Lanzarote Volcano Buggy Tours: Which Route Actually Reaches a Volcano

Lanzarote's buggy tours are guided convoys in which you drive, priced per buggy, not per person: about €150 for a two-seater and €180 to €200 for a four-seater. The most-booked is the off-road tour from Costa Teguise, rated 4★+ by thousands. Despite the "volcano" name, it runs through the north to the island's highest point, nowhere near Timanfaya. Book it for the driving and the views; to see a volcano, book the on-road tour.

Where do Lanzarote's buggy tours actually go?

Not into Timanfaya National Park. Driving off the asphalt inside the park is prohibited, so no buggy tour enters the Fire Mountains. The routes split between the north-east and the volcanic south-centre.

The off-road tour above starts at a petrol station in Costa Teguise and runs through the old quarries of Guatiza, past the Mala dam, up to Peñas del Chache, then back via Teseguite and the El Mojón quarry. It is volcanic country, cactus and badlands, but older and quieter than the south.

The on-road tour from Puerto del Carmen is the one that reaches a volcano. It drives to the Los Volcanes Natural Park for a walk of about 1 km to El Cuervo volcano, then through the La Geria vineyards to the lava formation of Las Grietas.

Off-road or on-road: which should you book?

Book the off-road two-seater if the driving is the point. It is the one sold as off-road, the price works out at about €75 each for a couple, and the payoff is the view from the island's highest point. Reviewers praise the guides; the recurring complaint is that the route has more tarmac than they expected.

Book the on-road guided buggy volcano tour if you want to walk up to a volcano. It is three hours in a four-seater Can-Am Maverick 1000R, in a convoy of up to five buggies, with hotel pickup included. At about €180 for up to four, it is the cheapest per head for a family of four, about €45 each.

Two seats or four: how the price works

Every price here is for the whole buggy. A couple shares one two-seater at €150; a group of four can take two two-seaters at €300 or one four-seater at €180 to €200. Two two-seaters means two drivers, which is the fun option if both of you want the wheel.

The off-road 4/6-seater tour at about €200 for up to four suits families who want dirt tracks. It leaves Costa Teguise and climbs from sea level to the Mirador de las Nieves at 610 m, past Teguise's old lime ovens. Pickup costs €5 per person extra.

Driving licence, age and who can ride

The rules below come from the operators' own listings, and they are stricter than many visitors expect.

• Driver's age: at least 20 on all three H2O Sports tours above. The on-road listing also says it is not suitable for drivers under 21, so 20-year-olds should check first.
• Licence: a full car licence held for at least two years, and the original document, because copies are refused.
• Front passenger: at least 1.35 m tall on the H2O Sports off-road tour.
• Children: the four-seater on-road tour takes children from age 3; other operators set the minimum at 5 or 7.
• Not suitable for: pregnant women and people with back problems.

The 4/6-seater listing says the tour is not suitable for people under 20 and does not say whether that covers passengers as well as drivers, so check with the operator before booking if anyone in your group is younger.

If only one of you holds a licence, you can share a buggy and that person drives the whole route.

Are the buggies in Lanzarote automatic?

Yes, on the tours we checked. Can-Am buggies use an automatic (CVT) gearbox: no clutch and no gear changes, just accelerator and brake. H2O Sports runs the Can-Am Maverick 1000R on its four-seater tours, and two other Lanzarote operators describe their Can-Ams as automatic in their listings.

That makes them easy to pick up even if you drive a manual at home, and the guide gives a short briefing before the convoy sets off.

Dust, clothes and what is provided

Dust is the part people underestimate. H2O Sports provides a windbreaker, dust goggles and a bandana, and other operators recommend a scarf and sunglasses or sell face coverings on site.

Closed shoes are compulsory: sandals, flip-flops and bare feet are not allowed. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty and bring a warm layer, which H2O Sports lists among the things to bring. The tours run rain or shine.

Buggy hire or a guided tour?

What gets searched as "buggy hire" in Lanzarote is, on GetYourGuide at least, a guided convoy: you drive your own buggy, but you follow a guide on a set route. We did not find unaccompanied buggy hire among the listings with real review volume.

Two smaller operators run routes nearer the volcanic south. Buggies Lanzarote, based in the Puerto Calero marina, drives through La Geria to a wine museum with Timanfaya as the backdrop, about €170 per two-seater. Aventura Lanzabuggy runs Can-Am trail tours from Yaiza. Both have far fewer reviews than the tours above.

For the national park itself, see our Timanfaya National Park tour guide. For time on the water, see the Lanzarote boat trip guide, and for every option ranked, our best Lanzarote excursions guide.

FAQ – Lanzarote buggy tours