Lava fields, five villages and an Atlantic shoreline share Tinajo's 135 square kilometres in the north-west of Lanzarote. The south-western part of the municipality lies inside Timanfaya National Park, where most of its volcanoes stand. In Mancha Blanca, a chapel is dedicated to the Virgen de los Dolores, patron saint of the whole island. On the coast at La Santa, heavy Atlantic surf breaks over lava reef and draws surfers.
Tinajo
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Spanish; English gets you by
- Power plug
- Type C/F, 230 V
- Visa
- Schengen
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1 (WET/WEST)
- Tap water
- Safe; desalinated seawater
- Tipping
- Not expected; 5–10% for great service
- Emergency
- 112
Things to do
All tours in Tinajo on GetYourGuide
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When to go
High season
Nov – Mar
Winter swells roll onto the north-west coast at La Santa, and the island's visitor season is at its peak.
Shoulder
Apr – Jun
The sea along this coast settles, and steady trade winds blow across the open lava and farmland.
High season
Jul – Aug
The island fills in August, and the bare lava of Timanfaya gives no shade at midday.
Shoulder
Sep – Oct
The heat eases over the lava fields and the first autumn swells start reaching La Santa.
How long to stay
A day covers the town of Tinajo, the chapel at Mancha Blanca and the coast at La Santa. Give it two or three days if the volcanic ground of Timanfaya is the reason for the trip, or stay longer and use the municipality as a base for the north and west of Lanzarote.
What to see
Destinations in Tinajo
Frequently asked questions
Where is Tinajo on Lanzarote?
On the island's north-western coast, north-west of the capital, Arrecife. The municipality covers 135 square kilometres, and its main town is also called Tinajo.Is Timanfaya National Park in Tinajo?
Partly. The park, created in 1974, covers the south-western part of the municipality, where most of Tinajo's volcanoes stand. The rest of the park lies in the neighbouring municipality of Yaiza.Which villages belong to the municipality?
Five settlements: Tinajo, Mancha Blanca, La Vegueta, El Cuchillo and La Santa.Where is the chapel of the Virgen de los Dolores?
In Mancha Blanca, within the municipality of Tinajo. The Virgen de los Dolores is the patron saint of Lanzarote.