Caldera de Santa Catalina

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This hike (also known as Caldera de La Rilla), far off the beaten track, takes you to one of Lanzarote's spectacular craters. It also allows you to discover part of the Los Volcanes Natural Park, a veritable lunar landscape. There are no technical difficulties, except perhaps for its length (over 9 km). Be sure to bring windbreakers, as the wind can be very strong at the top of the crater. Please note that descent into the crater is forbidden (limits marked on the ground by stone alignments).

Details

n°44946588
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 74 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 74 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 386 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 307 m
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Photos

Path to the summit of Montaña de los Rodeos
Smooth wash on the east side of Montaña de los Rodeos
Santa Catalina crater
Crater of the Santa Catalina volcano

Description of the walk

Start: The hike begins at the large parking area on the LZ-56, on the left as you come from La Geria, before reaching the village of Tinguatón.

(S/E) Take the wide dirt track first South-West, then South, to the foot of Montaña de Los Rodeos.

(1) Turn right and continue until you reach a fork in the road.

(2) Leave the dirt track and follow the volcanic gravel path to the right towards the volcano.

(3) Continue along the rightmost path to reach the foot of the volcano in the lava field.

(4) Take the left-hand track towards the crater. The right-hand track is the one to take on the way back. Climb up to the crater rim.

(5) Enjoy the 360° view (watch out for the wind). Retrace your steps for 100 m, then fork left to rejoin the trail around the volcano. Turn left again.

(6) Continue straight on towards Montaña de los Rodeos to enjoy the lunar landscape. Rejoin the dirt track.

(7) Follow it in the same direction.

(2) Continue straight ahead along the opposite path.

(1) Turn left and repeat the outward journey in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 312 m - Parking on the LZ-56
  2. 1 : km 1.8 - alt. 313 m - Montaña de los Rodeos
  3. 2 : km 2.61 - alt. 328 m - Loop branch
  4. 3 : km 3.39 - alt. 323 m - Intersection, right
  5. 4 : km 4.31 - alt. 375 m - Track to the left towards the crater
  6. 5 : km 4.44 - alt. 386 m - Crater
  7. 6 : km 5.1 - alt. 364 m - Straight on fork
  8. 7 : km 5.49 - alt. 358 m - Dirt track
  9. S/E : km 9.05 - alt. 312 m - Parking on the LZ-56

Notes

Start: The hike begins at the large parking area on the LZ-56, on the left as you come from La Geria, before reaching the village of Tinguatón.

Refreshments & Gears: No water or shade on the trail. Bring water, a hat or cap and a windbreaker.
No technical difficulties, but good footwear is recommended on the volcanic gravel trail.

Notes: Please note the relative length (9 Km from the roadside car park).
Do not enter the crater and respect the ground barriers.

Worth a visit

The name of the volcano that appears on maps is Caldera de la Rilla. But on the island, it's better known as the Caldera de Santa Catalina volcano, after the village of the same name, which was buried by the volcano's lava torrents in the 18th century. It was the second volcano to erupt, after the nearby Los Cuervos.

The Los Cuerdos volcano, back on the Geria, allows you to enter the crater on a very quiet but busy walk.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
koulouba
koulouba

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Whatever hike you choose in Lanzarote, bear in mind that there’s no shade, and the black lava means it gets very hot very quickly, so make sure you bring plenty to drink and a hat. Otherwise, the scenery is spectacular.

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User 8339425

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Just a note: instead of stopping at the side of the tarmac road, you can park 500 metres further along on the dirt track, at the end of which there is a car park. Given the temperature, we would have appreciated this for the return journey in the midday sun.
But this hike, which starts in the middle of the lava flow, is magnificent, with a view of the bottom of the caldera at the end.

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fzutterman
fzutterman

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Although this route is already good as described, it can be considerably improved by 3 modifications. Firstly, don't park in the car park along the road, but continue by car to the car park in front of the barrier about halfway between S/E and 1. You'll save yourself a kilometre of very tedious track each way. Secondly, climb Montaña de los Rodeos and back (a slightly steep path straight up the slope, but safe and easy to find). Thirdly, head back towards the car park, skirting the Montaña de los Rodeos to the east along a nice, easy path. Avoid the return journey along the same path and pass by a magnificent expanse of smooth lava (probably a former large lava lake), in stark contrast to the aa lava and lapilli encountered earlier.

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framaz
framaz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little hike, perfect for discovering the unsuspected richness of the ecosystem and its diversity. Magnificent scenery.

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bukie
bukie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Outside the school holidays, we didn't see anyone. Discovering this superb volcano as you go. You can park directly at the first point near the gardens if you want to shorten the walk a little.

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Romaryn
Romaryn

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy walk. The view of the crater is very impressive. For your information, you can drive all the way to point 1, as the first part is not very interesting.

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