Timanfaya national park is located in south west part of the island Lanzarote. The park covers area of 51 square kilometers.
All the territory of Timanfaya park is covered with volcanic soil. Sometimes landscape of Timanfaya is called lunar but really it is more like a Mars.
The park covers territory of Montanas del Fuego (or Fire mountains). They were formed by more than 100 volcanoes when during 1730 – 1736 they erupted and devastated part of the island.
And what is most interesting, after the eruptions (last eruption – 1824) the area didn’t changed much because the rainfall is really low in the land and the erosion does not take a part in shaping the landscape. In this landscape you can see a lava sea, volcanic cones and cliffs.
Another part of Timanfaya national park is in the sea. There you can see bubbling springs, rocky platforms or black sand beaches made of lava that has been crushed by waves for a very long time.
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The park is must visited for everyone who is interested. There are not much places in the World where you can feel like being in planet of Mars. Also there are rare plant species growing and maybe it is the only chance you can see it.
Why there are no “ordinary” plants?
The Timanfaya park area is really hot. Usually when tourists arrives they are being stunned by demonstrations of how hot the area is. Dry bush is thrown into the hole in the ground at it starts fire immediately.
Another demonstration is when water is poured into the hole and in one second it comes back in form of steam.
This hotness is because of volcanic processes under the surface. Just few meters under the ground the temperature is very high. Even the restaurants El Diablo cooks food on that holes in the ground. So do not miss the opportunity to try “volcanic” food.
The restaurants kitchen closes at 3:00 pm so don’t be late and you will see how the food is cooked.
The national park Timanfaya can only be visited on a coach tour or guided walks. The entrance is charged with fee and free walking is not allowed. Tours lasts for about 40 minutes on 10 kilometers long Ruta de los Volcanoes – center of awesome Martian landscape.
You will see a lot of volcanic cones, dunes of lapilis or you could even look down into craters. Lapilis is kind of pieces of lava thrown away by volcano.
One of the most interesting objects during excursions is Islote de Hilario – black volcano which is the tallest of all the Fire Mountains.
During tours you are going on a bus all the time because it is not allowed to get off. So all the pictures must be taken from the bus. But it is not a problem – you will still can take amazing pictures of “Mars” and amaze you friends.
Be sure to take suitable shoes if you are taking guided walking tour.
And also prepare warm clothes because the area can be a little bit cooler there. You can visit Timanfaya park every day from 9:00 to 17:00. In summer season (July 15 th – September 15 th) working time is 2 hours longer. Don’t forget that there is an entrance fee reaching about 8 euros. But it is really worth to see Mars scenery for such a price.
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Timanfaya National Park Weather
Weather in Arrecife is really mild. Weather is suitable for all year round travelling. Coldest months are January – February, when temperature can drop to 14 degrees Celsius or even more. The most warm period in Lanzarote is summer, July to September. Average high temperature reaches 30 degrees, sometimes can reach even 40 degrees Celsius.