How to Visit Jameos del Agua in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is characterised by its subtropical climate and the numerous volcanoes that have shaped the landscape. The Jameos del Agua are the fruit of the latter. This name defines a section of a volcanic tunnel with an opening caused by the partial collapse of the roof.

The Jameos del Agua consist of three rooms - the "Jameo chico" (the entrance to the gallery), the "Jameo Grande" and the "Jameo de la Cazuela" - and are one of Lanzarote' s must-see attractions on your itinerary.

If you are staying less than a week on the island - for example, four days in Lanzarote - and want to make the most of it, this is the ideal option.

Guided tours are not limited to the Jameos del Agua: they include them in more extensive routes that will keep you busy for a whole day. Here are the main ones.

The Gulf, Timanfaya and Jameos del Agua

A route that combines volcanic landscapes with the tranquillity of the Jameos del Agua. The itinerary touches on the following points:

• El Golfo, a fishing village known for the nearby beach called Charco de los Clicos. This tiny stretch of coastline is characterised by a deep green lake just a few metres from the ocean. It owes its name to the small molluscs that used to live in the pond and are now extinct.
• Timanfaya National Park, 51 square kilometres covering 25 volcanoes. The bus route departs from the Visitor Centre and passes by lava fields, craters and mountains that look like something out of Mars. The symbol of this place, the Devil of Timanfaya, was designed by César Manrique
• Jameos del Agua
• Duration: about 10 hours
• Price: about 60 €.

Route of César Manrique

César Manrique was the most important Canarian artist of all times. He was born in Arrecife, trained at the Academia de San Fernando (Madrid) and lived for a few years in New York.

However, he never lost his attachment to his island, so much so that he returned to Lanzarote for good in the seventies. Here he produced some very original works and this tour touches on the main ones:

• Monumento al Campesino, a sculpture built from a series of water tanks from ships. It is both a tribute and a warning about the importance of water, an asset that is as precious as it is scarce on Lanzarote
• Jameos del Agua
• Jardín de Cactus, Manrique's last work on the island. Before his intervention, this was the site of a quarry used to extract volcanic ash
• Mirador del Río, a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the channel that divides Lanzarote from La Graciosa, the smallest inhabited island in the archipelago. If you feel like visiting it, I recommend you read the article on day trips to La Graciosa from Lanzarote
• Fundación César Manrique, the artist's old house converted into a museum. César Manrique settled here after his time in the Big Apple. If you are familiar with any of his works, it is because they were made by Joan Miró, Pedro González or Pablo Picasso
• Duration: approximately 8 hours
• Price: about 60 €.

Lagomar, Jameos del Agua and Aloe Vera Farm

The excursion that runs through the north of Lanzarote. It brings together some very interesting natural attractions:

• La Geria, the wine-growing area in the centre-south of the island, not far from the Timanfaya National Park. The vines grow in small holes in the volcanic soil. It is a lunar landscape that will surprise you. If you feel like going back, I recommend you take a look at the website of the Bodega Geria
• Monumento al Campesino,
• Lagomar, the cave-house that belonged to Omar Sharif. The actor who played Lawrence of Arabia fell in love with the residence and decided to buy it. Shortly afterwards, he lost it in a bridge game. It is a unique place that blends in perfectly with nature
• Jameos del Agua,
• Finca de aloe vera. The cultivation of this plant is an important source of income for the island's economy. It has been known and used since pre-Hispanic times and is currently cultivated using the most modern methods. In this stage you will find out which ones and you will have the opportunity to buy products made with Lanzarote's aloe
• Mirador de los Helechos, one of the best on the island
• Fundación César Manrique, the artist's good retreat. It is usually optional, I recommend you read the details carefully
• Duration: about 10 hours
• Price: about 40 €.

Whether you are staying in the south of Lanzarote or near Arrecife, you can reach Jameos del Agua by following the main roads of the island (LZ-2 and LZ-1) in a northerly direction (Arrecife if you start from Playa Blanca, Órzola from the capital).

Once you have passed the town of Punta Mujeres, you will have to leave the motorway and take the turn-off to the LZ-204 road.

Hiring a car is a good way to visit "the Hawaii of Europe". Reaching Lanzarote's best hiking tra ils and secluded beaches is easier. You won't be dependent on public transport timetables and the reduced price of petrol is another incentive.

It is a good way to get around the island. Parking is easier, as is petrol consumption (in any case, it is cheaper than on the mainland). Here are a few options to get your means of transport:

• La Esquina de la Moto (Avenida de las Playas 57 - Puerto del Carmen)
• Moto & Bike Lanzarote (Avenida Archipiélago 7, local 4, Centro Comercial Lanzarote Park - Playa Blanca)
• Rental Motor Bike (various locations, you can find all the info on the official website)
• Scootoff (Calle Almirante Boado 10 - Arrecife)

Not the most comfortable option but it depends on your location. Some popular tourist destinations are quite close to the Jameos de Agua and a short guagua (as they call the bus in the Canary Islands) is enough.

