-up. The three tickets bought separately add up to €64; the tour costs €89 and saves you juggling two time slots.

GetYourGuide9 hours

Lanzarote: Timanfaya Park, Jameos Agua & Cueva Verdes Tour

4.5 (2,873)

from €89Check availability

2

La Graciosa with nothing to organise

A boat trip with lunch and swimming stops, run by Líneas Romero, the same company as the scheduled ferry. If you would rather go at your own pace, just take the €29 ferry.

GetYourGuide6 hours

La Graciosa: Island Cruise with Lunch and Water Activities

4.6 (2,110)

from €66Check availability

3

Papagayo with the best rating

Catamaran with food and drinks, the highest rating among the best-selling boats (4.8 out of 5). It costs more than twice the €35 mini-cruise, in exchange for food and drinks on board.

GetYourGuide4 hours

Lanzarote: Papagayo Catamaran, Lunch & Drinks

4.8 (428)

from €85Check availability

4

Volcanoes by buggy

The most-reviewed tour on the island, run by H2O Sports. Remember the price is per two-seater buggy and it does not enter the national park.

GetYourGuide2 - 3 hours

Lanzarote: Guided Off-Road Volcano Buggy Tour

4.6 (5,579)

from €150Check availability

GetYourGuide5 hours

Lanzarote: Timanfaya National Park – Half-day tour

4.4 (2,823)

from €59Check availability

GetYourGuide

Lanzarote: Ferry to La Graciosa with Wi-Fi (free parking)

4.7 (1,148)

from €29Check availability

GetYourGuide

Lanzarote: Day Trip to the Papagayo Beaches by Catamaran

4.4 (1,123)

from €66Check availability

GetYourGuide1 hour

Lanzarote: Real Submarine Dive

4.6 (1,513)

from €65Check availability

GetYourGuide8 - 9 hours

Lanzarote: César Manrique Full-Day Tour

4.6 (458)

from €85Check availability

GetYourGuide9 hours

From Lanzarote: Day Trip to Fuerteventura and Corralejo

4.2 (1,046)

from €62Check availability

See all on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 5 October 2026

Things to do in Lanzarote by area

South: Playa Blanca and Yaiza. Papagayo is 14 minutes away by car, El Golfo 20 and Timanfaya under half an hour. Ferries to Corralejo and mini-cruises to Papagayo leave from the harbour. Aqualava, the heated water park, is open all year. See Playa Blanca.

South-centre: Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero. This is boat country: catamarans, dolphins, sunsets, jet skis and diving at Playa Chica. The water bus to Puerto Calero, home of the submarine, costs €11 each way. Rancho Texas runs a free shuttle from here. See Puerto del Carmen.

East: Costa Teguise and Arrecife. The Aquapark (seasonal) and the Aquarium are in the same resort, and the Jameos are under half an hour away. The Sunday market in Teguise is about 20 minutes away. In Arrecife, the Castillo de San José (MIAC) is the cheapest Manrique centre: €5.40, open until 18:00. See Costa Teguise and Arrecife.

North: Haría, Órzola and Famara. Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos, Mirador del Río, Jardín de Cactus, Manrique's house in Haría and the jetty for La Graciosa. Famara is the surf beach. Swim only near the Caleta or where there is a lifeguard, never along the central stretch. See the north of Lanzarote.

Centre and west. Timanfaya, the Echadero camels (€11 per person, run by Yaiza town council), La Geria and the El Golfo coast. The bus does not come out here: you need a car or a tour.

Lanzarote tours and itineraries for 1, 3 or 7 days

If you only have 1 day

Book the first Timanfaya slot. The park recommends early morning or after 13:30, and names Sunday as the quietest day. Then head down to El Golfo and Los Hervideros and come back through La Geria for a winery visit. Without a car, the half-day Timanfaya tour (from €59) or the three-site tour (€89) sorts out the day.

If you have 3 days

• Day 1, volcanoes and the west: Timanfaya first thing, the camels if you fancy it, El Golfo and dinner at sunset.
• Day 2, Manrique's north: your Cueva de los Verdes slot, the Jameos straight after (no time slot), lunch in Haría and the Mirador del Río before 16:40.
• Day 3, the sea: La Graciosa from Órzola if you are staying in the east or north; Papagayo by boat if you are in the south.

If you have 7 days

Add the Fundación César Manrique and the Jardín de Cactus, Fuerteventura or Lobos, a morning on a buggy or in the submarine, and a hike (Caldera Blanca early, or Tremesana if you got a place). Sunday is Teguise market day, which the town council calls the most important in the Canary Islands (350–450 stalls): arrive before 09:30. El Grifo does not run visits at weekends; on Saturday, try Bodega La Geria or Stratvs instead. And leave one beach day unplanned in case the wind forces a boat trip to move.

