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Playing with volcanoes: four ways to experience the natural beauty of the Canary Islands

You don’t have to be a geologist or a James Bond villain to get a kick out of volcanoes in the Canary Islands. These monstrous megaliths of Mother Nature are more than just stunning selfie backdrops, they’re the focus of many unique activities – some of which you can book as a shore experience on your P&O Cruises holiday!

10 min 21 Jan 2026

Time Out

Destination Partner

Lanzarote

Let’s start in Lanzarote. At Timanfaya National Park, the ground is so hot in places that you can fry an egg on it. But at the park’s El Diablo restaurant, they go one better. Here, chefs harness the geothermal heat of a volcanic vent to grill steaks and chicken over 400 degrees C of sizzling lava power. There aren’t many places in the world where you can say you’ve had a volcano-fuelled barbecue!

Also on this island, the Cuevas de los Verdes and the Jameos del Agua cave grottoes have been stylised by environmental architect and island hero, Cesar Manrique. With beautiful lighting and torchlit pathways, you can step into the far-reaching tentacles of the island’s underground lava tubes.

In the nearby region of Haria, take a tour of the vineyards, where single vines, shielded by semi-circular stone walls, sprout from seemingly inhospitable fields of volcanic ash. Make sure you pop in for a sampling session at one of the wineries nearby.

La Palma

Over in La Palma, the ‘isla bonita’ that gave birth to a new volcano in 2021, volcano hopping is the thing. Protruding like finger holes on a giant flute, the 17 volcanic cones dotting the eight-mile-long ‘Volcano Route’ form the backbone of the Cumbre Vieja National Park and provide amazing views of the surrounding lava fields and pine forests… if you stop hopping long enough to take in the vista.

After such an exertion, you might want to flop into the bubbling waters of Fuente Santa on the southern tip of La Palma. Bring a swimsuit to bathe in the volcanic mineral waters of this remote spa complex, but be prepared to leave with a faint whiff of sulphur.

If you prefer your pampering a little less… raw, almost all of the island’s spas offer signature treatments involving volcanic stone massages, body scrubs and mud wraps in luxurious surroundings.

Volcano Hike shore experience with P&O Cruises

We bet you never thought you’d hike down a 3,000-year-old volcano crater! You’ll follow your friendly guide down this majestic red mountain, before being met by incredible views out to the Atlantic.

Volcanic landscape of Timanfaya Volcano Park on Lanzarote in Canary Islands.

Gran Canaria

If you want to see how locals still live in volcanic caves, head to the village of Guayadeque. Here, islanders have lived in these lava-carved homes for centuries. Don’t miss the cave church and a cave restaurant.

The Museo Elder de la Cienca y la Tecnología in Las Palmas features interactive displays about Gran Canaria’s volcanic origins, including a shaking earthquake simulator. The museum is great for those who want to geek out before delving in.

Tenerife

In Tenerife, you’ll find the granddaddy of European volcanoes. Ranked as the third largest volcano in the world when measured from its ocean floor base, the mighty Mount Teide offers a plethora of activities for the adventurous. You can take the 8-minute cable car ride to within a stone’s throw of its 3,718m summit, freewheel down through pine forests on a bike excursion, and hit the fairways of one of the island’s nine, volcano-vibe golf courses.

So, if you fancy flirting with the forces that shaped these sub-tropical islands, the Canaries serve up volcanic adventures aplenty. Just bring sturdy shoes and a sense of wonder – and maybe leave the white trousers onboard.