Cueva de Los Verdes – Jameos del Agua – Caves in Lanzarote
Cueva de Los Verdes – Jameos del Agua – Caves in Lanzarote

Cueva de Los Verdes – Jameos del Agua – Caves in Lanzarote

Spain
Spain

When Is the Best Time

Experience volcanic activity's immense power and energy that occurred 13-16 thousand years ago in Lanzarote. Go on a journey into the lava tube of Monte Corona, one of the longest existing lava tube channels on earth. 

A collapsed part of the lava tube giving access to the cave
Monte Corona is on the horizon from where the lava flowed into the sea.

This cave emerged at Corona Mountain and ended deep in the sea. It is more than 8 km long but has several entrances. At some points, the top of the cave collapsed, giving way to this pitch-dark world. The two famous caves of this specific lava tube are Cueva de Los Verdes and Jameos del Agua. Both are beautiful and fascinating, which I describe here in detail, but there is a third and more exciting entrance.

Lava Tube of Montana Corona in Lanzarote
Guided Cave Exploration

We sought the real cave experience in a very small group of such a lava tube. Entering the fascinating world to feel the real depth of Lanzarote is memorable. Learn more about the history of this unique island. I give you an overview of three different ways to experience the hidden beauty of Lanzarote. Let yourself be enchanted by this amazing Canary Island and get hooked like we are now. Check out my Table of Contents below.

What Causes Lava Tubes?

The 16 thousand years old lava tube from Montana Corona
The ground is covered with chalk washed out by the rain from the cave ceiling.

A lava tube gets formed when lava flows downhill from a volcano. The lava cools down as soon as it is exposed to the air, albeit inside, the lava flow remains hot and continues flowing. The surface of the tube is completely solidified, and when the lava flow stops, a lava tube - a cave is left.

Cueva de Los Verdes

Cueva de Los Verdes the illumination pool
Pictures do not do justice to this unique experience.

This is a Must-Do in Lanzarote if you are not claustrophobic. It is all about illusion, especially in this cave. The lighting is done pretty well; a hole just 20 cm deep appears to be hundreds of meters deep. The highlight of this fascinating multilingual guided tour comes in the end. The imagination and beauty blew away Markus and me.

Another water filled hole
It looks deep down, but the hole is only filled with 5 cm of water.

We did not want to leave just to soak in the fascinating scenery. The multilingual guides do a fantastic job of giving everybody plenty of time to enjoy and explain where the cave originates. Concerts are held, and a grand piano is well-placed in this cave. Listening to a concert must have an outstanding atmosphere and sound.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours sign to Cueva de Los Verdes
Visitors already line up from here at weekends and midday.

10 am – 5 pm, but the last tour starts around 4 pm. If you arrive after 4 pm, you may have missed the day's last tour.

Guided Tour Duration: Roughly 50 minutes – length less than one kilometre.

Cave entrance where visitors have to wait for the guide
Not busy in the afternoon.

If it is not too busy, the waiting time is roughly 15-20 minutes. If there is a cruise ship or even two in the harbour, the island is overrun, and the first and the last tour of the day is less crowded and the only ones I recommend

Entrance Fee

Entrance sign and gate to the cave
Entrance and gate to Cueva de Los Verdes

10 Euro for adults – I recommend a combination ticket for 3, 4 or 6 popular sights in Lanzarote. Children pay half of the price.

  • 3 Sights for 23,50 Euro
  • 4 Sights for 29,00 Euro
  • 6 Sights for 35,00 Euro

Free Parking and restrooms are available

History of Cueva de Los Verdes

Cueva de Los Verdes inside

It is one of the collapsed entrances of the lava tube of Montana de Corona. It was used as a hideout by the residents seeking shelter from pirate attacks in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the 1960s, Jesus Soto, an artist from Fuerteventura, made plans to remove the lava rocks inside and create a path making a part of it accessible to the public. Later, he worked in close collaboration with Cesar Manrique. 

Jameos del Agua

Jameos del Agua Cave and Lake inside
The white crab pond

What a stunning and creative piece of art embedded in this ancient collapsed lava tube. There are concerts held, I assume, with an outstanding acoustic. Take your time and enjoy the beauty of this place, built in 1960. You can easily spend an hour here.

