The highlight of most peoples trip to Lanzarote is a trip to Timanfaya, the fire mountain. You drive up the mountain and then take a 45 minute bus ride (included in the entrance price) around the stunning volcanic landscape which is considered as one of the most perfect in the world. This 'lunar' landscape has been used in many films and NASA even sent their astronauts there to test out the Lunar Buggy to be used on the moon.

There is a restaurant (open from 12) and the food is cooked over the volcano. It is definately worth eating here and the prices are reasonable. The restaurant also has large glass windows so you can enjoy the views whilst eating the food that you have just seen being cooked over the volcano. The coffee shop is open earlier if you are feeling peckish when you arrive.

Two experiments are shown to prove how hot it is just below the ground, hay catching fire and water turning to steam just below the surface. The heat that is radiated from the holes is absolutely amazing. The camel rides are further down the mountain but I will go into them in more detail in that section.

I recommend that you go early. Arrive at Timanfaya about 9.30 - 10 am as after this there are long queues for the bus trips and the traffic up the mountain is bumper to bumper. Then enjoy the scenery before having an early lunch and heading down to the camels.

It can get very windy up the mountain so don't forget to take a jacket.

The following information was given to me by Leonard Viner-Caudrey (March 1998):
Leonard, a keen amateur photographer, managed to persuade the driver of the coach at Fire Mountain with 1000 pesetas to open the door and the driver's window so he could take photos. No jeeps are allowed in the reservation (they had been available previously). Here is one of his photographs of the road leading to Timanfaya.

An amazing experience you will never forget.