Lanzarote Hiking – South | Montaña Negra – La Geria – Montaña Negra

This walk commences in a small carpark close to Moñtana Negra just outside the village of Masdache. It is located along the LZ30 which is the main road through the wine region of La Geria, from Uga to Monumento Al Campesino. You will notice the building, pictured left, opposite the carpark. As you park here, you can see the vivid, burnt red coloured Caldera Colorada standing behind the black faced Moñtana Negra, a splash of colour in an otherwise dark landscape.

Leave your vehicle here and begin your walk along the road, back in the direction of Uga with this building to your left. You will notice waist high dry stone walls along the edge of the road. You can at this time catch glimpses of the jagged open crater of Moñtana del Cuervo to your right. In front of the second wall, you will see a wooden post indicating a track leading off to your right. As you take this track downwards, you reach an area of characteristic circular walled pits (´zocos´) each containing a vine plant. This dry cultivation known as ´enarenado´are how the vineyards of Lanzarote are uniquely planted. Water is precious on the island with there being little rainfall, and volcanic sand makes it difficult for plants to take root. To combat this problem, a circle of volcanic rock is built around each vine, allowing for enough dew to settle each morning to keep the vine alive. These plants are painstakingly maintained by the grape farmers before being farmed and sold on to the islands ´Bodegas´(wine producers) who themselves then go on to produce the wine.

As you look behind you, you will see, in an elevated position, two circular ruins built from volcanic rock. Double back on yourself and head in this direction. You will see a dark coloured trail running over the lichen covered, solidified lava close to the ruin on your left. The trail is well worn and is easy to trace due to the stark contrast in colour between it, and the paler colour of the surrounding rocks. The trail meanders gradually downwards towards the base of Moñtana Negra whose blackened face stands ahead. Glances to your left will give you a view of an extremely impressive, volcano filled landscape. The trail soon joins a dirt track where you will need to turn left. There are wooden indicator markers at this point coloured with yellow and white and the figures PR LZ40.

As your turn left and follow the dirt track you will see the scrub covered] mountain face to your right, and a sharp, lichen covered volcanic rocks to your left. As the track progresses you are offered remarkable views of the volcanoes that lie ahead. The dark Moñtana del Cuervo with its gaping crater standing alone ahead of its red and orange coloured neighbours. Underfoot, the dirt track soon turns to one of picon as you make your way through this completely silent, baron landscape. The track rises and falls gradually and to your right you will notice a small, whitewashed building sitting at the foot of the mountain. You can see that around it, green plants have taken root giving a splash of colour to the area. On closer inspection, you will see that this small, roofless building houses a natural well into which you are able to lower a plastic bottle and draw water for yourself. At this point, with the well on your right, you need to turn left and head towards the road which passes though the Parque de los Voclanos. When you reach the road, just before the two roadside markers that indicate that you are crossing into the Municiplo of Tias, cross over and continue towards the looming crater of Moñtana Cuervo (392m) opposite.

We will be turning left at the first wooden marker post ahead. However, it is possible for you to continue on this trail to the volcano itself, where you are able to stroll around its base as well as into the depths of its crater. On turning left, the trail gradually rises and falls as you make your way eastwards where on your left you will see Moñtana Peña Palomas. As you pass its base, you can see several high, volcanic dry stone walls which have been built to provide protection for the fig trees that grow behind them. During the summer months, figs grow abundantly here with the trees being provided ideal conditions by the climate of the island. Figs require sun all day to ripen palatable fruits and this location seems to be ideal to suit this purpose.

Over to your right, across a vast expanse of solidified lava, you can see the onset of Timanfaya National Park, its volcanic peaks coloured with shades of greys, blacks, deep reds and oranges. Ahead of you to the left, you can make out the distinctive circular outines of individual vines being cultivated. This is the beginning of La Geria, one of the largest wine producing regions of the island. The trail decsends at his point and here, on your right, you will pass a flattened area, surrounded by a wall, used for vegetable growing. On your left, at the top of a hill, you can see a private residence with large trees outside, the owners of which are offered spectacular views of the area. Bear right after the walled area and head towards the picon covered hill ahead. You will pass a small white buidling on your left and a wild cactus area to your right whose spikey fruits are coloured raspberry pink. The path bears right around the base of the hill where you will find two large fig trees sheltering at its foot.