The cafe after the Jameos del Agua lake
One of the two cafes inside Jameos del Agua

There are two cafés inside; one overlooks the “crab pond” and the other the Cesar Manrique pool and cave exit. 

White albino crabs in Jameos del Agua
The endemic blind albino cave crab, "munidopsis polymorph"

Inside the lava channel is a lagoon full of white spots: endemic blind albino crabs. The crabs are white and blind because of the missing light. 

Opening Hours

The crystal blue pool in Jameos del Agua
It looks beautiful, but it is prohibited to swim in the pool.

From 10 am – 5.15 pm - last access

Entrance Fee

Entrance to Jameos del Agua
The entrance to Jameos del Agua - is busy during cruise ship days and weekends.

10 Euro or buy the Combination Ticket, which is mentioned in detail above.

Parking at Jameos del Agua
Parking is less busy in the morning and late afternoon.

Free huge parking areas and clean restrooms are available. It is one of the busiest places in Lanzarote. Arrive early when they open or around 2 pm lunchtime to avoid lining up. 

The restaurant in the Jameos del Agua cave
An excellent location for dinner can be combined with a concert.

Dinner here at Jameos del Agua must be excellent, but it has to be booked far in advance.

 

 

Guided Cave Exploration in the Malpais de Corona

A group hiking to the cave
The entrance of the cave

The Malpais de Corona is located in the northeast of Lanzarote. Malpais means bad land, but it is the opposite IMO. We entered the fascinating underground world with Mash and Cordula, two wonderful tour guides. We walked and climbed in a completely different world for over 2 km –roughly 3 hours through an estimated 13-16 thousand-year-old lava channel.

The guides and group in the cave looking to the interesting cave wall
Pitch darkness without our headlamps and torches.

The lava tube ends far out in the sea, which is impossible. The lava cools down and solidifies as soon as it hits the ocean. Therefore, the sea must have been lower when Montana Corona erupted and the lava tube emerged.

A guide climbing up a rockslide
Our guide, Mash checking the route

Because of the age and the constant microearthquakes, roughly 2000 daily, lots of rocks are along your path through the cave. Wearing a helmet is essential on this tour.

Montana Corona Group and our caving group
One of the most exciting tours we have ever done.

We hiked through this cave and a 200-year-old one from the last eruption in 1824. They look entirely different through weathering caused by the little amount of rain that seeps down and the microearthquakes.

The wall of the lava cave
Solidified lava

We marvelled at the different rock formations, the colours, just everything. 

A woman is climbing through a narrow gap in the cave
I was navigating through the narrow gap.

Climbing a rockslide up and through a narrow gap, the only way to continue is part of this experience. If you are claustrophobic, don't think about this cave adventure; everybody else should go on to this exploration.

A wide lava tube only 200 years old with a rock formation like a mushroom
The 200-year-old cave - the lava could not melt the rock in the middle and had flown around.

These guides do an excellent job acting responsibly towards their guests. Before you can book this tour, they check your skills and ask you to take part in a short tour through a broader and much younger cave. Also, this tour was outstanding. 

The cave ceiling
The colourful cave ceiling.

It is not recommended to go into this cave on your own. It is tricky to find the way through it; a helmet and torch are essential. We enjoyed Codula and Mash's company and all their explanations. You can find more about these two specific cave tours on Lanzarote Feeling, which I highly recommend. 

 

 

These are my recommended tours via GetYourGuide, which has a great cancellation policy. Thx for booking via my website! With your support, I am able to provide all the information first-hand. Tour prices are at no extra cost!

 

Guided Tour to Timanfaya and Caves
The Timanfaya National Park sign
The Timanfaya symbol: A rusty devil with an arrow at the end of the tail pointing down to hell.

These are my recommended tours via GetYourGuide with 24 hours advance cancellation policy. Thx for booking via my website! With your support, I am able to provide all information first-hand. Tour prices are at no extra cost!

 

 

Best Months to Visit

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Location and Tips

Canary Islands, Lanzarote
Spain
Spain

Lanzarote has 156 volcanos and more than 300 craters, the reason for many caves - lava tubes spread around the island. Lanzarote is one of the most fascinating islands, above and underneath the ground. 

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Created by
Micha Herber-Bleich
Micha Herber-Bleich
I am always open, curious about new…