Great names of cinema in Lanzarote

The itinerary we propose on this occasion mixes great names of cinema with iconic locations in Lanzarote. A perfect combination of the seventh art and nature designed to captivate both cinephiles fascinated by audiovisual mythology and lovers of oceanic and volcanic horizons, two of the most characteristic elements of the island. The selection will be based mainly on the international recognition of the individuals linked to the films shot on the island, but also with the aim of creating a special route to discover Lanzarote’s unique landscapes. The estimated time is very flexible, as it will depend on how much each group wants to linger at the proposed stops.

This route begins at the southernmost point, in Papagayo, probably the most photogenic beach in all of Lanzarote. Located in an area with usually calm waters, this paradisiacal cove hosted one of the most memorable bikinis in film history in 1964 with “One Million Years B.C.” In her first movie, a young actress named Raquel Welch became etched in the memory of millions of viewers, wearing a provocative prehistoric bikini in this adventure film featuring cavemen and dinosaurs. It was still the sixties, a time when beachwear sparked as much controversy as attraction. Raquel Welch was nicknamed “The Body.”

 

We then continue in the south, heading 15 minutes by car to the town of El Golfo, on the coastal edge of the Timanfaya National Park. Next to this former fishing village is the Charco de los Clicos, an enigmatic mini-lake with greenish waters flanked by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and half a crater with spectacular hues on the other. This dramatic volcanic and marine setting has captivated many filmmakers, who have shot everything from westerns to comedies and science fiction films. While the previous stop focused on an actress, this time it’s about actors, as El Golfo has welcomed notable figures for the most refined cinematic tastes, such as the legendary Lee Van Cleef, the versatile Vincent Gallo, or Michael Madsen, Quentin Tarantino’s favorite actor.

 

The next stop, just a few minutes away by car, is La Geria, the peculiar vineyard area of Lanzarote. It offers many options with different wineries where you can stop to taste the island’s typical Malvasía wine. Once again, volcanoes play a key role, as these wines originated from the lava of the 18th century. After witnessing dozens of villages and nearly 25% of Lanzarote’s surface being buried, the islanders ingeniously learned to use volcanic ash to boost their agricultural production. After the catastrophic eruptions, new agricultural techniques allowed the island’s redemption through the economic boom of wine and spirits.

Additionally, this area hosted the filming of a Hollywood golden-age star who had a career as volcanic as the island itself: Rita Hayworth. The unforgettable star of Gilda filmed one of her later movies in La Geria, which became a cult classic for Quentin Tarantino and many others. In fact, the influence of The Salt Pans Trail (the title of this film) can be seen in the Kill Bill series.

 

Following the same road, a short distance away, you’ll find the surroundings of the Cuervo Volcano, a mesmerizing crater believed to be the first to erupt during Timanfaya’s historical eruption in the 18th century. This site was used to film Eternals, a U.S. blockbuster that grossed over $400 million at the box office and featured major stars such as Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek.

Another option in this area is visiting the Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote’s great film set, the location that has hosted the most shoots and stars: Alain Delon, Dennis Quaid, Liam Neeson, María de Medeiros, among others. There’s a specific route for this area that can be found on this website.

 

Whether you visit Timanfaya or not, the next recommended stop as you move north on the island is Famara, Lanzarote’s largest beach. This stunning beach, with its wild seas, offers a unique panorama, as it combines the Risco de Famara—a mighty cliff with the island’s highest peak on one side—and views of La Graciosa and the Chinijo Archipelago, a group of small islets to the north of Lanzarote, in the background.

Famara beach has been the setting for several films, including Broken Embraces, a movie by Pedro Almodóvar, a self-proclaimed lover of Lanzarote who has spent long holidays there. Regarding the role of the island’s landscape in the film, the Spanish director stated: “The island had bewitched me. I had never seen such dramatic colors in nature. For me, it wasn’t just a landscape, but a state of mind, a character.”

 

Finally, after a short 30-40 minute drive, we suggest wrapping up this tour with several significant stops within the Centers of Art, Culture, and Tourism (CACT). This network includes a series of natural spaces of great value, which underwent pioneering artistic interventions in the 1960s and 70s to attract tourism, then still in its infancy on the island.

The first stop is the Cueva de los Verdes, where six films have been shot, and where visitors can follow in the footsteps of an actor who left his mark on the history of cinema: Omar Sharif. Another well-known figure associated with this volcanic cave is Jules Verne. In addition to the film adaptation of his novel The Mysterious Island, which starred Sharif, Journey to the Center of the Earth was also filmed in the Cueva de los Verdes. The title is particularly fitting for this long underground cave, which leads to the world’s longest underwater volcanic tunnel, the “Atlantis Tunnel.”

Just a few kilometers away, this route concludes at the Mirador del Río, an organic intervention by César Manrique in northern Lanzarote. Manrique’s influence on Lanzarote’s landscape and history is decisive, with works where he masterfully combines art and nature. At the Mirador del Río, the main natural attraction is the view of La Graciosa and the Chinijo Archipelago, an area of immense environmental value that includes one of Europe’s largest marine reserves.

In these oceanic landscapes, some scenes from In the Heart of the Sea were filmed, a Hollywood production about the origins of Moby Dick, featuring stars like Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, and Cillian Murphy. Scenes from Dr. Gräsler: A Late Departure were also filmed in this area, a film directed by Italian Roberto Faenza and featuring music by Ennio Morricone. This movie included other notable figures such as American actor and singer Keith Carradine, British actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and Miranda Richardson, and Swedish actor Max von Sydow—all winners of prestigious awards in film, theater, and television.

To visit the Cueva de los Verdes and the Mirador del Río, we recommend booking tickets in advance through the official website of the Centers of Art, Culture, and Tourism.