At a glance
- You must be at least 20 years old to drive the buggy on this tour, and the check applies to the person behind the wheel.[1]
- A valid driving licence held for a minimum of two years is required behind the wheel on the buggy tour operated by Buggy Tour Lanzarote.[1]
- Carry the licence you hold as a card if you can, and keep it somewhere easy to reach rather than buried at the bottom of a bag.
- Anyone who takes a turn behind the wheel needs to meet the same age and licence rule. Sorting out the order early keeps things simple.[1]
- The requirement is written for the person behind the wheel. Groups are limited to 10 participants, with pickup available on this tour.[1][2]
| Off-road volcano buggy | Can-Am trail buggy | 4 / 6 seater volcano buggy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | from US$173[2] | from US$196[3] | from US$230[4] |
| Duration | 2 - 3 hours[2] | 3 hours[3] | 2 - 3 hours[4] |
| Guide languages | Catalan, English, French, Spanish[2] | English, Spanish[3] | Catalan, English, French, Italian, Spanish[4] |
| Rating | 4.67 from 5,246 reviews[2] | 4.54 from 243 reviews[3] | 4.48 from 644 reviews[4] |
| Cancellation | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[2] | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[3] | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[4] |
On the west coast of Lanzarote, near Yaiza, we come across a very contrasting landscape. Here, the crater of an extinct volcano submerges into the Atlantic ocean forming a lagoon known as the Charco de los Clicos (Green Lagoon), declared a Natural Reserve.
Worth booking if one of you qualifies to drive
Read before booking
Minimum age and licence requirements
The driving licence age requirement is the first thing to settle, and it is worth sorting out before you pay a deposit. To drive a buggy on the Guided Off-Road Volcano Buggy Tour you must be at least 20 years old, and a valid driving licence held for a minimum of two years is required behind the wheel.[1] The rule is written for the driver, which matters when you are booking seats for a group where not everyone wants to take the wheel.
The drive itself is short and generous with scenery: 2 - 3 hours on ground shaped by the Timanfaya eruption, which lasted six years and covered 23% of Lanzarote in fresh lava and spatter.[2][7] Groups are limited to 10 participants, and pickup is available on this tour if you would rather not drive to the meeting point yourself.[2] Anyone who is not sure about driving can still come along for the ride.
Book the tour that matches the licence your group actually holds rather than the other way round. If nobody meets the driving requirement, there are other ways to see the lava fields, on foot, on a bike or from the passenger seat of a guided vehicle, and the landscape is just as strange and beautiful from any of them.
Driving licences from the UK, the EU and beyond
Licences arrive in many shapes: a UK photocard, a card from elsewhere in Europe, or one issued much further from home. What the tour's own rule asks for is a valid driving licence held for a minimum of two years.[1] Look at the issue date on your card as well as the expiry date, and check both against the date you will be driving.
It is also worth making sure that the licence you carry is the current one, that it is in date, and that the name on it matches the passport or ID card you are travelling with. A photocard that has faded, cracked or been through the washing machine is not the thing to discover at the last minute. If you have moved house or changed your name since your last renewal, deal with the paperwork at home rather than on holiday.
One more habit is worth keeping. Check the licence you are actually going to carry, not the one in a drawer at home. If your photocard lives in a wallet that stays in the hotel safe, take it out the night before and put it with the things you will have with you on the day.
Buggies queued on a dusty lava track with volcanic cones on the horizon
Originals, photocopies and phone screens
If you want a backup, a photograph of your licence on your phone costs nothing and takes a moment. The card is the version worth carrying in your pocket, with your ID alongside it, rather than loose at the bottom of a day bag. On a buggy there is a little dust, a little bounce and no desk to lay things out on.
Keep the two documents together so that neither one turns up missing at the moment somebody asks to see it. It is also worth photographing both and leaving that copy with someone at home, which makes a lost card far less of a drama while you are away. A zipped pocket is a better home for the card than an open one, and a quick pat of the pocket after a swim or a meal out costs nothing.
Identification and passport questions
The age and licence rules are easy to check before you book: drivers must be at least 20 years old, and a valid driving licence held for a minimum of two years is required behind the wheel.[1] Beyond that, bring the identification you would normally carry on a day out, with your name spelled as it appears on your travel documents.