• If you are staying in Arrecife, Tahiche, Guatiza, Órzola, Arrieta or Punta Mujeres, you can reach the volcanic cave with bus 9. Please note that the journey can be a bit long, especially if your starting point is Arrecife. In this case, it takes approximately 50 minutes
• . If you have chosen a hotel, house or B&B in Yé, Máguez or Haría (in the interior of the northern area), you also have this option. You will have to take two lines: the 26 to Arrieta and then the 9 to Jameos del Agua
• If your summer residence is in Playa Blanca (on the southern coast), you can reach your destination by changing lines. Firstly, you will have to take the 60 from Estación Sur (Avenida de las Canarias 5). Once you get off at Arrecife (Andenes Estación de Guaguas), you only have to take the aforementioned line 9. Again, the route is very long: just under 3 hours. The bus goes to many towns and villages (La Hoya, Yaiza, Tías, Playa Honda, etc.)

. In any case, you can find more detailed information at Intercity Bus, Lanzarote's transport company. You can pay for the tickets once on board but only cash or a transport voucher is accepted.

It's very simple: everything is done online. There is no need to wait until you are in Lanzarote, you can book in advance to secure your place.

In the unlikely event of errors and unforeseen circumstances, you have the customer service team at your disposal to help you sort out any issues.

First of all, if you are only staying 3 days in Lanzarote and don't feel like renting a car, you don't have to give up this excursion. A bus route is cheap and, before arriving at Jameos de Agua, it touches the main tourist areas: Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, etc.

If that's not enough, there are combo packages that include wine tasting, hop-on hop-off tickets and more. In short, you will only have to pay for lunch and any activities that are not expressly indicated in the programme of each tour.

Within the attraction itself is a restaurant set in a spectacular setting: an "open-roofed" cave decorated with succulents and other plants.

The menu is varied and includes vegetarian options, typical Canarian recipes, a children's menu and a good wine list.

If you are travelling on your own you can drive to Punta Mujeres or Arrieta. The drive takes a maximum of 10 minutes. In these two towns I recommend the following restaurants:

• El Pisquito, a simple bar with sea views (Calle la Noria 6 - Arrieta)
• Restaurante Tahoyo, cheap, tasty and with a nice terrace (Calle Pared del Agua 14 - Punta Mujeres)
• El Amanecer, where fresh fish is king (Calle la Garita, 46 - Arrieta)
• El Charcón, located in an iconic little red brick house in front of the sea. They specialise in Canarian food (Calle el Charcón 13 - Arrieta).

The answer is simple: because it is a true wonder of nature. In short, a "jameo" is a tube created by a volcanic eruption and which has lost its roof (or at least part of it). They are magical places that collect underground water, creating a very unique environment.

At the same time, the Jameos de Agua in Lanzarote are worth seeing because they show that nature can be perfectly integrated with human constructions. It is safe to say that this is the main legacy of the Lanzarote artist.

White houses and palm trees are a constant feature of the island's landscape. However, some localities stand out from the average:

• Yaiza, one of the best preserved villages in the whole archipelago. It can be the ideal starting point for the Timanfaya National Park. If you are a motorcyclist, you will be pleased to know that the Yaiza Sprint Rally takes place in August. You can find all the information on the town hall website
• Tinajo, on the east coast of the island. Its little white houses stand out among the volcanic landscape creating a very suggestive contrast. From here you can start the ascent to the Volcán del Cuervo. If you like surfing, there are some good waves at the nearby beach of La Santa
• San Bartolomé, where the Monumento al Campesino (Monument to the Peasant) is located. One of its attractions is the Tanit Museum (Calle Constitución 1) which preserves Lanzarote's ethnographic heritage. The ticket costs about 5 €
• Femés, at the foot of the Ajaches Massif. In the 15th century it was the first capital of the Archipelago
• Teguise, one of the first towns in the Canary Islands. If you are looking for handicrafts as souvenirs, you can buy them at the flea market. It is held every Sunday from 9:00 to 14:00. A few kilometres from the city centre is the Lanzarote water park (Avenida del Golf s/n)
• Arrecife, the capital of Lanzarote. Unfortunately, many tourists do not include it in their itineraries and in my opinion this is a mistake. Its most emblematic point is the Charco de San Ginés, a pool connected to the open sea. It is the mooring place for fishing boats and small rowing boats. On the heights, the Castillo de San José is worth a visit.

Yes, just a few minutes away from the Jameos de Agua are other Lanzarote landmarks:

• Cueva de los Verdes, the lava tube of the La Corona volcano. In the past, locals used to take refuge here to escape pirate attacks. You can visit it by buying tickets on the official website
• Playa de los Caletones, a series of coves dotted with black rocks. This volcanic landscape is characterised by shallow waters. It has a car park nearby and can therefore be easily reached by car. For more ideas, I recommend you read the post about the best beaches in Lanzarote
• Cueva de los Siete Lagos, the favourite destination of speleologists. It can only be visited with an expert guide. Excursions are not very frequent but you can ask once on the island
• The stretch of coast near Los Jameos del Agua is perfect for windsurfing. The trade winds guarantee regular waves.

At any time of the year, and especially in summer, I recommend wearing a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the glare and heat. Other useful tips:

• Although we are talking about a lagoon or small pool, you cannot swim in the Jameos del Agua
• It is a very delicate natural environment and therefore, do not throw coins into the ponds, pools, etc.
• Unfortunately, it is not accessible with pushchairs. However, children under 7 years old enter free of charge
• Parking is free
• Wear comfortable shoes, the volcanic soil is uneven
• If you want to visit the site on your own, you should know that it opens at 10:00 and closes at 17:00 (every day). During the summer the opening hours are longer: it is also open from 19:00 to 23:00
• There is a free Wi-Fi connection inside the enclosure