Walking Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

Certainly there are worse places to spend the month of November than Lanzarote in Spain’s Islas Canarias. Located about 80 miles off the Coast of Morocco, it is to a large extent defined by the series of volcanic eruptions in the 1730’s. Admittedly, my main purpose of renting an AirBnB apartment overlooking the Atlantic in Puerto del Carmen was to enjoy the (relatively) warm ocean. Nonetheless, I managed several interesting hikes/walks that encompassed some of the most interesting landscapes on the island. Check out the photos below. . .

An Old Town harbor garden in *Pueto del Carmen*, near the beginning of my local coast walk.

Looking towards *Puerto del Carmen* from the coast path. I did this coastal hike (from my door) 6-8 times during this past month.

View along the path around the outside of *Caldera Blanca*. Here it doesn’t look much different from southwest Utah.

View of the *Caldera Blanca* from along its rim, with the west coast of Lanzarote and the ocean in the background. Amazing views make this one of the most popular hikes on the island.

A view towards the *Montana Caldereta* from the rim of the *Caldera Blanca*. A recent lava field surrounds the caldereta. The white line in the background is a village.

Femes village, the trailhead for one of my hikes in the southeast of the island. Typical Lanzarotan architecture is seen here. Unlike other Canary Islands, Lanzarote has largely been spared unsightly development.

A ridge view near *Pico Redondo* towards *Playa Blanca* at the south end of Lanzarote. The island of Fuerteventura is on the left in the background. A 45 minute ferry runs several times a day from *Playa Blanca* to Fuerteventura and back.

A ridge view on *Lomo del Pozo* towards *Puerto del Carmen*

A coastal view back towards *El Golfo* on the west coast of the island. This land was created in the 1730’s through a series of eruptions.

Typical plants surviving in the tough west coast soil north of *El Golfo* in Timanfaya National Park

Further north on the west coast is the *Playa de Famara*. With favorable winds and good surf, this beach is popular with both surfers and wind surfers.

The southern end of *El Risco de Famara* (cliffs) just north of the *Playa de Famara*. The path ended near here.

The *Finca de Corona* at the trailhead to another Risco de Famara hike even further north. It happens to be for sale.

Finca lands growing something. Agriculture (and viniculture) is definitely a challenge in the poor volcanic soil.

View from the top of the *Risco de Famara.* The path goes down off to the left here.

One of the few plants I saw in flower on the *Risco de Famara*

View towards *Isla Graciosa* from near the bottom of the *Risco de Famara.* I didn’t make it over to this small island last month. Something for next time.

Dunes and the *Risco de Famara*. The path back to the top is near the center of the cliffs here.

View from my balcony late one day. The island of Fuerteventura is visible to the right in the distance.

Wishing my readers a wonderful holiday season, my next post will be towards the end of January from Chile following my attempted climb of Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest volcano.

The Vagabond Hiker

Walking Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

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