For a group, the simplest plan is to decide in advance who is driving and who is coming along for the scenery. The tour runs 2 - 3 hours, pickup is available, and the group is limited to 10 participants.[2] It leaves room in the day for the coast or a late lunch, and everyone's documents can travel in one bag rather than five.
Cruise passengers have one extra thing to weigh up. Ships dock at the Puerto de los Mármoles, which is 3 km (1.9 miles) from the city centre[8], and this buggy tour runs 2 - 3 hours[2]. Check pickup options and your own all-aboard time against each other before you commit to a slot.
from US$173
The Guided Off-Road Volcano Buggy Tour is rated 4.67 from 5,246 reviews, runs 2 - 3 hours and keeps groups to 10 participants.[2]
Swapping drivers during the tour
Anyone who takes a turn behind the wheel has to meet the same rule, whatever seat they started in: at least 20 years old, with a valid driving licence held for a minimum of two years.[1] If several people in your group qualify, plan the running order before you set off rather than negotiating it in the middle of a track.
Time matters too. The tour lasts 2 - 3 hours and the group is limited to 10 participants[2]. A swap works best at a natural pause, with everyone already out of the vehicle. Agreeing the order early also lets the person who is not driving settle into the passenger seat and watch the landscape instead of the steering wheel.
One turn each is often plenty. The ground moves quickly under a buggy, the wind is loud and the seat is more exposed than a car. Decide whether you want the first half of the route or the second, and leave it at that. A word with the guide before you set off clears up anything you are unsure about, including where the group will stop.
Controls, gearboxes and first-time off-road driving
Buggy controls vary from model to model, and the opening stretch is the one to take slowly if you have never driven one before. Tell the guide before you set off that this is new to you, keep the pace steady on loose ground, and leave a generous gap to the vehicle in front so that dust and stones stay out of your face. Smooth inputs matter far more than speed.
Lanzarote helps here. The island has a warm climate throughout the entire year, with an average annual temperature of about 21ºC[5], and it sits in the trade winds, where the wind blows steadily from the north-east all year round, though its speed varies.[6] A light layer for the wind, sunglasses and something to cover your mouth and nose are all worth packing.
Dust is the other thing to plan for. A buff, a bandana or a light scarf over your nose and mouth makes a stretch behind another vehicle far more comfortable, and it costs nothing to tuck one into a pocket. Sunscreen on your hands and forearms earns its place as well.
Passengers who do not drive
The age and licence requirement is written for the person behind the wheel.[1] That is the line to remember when you are booking. The driver has to qualify, and everyone else can come along for the ride and enjoy the scenery.
Groups stay small, limited to 10 participants[2], and the day keeps a sociable feel. The tour runs 2 - 3 hours, pickup is available if you are staying further from the start, and the live guide speaks Catalan, English, French and Spanish.[2] A passenger can also take on the job of spotting landmarks and watching what is coming up behind.
If you are travelling with someone who cannot or does not want to drive, that is no reason to skip the day. The volcanic south of the island is dramatic from any seat, with black lava fields, ochre cones and the Atlantic in the distance, and a passenger gets the long views that a driver only steals glances at. Sit back, take in the long views, and let the driver keep their eyes on the track.
Buggy tour from-prices in Lanzarote
From-prices in US dollars from four GetYourGuide buggy listings:[2][3][4][9]
From-prices for Lanzarote buggy tours
From-prices in US dollars from GetYourGuide listings:[2][3][4][9]
When to book your buggy tour
Before you turn the key
Read the two conditions
Drivers must be at least 20 years old and hold a valid driving licence held for a minimum of two years.[1]
Check your licence dates
Look at the issue date as well as the expiry date. The driver needs a valid driving licence held for a minimum of two years.[1]
Pack the real card
Carry the physical card rather than a photo of it, and keep it where you can reach it without unpacking a bag.
Agree who drives first
Anyone taking a turn behind the wheel must meet the same age and licence rule.[1]
Speak up if you are new
If you have never driven a buggy, say so before you set off so your group can take the first stretch gently.
Ready to drive the lava fields of Lanzarote?
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