8-Day Volcanic Road Trip (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura)

If you’re looking for a destination that feels like a cross between a sci-fi movie set and a giant outdoor museum, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are an amazing choice. We recently packed up and set off on an 8-day road trip through these volcanic wonders. (10 days with arrival and departure day.)

Between the “million” roundabouts and only a couple traffic lights on the whole island of Lanzarote, we learned that a rental car isn’t just recommended, it’s mandatory. Here is the deep dive into our adventure.

The Flight Hack: The “Middle Seat” Gambit

We started the trip with a classic travel gamble. We booked seats A and C, hoping the B seat would remain a empty so we’d have extra room. A woman initially sat there, but luck was on our side! After realizing her husband was in the row ahead with an empty seat next to him, she kindly moved. We ended up with a free middle seat, which was perfect for Antun to nap in comfortably while we soared toward the volcanoes.

Day 1: Timanfaya & The Wine Valley

We hit the ground running at Timanfaya National Park, the “Island of Volcanoes.” This place is the heart of Lanzarote’s history, showing exactly how the landscape looks 300 years after the massive eruptions.

The Early Bird Rule: We arrived at the restaurant area by 9:30 AM and parked without a single issue. By 10:30 AM, the traffic jam stretched all the way to the main road. If you don’t want to spend your vacation in a car queue, get there early!
The Fire Show: The ground here is still “cooking.” To prove it, the staff drop dry branches into a hole where the temperature hits 250°C, it ignites instantly. They also pour water into pipes in the ground to create instant, screaming steam geysers.
The Bus Tour: Since you can’t drive your own car through the protected zones, you hop on a bus for a 35-minute tour. It’s narrated in Spanish, English, and German and takes you through craters that look like another planet.

Afterward, we did a light, one-hour hike around the Volcan El Cuervo crater. It’s an easy walk with spectacular views.

To reward our efforts, we stopped at La Geria, a world-unique wine region. Here, vines grow in deep pits dug into volcanic ash, protected by semi-circular stone walls to block the brutal winds. The sweet Muscat and Malvasia wines were so good they basically followed us home.

We ended the day at El Golfo to see the famous Green Lake (Charco de los Clicos). Even though a sudden rainstorm chased us into El Pescador restaurant, the food was so delicious we didn’t even mind the weather.

Our home base for first 4 nights in Playa Blanca was the lovely Flamingo Beach Resort. We spent our evening walking the shoreline to the harbor with ice cream in hand, and enjoying the sand at Flamingo Beach.

Day 2: Secrets, Crabs, and Giant Cacti

First in the morning we headed North to Cueva de los Verdes, a massive lava tube.

The “Oops” Moment: We actually forgot Antun’s vest, had to turn back to the hotel, and missed our 10:00 AM slot for couple of minutes. Thankfully, the staff were great and let us catch up with our group.
The Tunnel: You walk through about 1km of the 8km total lava tunnel. It’s dry, so you won’t see stalactites, but you will see many sharp formations created as the lava cooled.
The Secret: There is a famous “secret” at the end of the cave. I’m sworn to secrecy, so you’ll have to visit yourself to find out what it is!

Next was Jameos del Agua, where we saw a natural lake filled with tiny albino crabs. They look like thousands of little white pearls scattered on the rocks. When the rain hit (again!), we ducked into the Volcano Museum, a super modern interactive space that features a simulated “launch to Mars.”

After the museum, we made our way to Mirador del Rio. We had to wait out a sudden downpour in the car for a bit, but as soon as the rain cleared, we headed to the viewpoint. The sight of La Graciosa and the surrounding islands was absolutely breathtaking! We didn’t stay outside for too long, though, the wind was so fierce it practically tried to blow us away. We retreated inside to catch our breath and relax for a moment before continuing our journey.

The highlight of the day, however, was the Jardin de Cactus. It’s an amphitheater filled with cacti from all over the world. Some are as wide and tall as trees! It’s spectacularly laid out, though the rain eventually forced us back to the hotel.

