How To Visit Cueva de los Verdes in Lanzarote

Explore the volcanic heart of Lanzarote with a visit to Cueva de los Verdes, one of Lanzarote’s must-see attractions.

Formed 23,000 years ago during the eruption of the La Corona Volcano, this underground passage of almost 8km leads from crater to sea. Packed with vaults, lagoons and passageways, it’s a fascinating piece of subterranean landscape created by the power of molten lava.

On a guided tour, you’ll explore around 1km of the total passageway. The cave tour was actually one of my favourite things we did on our Lanzarote road trip – I’d even say I preferred this to the arguably more famous Jameos del Agua!

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Getting to Cueva de los Verdes

The easiest way to get to Cueva de los Verdes is by driving, however there is a limited bus service from Arrecife that stops at Jameos del Agua, which around 10 minutes walk from the entrance.

By car:

Driving to Cueva de los Verdes is easy from all major tourist areas, and it’s a great stop on a full-day road trip in Lanzarote.

• From Puerto del Carmen: 40mins north via the LZ-2, LZ-3 and LZ-1
• From Playa Blanca: 60mins northeast via the LZ-2, LZ-30 and LZ-1
• From Costa Teguise: 25mins northeast via the LZ-14 and LZ-1
• From Arrecife: 30mins northeast via the LZ-1

By bus:

The 09 bus service from Arrecife stops at Jameos del Agua, which is around 10 minutes’ walk from Cueva de los Verdes. The service is infrequent and only runs a few buses a day, so make sure you check the timetable here before you go.

By guided tour:

If you don’t have your own transport, you can visit Cueva de los Verdes on a Lanzarote volcanic highlights tour. This also includes Timanfaya National Park and Jameos del Agua.

(If you want to visit Timanfaya separately, there’s also a tour that covers just Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua.)

When’s the best time to visit Cueva de los Verdes?

We visited Cueva de los Verdes in the late morning, after we’d checked out Jardin de Cactus on the way . Because the tours run at set times with a maximum of 50 people, you don’t need to worry about queues as long as you’ve booked your slot.

The caves are open 365 days a year, and the temperature is around 18º C all year round – meaning there’s no specific good or bad season to visit! However, for visiting Lanzarote as a whole, I’d recommend spring or autumn. The weather is pleasant with plenty of sun, but it’s a little less crowded than in high summer/school holidays.

Allow around 50 minutes for the tour.

What to see in Cueva De Los Verdes?

The tour snakes its way along the passage of the lava tunnel, with plenty of opportunities to stop and marvel at the craggy walls and rock formations.

In the 1960s, local artist Jesús Soto designed an atmospheric lighting scheme that highlights the dramatic features and textures within the tunnels.

A centrepiece on the tour is the Túnel de la Atlántida, one of the most significant volcanic tunnels. The water here creates a reflective illusion that has to be seen to be believed!

You’ll also pass through the Cueva de los Verdes Auditorium, an event and exhibition space. You can find out more about special events on the Lanzarote Tourism website.