Private cars could soon be banned from accessing the famous Fire Mountains in Timanfaya National Park as Lanzarote authorities move towards reducing traffic congestion and protecting the island’s natural spaces.
The proposal forms part of the new management plan currently being prepared for the national park, which welcomes close to one million visitors every year.
Jesús Machín Tavío, Lanzarote’s councillor for Territorial Policy, said he supports removing private vehicles entirely from the Montañas del Fuego area and replacing them with shuttle buses.
“If it were up to me, there would be no cars inside the National Park at all,” he said, adding that the final decision will rest with the park authorities and the future management regulations.
Under the plans, new park-and-ride facilities would be created in Mancha Blanca and Yaiza, where visitors would leave their vehicles before boarding shuttle buses to the volcano attraction.
Machín argued that the popularity of the site and increasing entrance fees make the proposal viable. “There’s no issue with visitors using shuttle buses given the current level of demand at the Montañas del Fuego,” he said.
Shuttle buses planned for volcanic trails
The cabildo also confirmed that new shuttle bus services will begin operating this summer to popular walking areas, including Volcán del Cuervo and Caldera Blanca.
Several busy roadside parking areas near the volcanic routes are expected to be removed as part of the plan.
According to Machín, buses would depart every 30 minutes from Mancha Blanca, and visitors would be accompanied by guides to ensure they stay on authorised routes and reduce environmental impact.
New protections planned for La Geria
The councillor also announced that the long-awaited special protection plan for La Geria will soon go out for public consultation.
The aim is to strengthen the protection of Lanzarote’s unique wine-growing landscape while also providing legal certainty for existing wineries and homes in the area.
Machín stated that no further development would be allowed in La Geria under the proposed regulations. “What exists now will remain, but nothing more will be built,” he explained.
The plan would divide the area into protected zones, including strictly restricted areas, traditional cultivation zones and existing residential nuclei.
The Lanzarote Island Council also says it remains committed to approving progress on the island’s wider territorial plan before the end of the current political term in 2027.