We went for pizza and dessert (which were amazing!) at the nearby restaurant named L’Artigiano Forno Ristorante and a quick dip in the indoor pool.

Day 3: Art, Rocks and Sand

We started at the César Manrique Foundation, an incredible house built inside five underground volcanic bubbles. It seamlessly blends modern art with the raw power of nature; it was fascinating to explore those hidden rooms carved into the lava. I have to inform you, this place is not stroller-friendly. We ended up carrying the stroller up and down a lot of stairs. If you’re bringing a toddler, a baby carrier is your best friend here.

After the foundation, we explored the Stratified City (an abandoned quarry with amazing natural fissures) and the charming town of Teguise for a caffeine fix.

As we were hungry, but Teguise was small and no restaurant really caught our eye, we hit Arrecife for some top-tier burgers at Barbacana Bar & Grill and a walk to the island fortress. After fortress, we wwewnt to the playground letting Antun burn some energy.

We finished the day at Playa del Papagayo. To get there, you have to survive 5km of bumpy gravel road. Usually, there’s a 3-euro entry fee, but the booth was empty when we arrived.

Note: Even if the wind feels cool and the sun isn’t “burning,” it is powerful. We returned to the hotel and realized we’d got a bit sunburned because we forgot the sunscreen. Don’t be like us—apply the cream!

Day 4-8: Fuerteventura — Wind, Squirrels, and Popcorn

We hopped the ferry to Fuerteventura for the second half of the trip. We spent four nights in Corralejo (Surfing Colors Hotel) with a packed itinerary: diving for both of us, exploring the beaches from North to South, a trip to the zoo, and a few other hidden gems. However, life had other plans, and things didn’t go exactly as expected. I’ll get into the ‘why’ a bit later, but first, let’s focus on the amazing things we actually managed to see!

Calderon Hondo: A short drive and a 10-minute hike take you to the rim of this impressive crater. The wind was so fierce it actually threw us off balance! We also met a lot of friendly squirrels along the path.

Popcorn Beach (Playa del Bajo de la Burra): This beach is legendary because the white algae fragments look exactly like popcorn. We spent half an hour just playing with them, even though the wind was so strong it was literally shaking our parked car.

The Dunes: We explored the massive Dunes de Corralejo, which feel like a slice of the Sahara desert dropped right next to the turquoise ocean.

Oasis Wildlife: We spent a full day at the zoo seeing lemurs, sea lions, and exotic flora. We fell in love with this zoo! It offers such a unique experience: feeding camels, llamas, and even giraffes. Those giraffes were the stars of the show; they gave us so many laughs and memories we’ll cherish forever.

We wrapped up the journey back on Lanzarote with a walk to the Playa Honda viewpoint. It’s located right under the flight path, so you can stand there and watch massive planes roar directly over your head as they land. It was the perfect, high-energy end to an unforgettable volcanic adventure.

When Plans Change (And That’s Okay)

Traveling with a toddler means the itinerary is sometimes written in crayon. Our plans shifted because Antun caught a virus and ran a high fever. We had originally planned for Tin to dive one day and me the next. Since we couldn’t get a refund, Tin went for a second dive while I stayed with a sleeping Antun. I chose not to dive because Antun wasn’t eating solids and needed to nurse for strength to fight the fever.

We also missed out on Sotavento Beach and Betancuria because we were just too tired after the zoo.

Our travel tempo has changed. We’ve maybe traded some “extreme activities” for playgrounds, swings, and park benches. Instead of chasing every single landmark, we spent time watching cars, bikes, and people.

Antun was a superstar, everything interested him, and he smiled at every stranger who waved. Our hearts were full every time we heard him laugh. Other travelers might have seen more locations, but we saw the world through his eyes. In the end, a few missed beaches or diving sessions are nothing compared to the joy of seeing our little guy happy. We wouldn’t change a single second.