Lanzarote, the northeast of the eight inhabited Canary Islands, is located in the Atlantic Ocean west of the coast of Morocco. With its volcanic landscapes, great beaches and unparalleled architecture, it has a great appeal. It all began with the formation of a kilometre-long tunnel that was once formed 3000 to 5000 years ago by the eruption of the volcano Volcán de la Corona. The flowing lava masses formed a hardening crust, while below the upper layer, glowing streams continued to flow into the sea and solidified there. This resulted in a lava tunnel about 7 kilometers long, which begins at the foot of Monte Corona, runs across the coast and continues far under water. For this purpose, the Malpaís de la Corona lava field was created, in the middle of which are two of the most attractive sights on the island, the Cueva de los Verdes volcanic cave and the Jameos del Agua lava caves.
The unreal cave landscape Cueva de los Verdes
Cueva de los Verdes is a section of the tunnel up to two kilometres long that can only be visited as part of guided tours. Through a large collapse opening, visitors can descend 50 meters into the earth’s interior. There, a fantastic scenery awaits them, effectively lit by Jesús del Carmen Soto Morales. Carried by spherical sounds, they can admire the unreal world. Concerts are sometimes held at the deepest point of the cave, as there is no echo due to the air chambers in the lava walls. The hall can accommodate almost 1000 visitors and is known for its unique atmosphere. One of the most impressive attributes is the shimmering colors. The illuminated walls shimmer colorfully in white, red, yellow and black. The addition “de los Verdes” does not refer to the Spanish term “Verde” for the color green, but comes from the name of the family that once owned the cave. On the ceiling you can see how stalactites formed from the magma when it cooled. Bizarre rock formations are reminiscent of grotesque creatures. Some of them have evocative names that are closely interwoven with the history of the cave. During the 16. and In the 17th century, it served the population as a refuge from pirate attacks and severe storms. During one of the guided tours, guides will tell you interesting facts about legends and stories related to the cave, as well as its geological development. Towards the end, a surprise is planned.
Hint: Online tickets for the guided tours are available at www.cactlanzarote.com . You can also use this link to obtain further information such as opening hours or dates for concerts.
How to get to Cueva de los Verde
The Cueva de los Verdes is located on the LZ-204 road (departing from LZ-1). The public bus (line 9) stops at the main road LZ-1. From there, an asphalt road branches off towards the coast, where there is a large parking lot.
Jameos del Agua: culture and nature in perfection
Closely related to the Cueva de los Verdes is the artistically designed grotto Jameos del Agua, which belongs to the same volcanic complex. The ceiling of the crust of the volcanic tube has collapsed in certain places. The local name for these burglaries is “Jameos”. A wide lava staircase leads the visitor through the Jameo Chico to the restaurant inside. From there, you can catch a glimpse of a lake that is home to a very rare blind albino crab species (Munidopsis polymorpha). The body of water is also the entrance to the Túnel de la Atlántida, which continues 1.5 kilometres under water. The Jameo Grande leads to a palm-lined Caribbean-looking pool, at the end of which is a basalt rock auditorium that often hosts concerts. Back at the pool, the spiral staircase leads to a gallery with display boards.
