Lanzarote and La Graciosa: Cycling Among Volcanoes and Cliffs

First day

Arrival at Lanzarote Airport, transfer to the hotel, and check-in. The afternoon is free, or, for those who wish, you can join the guide for a stroll to explore the surrounding area and beaches. In the evening, there will be a briefing with the guide followed by dinner.

Second day

Today we’ll cycle to explore Lanzarote’s most recently formed volcanoes in Timanfaya National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve whose symbol is “El Diablo,” designed by César Manrique. The massive eruptions that began in 1730 and lasted for six years covered a large part of the island with lava flows and increased its surface area by about 10%. We’ll stop for lunch at the park’s visitor center and then ride back, gliding on our bikes over a black sea of lapilli, to the hotel for a well-deserved drink by the pool.

Third day

Heading north across the island, we’ll pass through the vineyards that thrive on the black sand of La Geria. We’ll arrive in El Golfo around lunchtime, where you’ll be free to choose one of the many local restaurants. After lunch , we’ll stop at Los Hervideros, a series of caves carved into the lava—an intricate labyrinth where ocean waves crash against the walls, flooding them and creating a magnificent landscape. We’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Fourth day

Today we’re visiting the northern part of the island of Lanzarote. We’ll take a bus with our bikes in tow to reach the village of Haría and the Valley of a Thousand Palms. We’ll discover a landscape quite different from what we’ve seen before, lush with vegetation made possible by the moisture-laden trade winds. We’ll climb one of the island’s highest peaks to admire the steep cliffs of Risco de Famara, which drop sheer into the sea. We’ll stop for lunch with a packed meal and return to the hotel only after visiting the capital, Arrecife, and cycling along a beautiful bike path that runs alongside the sea.

Fifth day

A free day to spend relaxing or exploring the beautiful nearby beaches.

Sixth day

We cycle across the island’s central plateau, which will remind us of the vast, arid steppes of Mongolia. Vast plains bordered by volcanoes that have been dormant for millions of years—in winter they are covered in green, and in summer they reveal corridors of sand carried by the trade winds from the north coast to the south. The locals call it the Soo Desert in honor of the people who live there. Lunch break and a visit to the weekly market in Teguise, the ancient capital and a gem of Canarian architecture hidden inland to avoid attacks by Saracen pirates along the coast.

Seventh day

We’ll start with a transfer to the town of Orzola, where we’ll board a boat tothe island of La Graciosa. As soon as we disembark, we’ll realize we’re on a landmass in the middle of the sea, with only sandy roads where ochre- and yellow-colored mountains and idyllic beaches reign supreme. A roughly 25-km tour of the island by bicycle, relaxation at the small harbor, and return by ferry and transfer to the hotel in the afternoon.

Eighth day

Transferto Lanzarote Airport and departure for Italy; or, for those who can stay longer, we recommend exploring the beautiful
beaches around Puerto del Carmen or following in the footsteps of César Manrique’s brilliant works.