It is at these two trees that you will need to bear left and continue where you will see a small brick outhouse on your right. The track here is slightly elevated above vine cultivations on both the right and the left with the hill face on your left being speckled with fig trees. The end of the track here meets the LZ30 road again where you will need to turn right passing the roadside markers indicating that you are entering the Municiplo of Yaiza. Lower down to your right you can see a large private residence and on becoming parrallel with this, as the road bears left, you need to take the trail downwards infront of you on the bend. At this point you are offered a sweeping view across La Geria, with its individual Bodegas dotted amoungst the thousands of individual vines. As far as they eye can see from this slightly elevated position you can observe the sheer number of small, volcancic pits each containing a vine. Follow the trail straight ahead towards the foot of the hill passing vines on your left and right. You will come across another wooden marker where you will need to turn left and head towards two towering palm trees, one of which has lost its fronds. As you look to your left you can see two bodegas located almost opposite each other, on the far side of the road Bodegas Stratus and opposite Bodegas Suarez. The trail passes several houses, and you will then need to turn right after the last house.

You will now walk through further vineyards with the gravel like picon crunching underfoot. Again, you will notice another wooden marker, and should turn left here, taking the track that leads towards the road and two further Bodegas, on the far side of the road Bodegas Rubicon and opposite Bodegas La Geria. There is also the restaurant of El Chupadero up the track ahead. (7km) If you have opted for a linear walk, this is where you can collect your second car or telephone for a local taxi to take you back to your vehicle.

Follow this track uphill where you will be walking with picon, in some places slightly deep, underfoot. To your right as you climb is Caldera del Galda, a volcanic crater rising to 567 metres. At the summit of the track, with a private residence to your left, you will rewarded with an amazing view. Ahead to the left, you can see Moñtana Negra and its red faced neighbour Caldera Colrada, ahead in the far distance Monte Guanapay in Teguise with the castle on its top and behind the sprawling vineyards of La Geria with its Bodegas overlooked by the distant volcanoes of Timanfaya National Park.

Gradually descend down the track and bear left as it forks. The trail narrows and weaves its way through sunken vines as you head towards the road ahead. On reaching the road, you need to turn left and head down towards the T junction. On reaching it, cross over and follow the trail ahead will its volcanic dry stone walls on either side. You will pass a small house on your left as the trail winds its way to the right. You will notice the residence at the top of the hill as noted in the outgoing journey. As the path straightens out you will see ahead of you a trail leading upwards through the solidified lava, take this trail as opposed to continuing on the dirt track. Again, it is clearly visible amidst the green, lichen covered volcanic rocks. As you follow this track through the lunar landscape, you will find yourself again at the base of Moñtana Peña Palomas where you will need to bear right enabling you to rejoin your outgoing trail again passing the walled fig trees. As you head back across the baron landscape you will again be greeted by the jagged topped Moñtana del Cuervo with its steep sided crater. If you have time, you could take a moment on the return leg to go and explore the volcano itself. Again, as with the outgoing track, you need to head back towards the road and cross over, aiming again the for small, whitewashed building of the natural well, where you will turn right and begin to meander back along the trail towards your awaiting vehicle. (13.2km)

If you choose the linear walk option, you will leave to leave one of your vehicles in the carpark of Bodegas Geria, on the LZ30 road towards the village of Uga.

This walk commences in a small carpark close to Moñtana Negra just outside the village of Masdache. It is located along the LZ30 which is the main road through the wine region of La Geria, from Uga to Monumento Al Campesino. You will notice a white building spotted with visible stones, in a slightly elevated position on the right hand side as you approach Masdache. Opposite is a small, gravel carpark. As you park here, you can see the vivid, burnt red coloured Caldera Colorada standing behind the black faced Moñtana Negra,a splash of colour in an otherwise dark landscape.

