Visit the Janubio salt flats

Lanzarote is an island able to surprise for its several interesting things offered to the visitor. Among them, there are the famous  Janubio salt flats. Today in Canarian Transfer we will talk about this curious place in Lanzarote.

Where are the Janubio Salt flats?

The Janubio Salt flats are in the southwest of Lanzarote, between Playa Blanca and Yaiza (closer to the last one). They are literally locatd at the feet of Timanfaya National Park.  

Its surroundings have not been always like nowadays, because aprox between 1730 and 1736, there were a serie of eruptions from  Timanfaya that totally changed the landscapes.

In particular, a large part of Lanzarote was coloured in black and the gulf was enclosed with lava where nowadays the saltflats are located. Before the eruptions, this part of the island was used for coltivations.

An ancient tradition

Salt is probably the oldest food seasoning. Proof of this are the Roman and Cocederas amphorae found near the sea. Probably they could be used to obtain the precious salt.

Salt has been so important for the economy of the island, that in the year 1605 by the Audience of Canary Islands has been asked for the Lanzarote Salt flats to be incorporated to the Royal Treasury.

The salt flats have been declared as Bioshere reserve in the year 1993. One year later, in 1994, they have been named as Site of scientific interest. 

They are aslo listed as a Special Bird Protection Zone, due to the large number of birds that nest in the area.

How are the Janubio Saltflats

We commented several times about the contrasts that Lanzarote usually offers to the visitor. It’s an island totally different according to ther rest of the archipelago.

When someone arrives to the Janubio Salt flats it is a big surprise for the contrast with the surroundings. The saline pools show whitish hues, while the surrounding beaches and hills are black because of the lava they contain.

A curious fact  which makes them even more special, is that each pool is delimited with dark stone and mortar. They also conserve the old mills used to carry water to the enclosures.

On the other side, each pool can have a different colour. Pinkish or red tones are related to a crustacean called artemia or by the seaweed  Dunaliella salina. 

Even if part of the process for obtaining the salt has been modernized, it is still quite artesanal.

From these salt flats it is possible to obtain the famous  flor de sal, composed by the scales of  salt originated by the salt flats. A 100% natural product that worth to try.

When to visit the salt flats

Each season of the year is ideal to visit the salt flats. But if it’s possible,  we recommend to be there about the sunset.

The sun hiding in the horizont, projects its reddish rays on the waters of the salt flats, producing a spectacle for the senses.

As Canarian Transfer  we offer a wonderful  excursion that will allow to discover the  south of Lanzarote. The Janubio Salt flats cannot be missing.

Reserve with us your  trasfer from the airport to your accomodation and make your visit in Lanzarote an unforgettable experience.