Lanzarote has many great walking trails for all levels of fitness and with amazing views of the island’s unique landscapes. We had visitors last week who wanted to go for a hike and we decided to walk a section of the Camino Rural de Lanzarote GR131 which runs the whole length of the island from Orzola to Playa Blanca. From where we live in Candelaria, Tías, we can pick up the stage of this trail between San Bartolomé and Yaiza.
Going up the hill to the church at Candelaria, through the church plaza and on to the appropriately named Camino Vistas de Tías, we arrived at the trail. Going to the right takes you to Montaña Blanca and San Bartolomé. Our choice is to the south heading towards Uga and Yaiza.
The scenery is already stunning with panoramic views to your left over Tías and beyond to Puerto del Carmen, Playa Honda and Arrecife, while on your right are the steep slopes of the volcanic cones surrounded by rural fincas and their crops. After the recent rain the land and mountains were uncommonly green.
The first village you encounter is Conil where, depending on the day and time, you can make a short detour to the pleasant sociedad next to the church for a little refreshment. For us it was too early for a stop and we carried on following the red route markers towards La Asomada.
This part of the walk is on an undulating tarmac lane, but with very little traffic. Just before La Asomada is a great example of an alcogía, a large concrete rectangular area on the slope of a mountain which has an impervious coating and is designed to divert rainwater to the aljibe (cistern).
If you feel the need for a stop, there is another sociedad in La Asomada which is worth a visit. On this occasion we carried on and from here the tarmac reverts to a dirt track and there is a steady climb with views of Puerto Calero and Playa Quemada.
On this stretch a few different cycle and walking paths converge and you can walk over the mountains on either side or, as we chose, continue on the main trail.
At the crest of the hill, on a bend in the track, and just when you need a breather, you are suddenly rewarded with a stunning vista over the wine region of La Geria and beyond to the Fire Mountains of the Timanfaya National Park. It is a breath-taking view of the newest landscape on earth and will have you looking for the panoramic setting on your camera.
If you can do this walk in the Spring you will have the added bonus of beautiful poppies of lilac and red springing up around the vines in their protective ‘zocos’, the semi-circular walls designed to protect them from the wind and conserve the moisture.
From here there is a gentle descent through the vineyards to the lovely village of Uga where the island’s camels are bred. For us this is definitely time for a refreshment stop and the bar, La Cantosa, provides friendly service, cold beer and good quality food.
The final stage of our walk from Uga to Yaiza is on the level camel path through the mystic lava fields. If you are lucky, as we were, you will encounter one of the camel ‘caravans’ returning home from a hard shift of carrying tourists through the Fire Mountains.
Our walk ends at Yaiza, once voted the prettiest village in the whole of Spain, where we catch the hourly bus back to Tías. Fortunately, should you have just missed a bus (or choose to miss one), the Yaiza Cafeteria is on hand to supply ice-cold refreshment for you to imbibe whilst waiting for the next one.
This walk takes us around three hours, depending on how many stops. It requires a fairly good level of fitness, as there are some steep stretches, and decent walking shoes.
More Lanzarote Walks.