Mother nature at her best (Timanfaya National Park)

Member Name: karalouk

Product:	Timanfaya National Park
Date:	11/05/09 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unique and breathtaking views, fantastic demonstrations

Disadvantages: None worth mentioning

Timanfaya National Park is set on the most easterly Canary Island, Lanzarote. It can be found to the west of the island, nearby the town of Yaiza.

Lanzarote originally rose from the sea in the form of a mass of volcanoes so it's understandable that to this day the island is still home to a lot of volcanoes - more than 300 infact. Some of these volcanoes have blown and some of them are still very much alive. Timanfaya National Park gives an up close insight into both.

I have been to Timanfaya National Park numerous times, sadly - I have a 'thing' for volcanos, I just find them really interesting (although I think this was originally sparked by the Timanfaya experience). However I will be basing this review on the last time I visited in May 2009.

The island is small (only 37 miles long and 12 miles wide) so it is easy to find Timanfaya National Park. It is also signposted up well once you get within a few miles away. We visited by car as I like to do things in my own time and have my own space but if you don't fancy driving there you can always take an excersion. You can pick up leaflets for excersions from pretty much anywhere but no doubt you'll be handed a ton of leaflets for excersions on your travels.

Timanfaya is also known as the fire mountains and has it's own logo which is El Diablo, translated as the devil for obvious reasons. The fire mountains were created between 1730 and 1736. Over 100 volcanoes rose in the area and devastated the island. The last eruption occured in 1827. In 1968 it was decided that the fire mountains should be made into a national park. Due to year round heat and lack of rainfall and therefore erosion the fire mountains have remained almost identical to what they were all those years ago. The fire mountains are closed to the public except for the camel rides and Timanfaya coach tour, as to unspoil the area.

To get to the park you need to drive down a long, straight road. You will be stunned at the site of what looks like miles of black molten rock surrounded by volcanoes. It's almost like a choppy sea of black rocks. If it weren't so mind-blowingly surreal then it might feel a little eerie. Infact I have heard that scenes from the film 'Planet of the Apes' were shot here, I'm not sure how true this is but is totally believable. It is most certainly a sight you will have not seen in any other part of the island.

Along the way there are camel rides. Rather than sit on the camels back, the camel has a seat either side of its humps. It costs 6 euros per person and young children can sit on an adults lap (and don't need to be paid for). The camel ride lasts around 10 minutes in which time the camels will take you up a volcano and back down again. These animals are so big but in comparrison to the vast volcanic surroundings they just look so small and insignificant, it were funny really. It's a unique experience and most people that I saw seemed to be having a whale of a time but as a huge animal lover I couldn't help but feel sadness. I was repeatedly reassured that these animals were strong, but were they really created for numerous trips up and down a volcano all day long, carrying up to 3 fatties at a time!? And is Lanzarote even aware of animal welfare? They just looked like prisoners to me - all chained up together in a line, muzzled, with their wobbly little legs struggling to keep them upright. Each to their own I suppose.

A couple of minutes down the road from this is the entrance to Timanfaya National Park. There were a couple of cars queing to get in, signaling the entrance. The tickets have to be purchased from a booth and as their are no phone lines (it really is in the middle of nowhere) you cannot use cards as payment. It costs 8 euros per adult which isn't too bad, although seems like a lot if you visit in a group. You then drive up to the top of a volcano. The road is a little windey and there are plenty of sheer drops, this can be a little terrifying especially sinse there are no safety barriers or warning signs. Once you reach the top of the volcano there is a carpark. The carpark was full up but had stewards directing people to spaces.

A word of warning for wheelchair users, pushchairs and eldery people - the carpark is very steep indeed. The weather also differs dramatically to that of the rest of the island. Because the park is situated up in the mountains it is colder and windier so I'd recommend taking along a jacket. The sun was still out but it was a little chilly.

At the top of the carpark there are a number of different demonstrations which are designed to show you just how hot the fire mountains still are. Temperatures just feet below the surface range from 400°C to 600°C. If you take your shoes off you can feel the heat on your bare feet.

For the first demonstration a man pours a bucket of water into a small hole in the ground. Visitors gather around just feet away and suddenly (about 4 seconds later) the water shoots out of the ground and metres into the air. The sheer force makes the water come out with a huge 'bang' which is likely to make everybody jump, if you have young children it might be worth putting your hands over their ears. It's almost like a mini geiser to watch.

The second demonstration is a big hole in the ground where the man then gets a piece of dry bush on the end of a long stick and pokes it into the hole. Within seconds the bush unbelievably sets on fire. If you stand in the direction the wind is blowing you will get a face full of ash and heat so check the wind before the demonstration begins. Also be warned that the hole doesn't have any safety barriers around it and it wouldn't be hard for somebody to accidently fall in!

The third demonstration is another hole but smaller and inside a wall made naturally of molten rock. The hole has a wire rack on top and in the past I have seen people bring their own food to toast and cook on it. However when I last visited people just seemed happy sticking their hands and attempting to stick their heads in to feel the heat.

We all got a little bit chilly whilst we were up in the mountains and decided to take shelter in a small volcanic cove. The walls were made of molten rock and to our suprise when we leant against the wall it was warm! We also stuck our hands inbetween the holes in the wall and there were some really hot spots. Just unreal.

The last demonstration led us inside a small outdoors room. When we went inside there was a huge hole in the middle with a huge grill over the top with generous amounts of meat cooking on it (chicken etc) like a volcanic barbeque. For some reason the floor was made of metal and was very hot. Again there were no barriers that could stop people from burning themselves or causing themselves an injury. I think it's fair to say that they aren't overly hot (no pun intended) on their health and safety regulations! I stuck my head over the hole to have a look inside, I could only do it for a second or two as I was blasted with heat. I don't know what I expected to see (fire I think?) but what I saw was just a hole full of nothing, just rocks at the bottom and around the sides. It was very bizarre indeed.

Next to the volcanic barbeque is the El Diablo restuarant which serves up canarian food that has been cooked over the volcanic heat! I have never eaten in the restaurant so can't comment on the food or the prices but I don't suppose it's every day that you can say you have eaten food cooked by volcano, so it's probably worth a visit.

A coach tour is also included. There are a number of coaches which go around the park which means you shouldn't have to wait too long for one. We qued up for about 5 or 10 minutes before a coach came along. There aren't certain times which you need to stick to and can pick up a coach at your own leisure. The coach trip lasts around 20 minutes and takes you round the heart of the fire mountains. The views are absolutely breathtaking and the driver will stop for a minute or so when you pass a particularly interesting view (during this time everybody seems to shift to one side of the coach with their cameras clicking!). You'll see huge crators, blown volcanoes and molten rock which looks like it's still melting to name a few - it could pass for another planet. The tour has audio commentary in spanish, english and german, along with some rather epic music (a little cheesy at times). The commentary is really interesting and has excerpts of writing from a preiest that was on the island when the volcanoes erupted. Once again there aren't any safety barriers and at some points you feel as though you are going to fall off the side of the mountains!

To end is all there is a souvenir shop (of course) which sells all the essentials. Timanfaya National Park is open everyday from 10am to 6pm, but the El Diablo restuarant is only open until 3pm. It's a total must do if you are visiting Lanzarote.

Summary: Feeling hot hot hot!