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Lanzarote: Timanfaya Park and Jameos del Agua Full-Day Tour
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The Jameos del Agua is a natural space and artistic, cultural and tourist centre designed by César Manrique. It is located in the municipality of Haría, north of Lanzarote, and is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to the island.
The word ‘jameo‘ is of aboriginal origin and refers to a hole produced by the collapse of the roof of a lava tunnel. The Jameos del Agua, just like the nearby Cueva de Los Verdes, is located inside the volcanic tunnel produced by the eruption of the volcano de la Corona.
The tunnel has a known length of 6 km, of which at least 1.5 km lies below the sea surface: this last section is called the Tunnel of Atlantis.
The Jameos del Agua are located in the section of this tunnel closest to the coast. They are made up of at least three ‘jameos’, or openings in the ground: these are the‘Jameo Chico‘, through which one enters the interior, the ‘Jameo Grande‘ and a third, called the ‘Jameo de la Cazuela‘.
From these tunnels, Lanzarote artist and architect César Manrique has pulled out a real gem, with the aim of showing visitors a space for the contemplation of nature. It is the first art, culture and tourism centre created by César Manrique and reflects one of his creative pillars: harmony between nature and artistic creation.
At the beginning of the 1960s, and due to the neglect of the premises, cleaning and reconditioning work was necessary. Although the works were delayed, we can highlight the year 1966 as the date when the first stages were opened to the public.
The special morphology of the lava tunnel caused numerous changes to the initial design, exploring new creative alternatives and ensuring that the solutions adopted were the most appropriate.
It was not until 1977, after more than 10 years of work, that the general structure of the Jameos del Agua could be said to be complete. In the same year, the centre was officially opened, including the Auditorium.
Subsequently, new installations were created for specific functions such as the museum space of the ‘House of Volcanoes‘. Since 1987, this centre has been dedicated to scientific and educational work on volcanology.
The Jameos del Agua is very important from an ecological point of view, as it is home to a unique and endemic species of crab, known as the blind crab (Munidopsis polymorpha), a centimetre-long, albino, blind crab.
These crabs are very sensitive to changes in the lagoon (from seawater) and therefore noise and light disturb them. They are very sensitive to rust, which can kill them, which is why it is forbidden to throw coins into the water.
You enter the Jameos by climbing a stone staircase up to the first cave, the Jameo Chico, transformed by Manrique into an unusual bar/restaurant overlooking a small lake.
This natural lake has extremely transparent water – regulated by the Atlantic Ocean – and is home to the blind crabs that have become the symbol of Jameos del Agua.
Manrique created an identity or logo for each of the cultural attractions developed under his aegis, and for the Jameos del Agua, crab and lobster symbols dominate throughout the site, from the large statue that greets visitors in the car park to the giant lobster-shaped pots used for the giant ferns, to smaller details such as the lobster-shaped door handles in the main auditorium.
Crossing the lake along a narrow path, you reach the Jameo Grande. Although you’ve probably seen it on a myriad of postcards, there is nothing more intriguing than coming out of the dark tunnel and suddenly finding yourself in a huge open-air cave lined with tropical plants and the most fantastic pool you could ever imagine.
This crystal clear, turquoise pool is a true paradise, although you cannot use it because swimming is forbidden. Only the King of Spain is allowed to swim here.
From the opposite end of the Jameo Grande you can then access the Auditorium, which was built partly in the lava tunnel descending to the ocean.
It was first opened in 1987, but was closed for several years until 2009, due to the need for restoration work. Today, the auditorium is used for classical music concerts, as it has excellent acoustics, but also for film screenings: Pedro Almodovar’s film ‘The Broken Embraces‘, which was partly filmed on Lanzarote, had its first screening here in 2010.
Finally, one descends from the caves to the Casa de los Volcanes, a state-of-the-art building that houses some fantastic information about the island of Lanzarote and, not surprisingly, about volcanoes around the world and the Canary Islands in particular.
You can view instruments and computers showing temperature measurements and Earth movements, placed behind glass, as they are still part of scientific studies.
The Casa de los Volcanes hosts an annual meeting of international volcanologists and, from time to time, lectures on volcanoes open to the public are also organised.
The Jameos del Agua is doubly interesting at night, when visitors can enjoy a delicious à la carte dinner and live traditional dancing and music. Evenings when the complex can be accessed are Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the year, plus Wednesdays during the summer months.
The Jameos del Agua is one of the most visited attractions in Lanzarote and to visit it you need to buy an entrance ticket. You can do this online at this link or by filling out the form below.
To avoid missing the main attractions in the north of Lanzarote and to optimise your time during your visit, consider booking a guided tour.
The Jameos del Agua is open daily from 10:00 to 18:30. On Tuesdays and Saturdays all year round, and Wednesdays in summer, there is also an evening opening from 19:00 to 03:00.
In addition to the bar/restaurant at Jameo Chico, there is a second bar next to the Casa de los Volcanes, from which there is a beautiful view of the pool and the Atlantic Ocean.
It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, as the floor inside consists mainly of volcanic rock. It is best to bring a hat in summer, along with sunglasses and sunscreen.
Currently, the Jameos del Agua is not suitable for visitors with disabilities, although the centre is making arrangements to remove architectural barriers.
Animals are not allowed, except for guide dogs.
There are no accommodation facilities near the Jameos del Agua. To find them, you have to head south along the LZ-1, after a few hundred metres you will find the resort of Punta Mujeres. There is no shortage of beds here, although there are no hotels. There are all sorts of flats and holiday homes , from the most frugal to villas with swimming pools. Some are located closer to the natural pools, the resort’s famous attraction, while others are located around the centre. Whatever your choice, getting to Jameos del Agua will be a matter of minutes.
Getting to Jameos del Agua with a rental car is very easy, as it is located right along the main road LZ-1, on the section between Punta Mujeres and Orzola, at the north-western end of Lanzarote. Parking is free and always available.
It is about 35 minutes from Puerto del Carmen, 25 minutes from Arrecife and almost 1 hour from Playa Blanca. Less than a kilometre away is the Cueva de los Verdes, another unmissable Lanzarote attraction.
The Jameos del Agua are located about 1.5 kilometres from the village of Punta Mujeres, on the north-east coast of Lanzarote, about halfway between the villages of Orzola and Arrieta, along the route of the LZ-1 road.
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