What Lanzarote activities cost (and what is free)

The Cabildo's centres (CACT) are paid for separately. There is no combined ticket for several centres: the only combo is Jameos plus the Casa de los Volcanes, for €22.40. Untimed tickets are valid for three months from purchase.

The five main centres (Timanfaya, Jameos, Cueva, Mirador and Cactus) add up to €82 per adult, and €99 if you add the two houses of the Fundación César Manrique. A day trip with Timanfaya, Jameos and Cueva costs €89–100 against €64 for the three tickets. For two or more people with a hire car, going independently works out cheaper; for one person, the tour is simpler.

Outside the CACT: Aqualava €30, Aquapark Costa Teguise €28, Rancho Texas €45, Aquarium €16 (family, €50), submarine €61.75 online, buggy from €130 per vehicle, camels €11.

What costs nothing:

• Casa Museo del Campesino, Manrique's work in Mozaga.
• The national park's Mancha Blanca Visitor Centre (09:00–16:00), on the same road as Timanfaya.
• Charco de los Clicos and Los Hervideros.
• The national park's guided routes (Tremesana and Litoral), booked at https://www.reservasparquesnacionales.es/real/parquesnac/usu/html/listado-actividades-oapn.aspx?cen=6
• Teguise market and sunsets at Famara at low tide.
• The Papagayo coves if you arrive on foot or by bike from Las Coloradas: the barrier only charges cars.

Lanzarote residents (residentes) pay €1–3 at the CACT centres (€2 at Timanfaya), but only on showing the physical document at the ticket office; this does not apply to visitors. More money-saving tips in deals and discounts.

How to book: GetYourGuide, the official website or Tiqets

The same product almost always costs the same everywhere: the Timanfaya half day is €59 on five channels; the La Graciosa ferry €29 on seven. What changes is the cancellation policy, the payment terms and the language.

• Official website: required for the Timanfaya and Cueva de los Verdes tickets, because no platform sells those tickets on their own. It is also the cheapest option for the submarine (€61.75 online), the Buggies Lanzarote buggies and resident rates. See our review of the CACT.
• GetYourGuide: the biggest catalogue. Almost everything can be cancelled free up to 24 h before and paid for later, but check each listing, which also tells you which company runs the trip. The default sort order takes commission into account: sort by rating.
• Tiqets: useful for parks. It is the only major platform with Rancho Texas (€45, cancellable until 23:59 the day before) and the only one that combines the Aquarium and Aquapark with a 10% discount. It sells none of the CACT centres.
• Civitatis: very strong in Spanish, with free tours of Arrecife and Teguise. Its Aqualava ticket has no free cancellation.
• Local resellers: LanzaroteON and TravelON are the same Gibraltar company. TravelON charges €25 if you cancel a paid tour and does not refund ferries or parks.

Boats and wind. If bad weather cancels a scheduled ferry, you are entitled to another sailing or a full refund; on boat excursions, the seller's policy applies. And since 1 October 2026, boats can no longer be hired without a qualification: you need a boating licence or a skipper.

Lanzarote activities with kids, for couples and without a car

With kids. In winter, heated water is only found at Aqualava (all year) and the Aqua Rancho at Rancho Texas. The Aquapark in Costa Teguise is bigger, but closes from early November to late March and does not heat its water. Rancho Texas keeps dolphins in captivity: the paid "interaction" in the pool is not swimming with dolphins. Some families love it; others prefer not to pay for captive animals. Pushchairs are not allowed in the Jameos or the Cueva, and the submarine takes children from 2 years. See Lanzarote with kids.

For couples. On Fridays, Noches de Jameos: dinner and a concert beside the lake (€98 set menu per person). There are adults-only catamarans (Catlanza, over-13s) and sunset boat trips from €52. See Lanzarote for couples.

Without a car. Intercity Bus Lanzarote (https://arrecifebus.com/lineas/) links Arrecife with the resorts, Órzola (line 9, also for the La Graciosa ferry) and the Manrique route (line 7). It does not reach Timanfaya, the Mirador del Río, El Golfo or the wineries, and there is no hop-on hop-off bus around the island. For those you need a tour with pick-up. See Lanzarote without a car and, if you arrive on a cruise ship, excursions from the port.

Find your excursion

Filter the guides by activity, area, length and price.

Frequently asked questions