Buggy Ride for Kids in Lanzarote: Who Can Ride, and Who Should Sit It Out

Front and rear seating: how the buggies are laid out

A buggy is a small open vehicle with a driver's seat and one or more passenger seats, usually arranged side by side or in a row. One person steers and everyone else rides. The driver rules for this tour are strict and clearly published: drivers must be at least 20 years old, and anyone behind the wheel must have held a valid driving licence for a minimum of two years.^[1] In practice that means most families book with one adult driving and the children riding along.

Passenger fit matters more than age on paper. A child needs to sit deep enough in the seat for the restraint to hold them properly, and to reach any grab handles comfortably. Ask the operator which buggy you will be travelling in and how the passenger seat is set up before you book, particularly if your child is small for their age, very tall, or rides with a helmet that changes how they sit. If your group needs more seats than one vehicle has, mention it when you reserve so the right machines are held for you.

Babies, toddlers and very young children

Very young children change the maths of a buggy ride for kids. A baby needs a seat and a restraint that genuinely fit, and a toddler needs to stay settled for the whole trip while wearing a helmet and riding over lumpy volcanic ground. The tour runs 2 - 3 hours,^[2] and with pickup and drop-off the outing can take a good part of the day. Hunger, naps and heat all arrive faster in an open vehicle than in a car.

None of that rules the trip out for a family, but it is a reason to ask questions first. Tell the operator the ages of the children in your group, ask what safety gear comes in their size, and ask whether the youngest can sit beside an adult. If the answer is that your smallest child is not a good fit for an off-road buggy, there are gentler ways to see the same volcanic landscape, including guided walks and coach tours that cover the Timanfaya area.

Buggy wheels churning up pale volcanic dust on a Lanzarote track.

Pregnancy: a question for you and your doctor

Off-road travel means constant small jolts as the vehicle crosses lava gravel, dips and uneven tracks, and occasionally something bigger. If you are pregnant, that is worth a proper conversation rather than a quick decision at the meeting point. Talk to your own doctor or midwife about your stage of pregnancy and how much shaking and bracing you are comfortable with, then put the same question to the operator and ask what a passenger seat involves.

Ask whether you can join as a passenger rather than a driver, and what happens if you decide on the day that you would rather not ride. Booking terms for this tour include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund,^[2] so changing your mind before the cut-off is straightforward. If you would rather wait until after your pregnancy, the island will still be here, with a warm climate throughout the entire year.^[5]

Back and neck problems: when to sit this one out

The surface this tour crosses is volcanic: loose ash, sharp gravel and tracks worn into the rock. The Timanfaya eruption lasted 6 years and covered 23% of Lanzarote in fresh lava and spatter,^[3] and that inheritance is what makes the driving so memorable. It is also what shakes the spine, because the vehicle never stops responding to the ground under it.

If you have a history of back or neck injury, a recent operation, a slipped disc or any condition that makes jolting painful, treat this as a decision for your doctor rather than a quick yes at the counter. Ask the operator how much of the route is on smoother surfaces, roughly how long the roughest sections last, and whether the pace can be adjusted for your vehicle. Nobody at the desk can feel what your back feels, and there is no shame in letting the rest of your group ride while you enjoy the view from somewhere quieter.

Weight, body size and physical fit

Buggies are compact machines. The seats are narrow and shaped, the step up is high, and the belt or harness crosses your chest and hips. If you or someone in your group is very tall, very broad, or has limited flexibility through the hips and knees, mention it when you book so the team can suggest the vehicle that suits you best rather than the one that happens to be free.

It helps to give real figures rather than a rough guess, because seat width and legroom vary between models. The Can-Am Maverick X3 DS, for example, is a two-seat side-by-side vehicle whose engine delivers from 135 hp to 200 hp,^[6] and side-by-side machines ride and feel quite different from an open buggy. Tell the operator your height, your weight and anything you use to get around, and ask which machine in the fleet fits your group.

Mobility, boarding and getting in and out

Boarding a buggy means stepping up and swinging your legs into a footwell, then settling into a deep seat and reaching for the belt. If you use a walking stick, a frame or a wheelchair, or if a hip or knee limits how high you can step, say so before you book and ask what help is available at the start point. A second person can usually steady you, but the operator is the one who knows the vehicle.

Accessibility varies a great deal between operators and machines. The Guided Can-Am Trail Buggy Tour is listed as wheelchair accessible,^[4] while arrangements on other vehicles differ. If step-free boarding or extra time matters for your group, compare the options before you pay and ask directly about the exact vehicle you would be given. Pickup is available on this tour, with options shown when you check dates.^[2]

Nervous riders and first-time off-road drivers

Plenty of people arrive having never driven anything rougher than a gravel car park, and that is completely normal on a holiday tour. This one runs as a small group limited to 10 participants,^[2] with a live guide who speaks Catalan, English, French and Spanish.^[2] Guides brief the group before setting off, show the line to follow and keep the pace at something the whole convoy can hold, which takes most of the fear out of the first few minutes.

If you would rather not drive, ride as a passenger and let someone else take the wheel. Keep one hand free to brace, tell the guide early if the pace or the surface is more than you want, and drink water before you set off rather than during a bumpy stretch. The trade winds blow steadily from the north-east all year round, although the speed varies,^[7] so a buff, goggles and a light jacket make the open cabin far more comfortable, and an average annual temperature of about 21ºC^[5] means you rarely need much more than that.

Getting ready to ride

1. Check the driver rules

   Drivers need to be 20 or older, with a driving licence held for two years or more.^[1]

2. Seats and sizes

   Tell the operator heights, weights and ages so the right buggy and the right safety gear are ready for your group.

3. Ask about access

   Say if you need help boarding, extra time or a step-free vehicle, and ask about pickup before you pay.

4. Dress for the dust

   Closed shoes, sunglasses, a buff and clothes you do not mind getting dusty help, and a light jacket is useful too.

5. Plan for nerves

   Riding as a passenger is an option, and guides expect first-timers, so say early if you want a gentler pace.

Answers before you go