Leave your vehicle here and begin your walk along the road, back in the direction of Uga with this building to your left. You will notice waist high dry stone walls along the edge of the road. You can at this time catch glimpses of the jagged open crater of Moñtana del Cuervo to your right. In front of the second wall, you will see a wooden post indicating a track leading off to your right. As you take this track downwards, you reach an area of characteristic circular walled pits (´zocos´) each containing a vine plant. This dry cultivation known as ´enarenado´are how the vineyards of Lanzarote are uniquely planted. Water is precious on the island with there being little rainfall, and volcanic sand makes it difficult for plants to take root. To combat this problem, a circle of volcanic rock is built around each vine, allowing for enough dew to settle each morning to keep the vine alive. These plants are painstakingly maintained by the grape farmers before being farmed and sold on to the islands ´Bodegas´(wine producers) who themselves then go on to produce the wine.

As you look behind you, you will see, in an elevated position, two circular ruins built from volcanic rock. Double back on yourself and head in this direction. You will see a dark coloured trail running over the lichen covered, solidified lava close to the ruin on your left. The trail is well worn and is easy to trace due to the stark contrast in colour between it, and the paler colour of the surrounding rocks. The trail meanders gradually downwards towards the base of Moñtana Negra whose blackened face stands ahead. Glances to your left will give you a view of an extremely impressive, volcano filled landscape. The trail soon joins a dirt track where you will need to turn left. There are wooden indicator markers at this point coloured with yellow and white and the figures PR LZ40.

As you turn left and follow the dirt track you will see the scrub covered] mountain face to your right, and a sharp, lichen covered volcanic rocks to your left. As the track progresses you are offered remarkable views of the volcanoes that lie ahead. The dark Moñtana del Cuervo with its gaping crater standing alone ahead of its red and orange coloured neighbours. Underfoot, the dirt track soon turns to one of picon as you make your way through this completely silent, baron landscape. The track rises and falls gradually and to your right you will notice a small, whitewashed building sitting at the foot of the mountain. You can see that around it, green plants have taken root giving a splash of colour to the area. On closer inspection, you will see that this small, roofless building houses a natural well into which you are able to lower a plastic bottle and draw water for yourself. At this point, with the well on your right, you need to turn left and head towards the road which passes though the Parque de los Voclanos. When you reach the road, just before the two roadside markers that indicate that you are crossing into the Municiplo of Tias, cross over and continue towards the looming crater of Moñtana Cuervo (392m) opposite.

We will be turning left at the first wooden marker post ahead. However, it is possible for you to continue on this trail to the volcano itself, where you are able to stroll around its base as well as into the depths of its crater. On turning left, the trail gradually rises and falls as you make your way eastwards where on your left you will see Moñtana Peña Palomas. As you pass its base, you can see several high, volcanic dry stone walls which have been built to provide protection for the fig trees that grow behind them. During the summer months, figs grow abundantly here with the trees being provided ideal conditions by the climate of the island. Figs require sun all day to ripen palatable fruits and this location seems to be ideal to suit this purpose.

Over to your right, across a vast expanse of solidified lava, you can see the onset of Timanfaya National Park, its volcanic peaks coloured with shades of greys, blacks, deep reds and oranges. Ahead of you to the left, you can make out the distinctive circular outines of individual vines being cultivated. This is the beginning of La Geria, one of the largest wine producing regions of the island. The trail decsends at his point and here, on your right, you will pass a flattened area, surrounded by a wall, used for vegetable growing. On your left, at the top of a hill, you can see a private residence with large trees outside, the owners of which are offered spectacular views of the area. Bear right after the walled area and head towards the picon covered hill ahead. You will pass a small white buidling on your left and a wild cactus area to your right whose spikey fruits are coloured raspberry pink. The path bears right around the base of the hill where you will find two large fig trees sheltering at its foot.

