Malpaís de la Arena

Malpaís de la Arena is a natural monument in the municipality of La Oliva, in the central part of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. Covering more than 870 hectares, it protects one of the geologically youngest volcanic landscapes on the island, shaped by an eruption that took place roughly ten thousand years ago.

Where does this black landscape come from?

At the heart of the protected area stands Montaña de La Arena, considered the youngest volcano on Fuerteventura. It has a roughly elliptical shape measuring about 760 by 510 metres and holds two craters. The cone rises around 120 metres above its base, with the summit reaching an altitude of about 420 metres above sea level. The eruption that built it spread wide lava fields across the surrounding terrain, giving the area the raw, dark appearance behind the name "malpaís" — literally "badland," a term used across the Canaries for ground covered in solidified lava.

Why is this place important for nature?

Since the eruption, the landscape has remained largely untouched by human activity. That lack of interference has turned Malpaís de la Arena into a refuge for vegetation typical of the archipelago's dry volcanic terrain. Plants such as tabaibas and aulagas grow here, both well adapted to extremely poor, rocky soil and minimal rainfall. Rich communities of lichen have also developed across the lava rock, and the surrounding scrub and rocky ground provide habitat for birds associated with this type of environment. Conservationists consider the plant and lichen populations found in this area among the best preserved of their kind anywhere in the Canary archipelago.

What protection status does the area hold?

The landscape and ecological value of the site were recognised as early as the 1980s. It was first protected under Law 12/1987 of 19 June, which established the network of natural spaces of the Canary Islands and classified the area as a Site of National Interest. That status was later refined by Law 12/1994 of 19 December on the Natural Spaces of the Canary Islands, under which the site was formally reclassified as a Natural Monument (Monumento Natural).

What to know before visiting

Malpaís de la Arena sits in the central part of La Oliva, one of Fuerteventura's three main municipalities, on the island's northeastern side, home to several well-known coastal resorts. Given the terrain — wide fields of jagged lava rock and a prominent volcanic cone — the site mainly draws visitors interested in geology, landscape photography, and the island's endemic dry-climate vegetation. Its stark, moon-like scenery contrasts sharply with the sandy beaches Fuerteventura is best known for, making it a worthwhile stop for travellers looking for something beyond the coastline.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the Malpaís de la Arena protected area? The natural monument covers approximately 870.8 hectares within the municipality of La Oliva.

How old is the Montaña de La Arena volcano? The eruption that formed it is estimated to have occurred around ten thousand years ago, making it the youngest volcano on Fuerteventura.

What protection status does the site have? It is officially classified as a Natural Monument under Canary Islands natural spaces legislation from 1994, having first been recognised as a Site of National Interest in 1987.

What can visitors see there? Extensive fields of solidified lava, a two-crater volcanic cone, and vegetation typical of the Canaries' dry volcanic terrain, including tabaibas, aulagas, and lichens.