If you are planning a trip to La Palma, make sure to add the Caños de Fuego Visitor Centre to your itinerary. Many tourists stop here only briefly. They explore the exhibition, walk along paths above the solidified lava, and then continue their journey. However, few people know that one of the island’s most impressive experiences starts here. You can put on a helmet, grab a headlamp, and enter a real lava tube. The 1949 San Juan volcanic eruption created this remarkable underground tunnel.
We tried this tour ourselves, and we can confidently say that it was one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip to La Palma. Few people know that you can enter a real lava tube on La Palma. Once you enter the tunnel, daylight disappears. In front of you, a completely different world emerges. Flowing lava created this underground landscape more than 75 years ago.
Caños de Fuego visitor centre – discover the world of volcanoes
The Caños de Fuego Visitor Centre is well worth a visit. The centre stands where experts discovered an entire lava tube system after the 1949 San Juan volcanic eruption. The modern exhibition clearly explains how volcanoes, lava flows and underground tunnels form. Visitors can explore interactive displays and watch videos. They can also discover different lava formations. A viewing platform on top of the building offers views of the solidified lava fields of the San Juan volcano. Across the road, a system of wooden walkways leads to a glass viewing platform and the famous Cueva de las Palomas lava tube.
The centre also has a café with a terrace and a souvenir shop. You can also find free parking here. Therefore, the location makes a convenient stop for anyone who wants to spend several hours exploring one of La Palma’s most impressive volcanic areas.
If you ask the staff about the caves, as we did, they can also take you to impressive caves formed by volcanic lava.
How did Cueva de las Palomas form?
Cueva de las Palomas ranks among the youngest lava tubes open to visitors in the Canary Islands. The San Juan volcanic eruption created it in 1949. The surface of the flowing lava quickly hardened, while lava continued flowing underneath. Once the lava drained away, it left a hollow tunnel. Today, you can explore this tunnel with a guide.
The tour begins above ground
We especially liked that the adventure does not start inside the cave. First, the guide takes you along metal and wooden walkways above the solidified lava. Along the way, they explain how the volcanic landscape formed. Only then do you reach the almost invisible entrance to the lava tube. If you did not know it was there, you would probably walk straight past it.
Once you head underground, a completely different world awaits. You see natural lava walls, arches, unusual rock formations and complete silence. The tunnel has no colourful lights or artificial decorations. Instead, it remains almost exactly as nature created it. Headlamps attached to your helmets provide the only light.
Our guide explained how the cave formed and what wildlife lives there today. We also found it fascinating to learn how layers of volcanic sand covered parts of the cave after the 2021 volcanic eruption.
The tour impressed us greatly and left a lasting impression.
Another lava tube – Cueva del Vidrio
Few people know that the Caños de Fuego Visitor Centre offers more than the famous Cueva de las Palomas lava tube. Your centre ticket also includes a short tour of Cueva del Vidrio. The 1949 San Juan volcanic eruption created this additional volcanic tunnel. Here, the guide explains how lava tubes form and shows you their internal structure. The guide also points out volcanic glass layers, which gave the cave its name, meaning “Glass Cave”. Cueva del Vidrio is smaller than Cueva de las Palomas. However, it makes a great addition to your visit to the visitor centre.
Is the lava tube tour suitable for children?
If your children enjoy adventures, this experience will certainly impress them. Officially, children aged 5 and over can join the tour. However, parents should consider whether their child will feel comfortable walking across uneven volcanic ground. They should also consider the short time spent in an enclosed space. People with severe claustrophobia should avoid this tour.
Practical information
- Location: Cueva de las Palomas, next to the Caños de Fuego Visitor Centre.
- Tour duration: approximately 1 hour.
- Difficulty: easy.
- Minimum age: 5 years old.
- The price includes: guide, helmet, and headlamp.
- Children up to and including 12 years old enter free of charge.
- You must wear closed-toe sports shoes.
- The temperature inside the tunnel stays around 17°C. Therefore, bring a light jumper even in summer.
- Centre opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am–6:00 pm.
- Cave visits: 12:00 pm–2:00 pm.
Visitors can enter the tunnel only with a certified guide. Groups remain small. The Caños de Fuego Visitor Centre car park offers the most convenient parking option.