It is at these two trees that you will need to bear left and continue where you will see a small brick outhouse on your right. The track here is slightly elevated above vine cultivations on both the right and the left with the hill face on your left being speckled with fig trees. The end of the track here meets the LZ30 road again where you will need to turn right passing the roadside markers indicating that you are entering the Municiplo of Yaiza. Lower down to your right you can see a large private residence and on becoming parrallel with this, as the road bears left, you need to take the trail downwards infront of you on the bend. At this point you are offered a sweeping view across La Geria, with its individual Bodegas dotted amoungst the thousands of individual vines. As far as they eye can see from this slightly elevated position you can observe the sheer number of small, volcancic pits each containing a vine. Follow the trail straight ahead towards the foot of the hill passing vines on your left and right. You will come across another wooden marker where you will need to turn left and head towards two towering palm trees, one of which has lost its fronds. As you look to your left you can see two bodegas located almost opposite each other, on the far side of the road Bodegas Stratus and opposite Bodegas Suarez. The trail passes several houses, and you will then need to turn right after the last house.

You will now walk through further vineyards with the gravel like picon crunching underfoot. Again, you will notice another wooden marker, and should turn left here, taking the track that leads towards the road and two further Bodegas, on the far side of the road Bodegas Rubicon and opposite Bodegas La Geria. There is also the restaurant of El Chupadero up the track ahead. (7km) If you have opted for a linear walk, this is where you can collect your second car or telephone for a local taxi to take you back to your vehicle.

However, if you wish to take the circular option, you will need to turn left here and walk along the road passing the Bodegas Suarez on your left and the newer Bodgeas Stratus on your right. Just past this second Bodega, where the road bends to the left, you will notice on the right hand side a track which heads gradually uphill past a small outbuilding on the corner.

Follow this track uphill where you will be walking with picon, in some places slightly deep, underfoot. To your right as you climb is Caldera del Galda, a volcanic crater rising to 567 metres. At the summit of the track, with a private residence to your left, you will rewarded with an amazing view. Ahead to the left, you can see Moñtana Negra and its red faced neighbour Caldera Colrada, ahead in the far distance Monte Guanapay in Teguise with the castle on its top and behind the sprawling vineyards of La Geria with its Bodegas overlooked by the distant volcanoes of Timanfaya National Park.

Gradually descend down the track and bear left as it forks. The trail narrows and weaves its way through sunken vines as you head towards the road ahead. On reaching the road, you need to turn left and head down towards the T junction. On reaching it, cross over and follow the trail ahead will its volcanic dry stone walls on either side. You will pass a small house on your left as the trail winds its way to the right. You will notice the residence at the top of the hill as noted in the outgoing journey. As the path straightens out you will see ahead of you a trail leading upwards through the solidified lava, take this trail as opposed to continuing on the dirt track. Again, it is clearly visible amidst the green, lichen covered volcanic rocks. As you follow this track through the lunar landscape, you will find yourself again at the base of Moñtana Peña Palomas where you will need to bear right enabling you to rejoin your outgoing trail again passing the walled fig trees. As you head back across the baron landscape you will again be greeted by the jagged topped Moñtana del Cuervo with its steep sided crater. If you have time, you could take a moment on the return leg to go and explore the volcano itself. Again, as with the outgoing track, you need to head back towards the road and cross over, aiming again the for small, whitewashed building of the natural well, where you will turn right and begin to meander back along the trail towards your awaiting vehicle. (13.2km)

I hope that you enjoy this walk, please leave me a comment as and when you try it out and let me know what you think, it would be nice to hear from you. If you would like to try another, why not try a coastal walk on the east coast? Why not find out what I am doing here on the island, and sign up to my RSS link so that you will get regular updates when I post further walks?

Tags: Bodegas, La Geria, Moñtana del Cuervo, Vineyards