3 Best Sights in Canary Islands, Spain

This bizarre green lagoon, which looks like something out of a sci-fi thriller, is situated at the outer limits of Timanfaya National Park just uphill from El Golfo. It gets its radioactive hue from its sulfuric content and Ruppia maritima seagrass. It's forbidden to walk to the lake as it's within the reserve, but there's a viewpoint that's clearly marked at the turnoff to El Golfo where you can snap some excellent photos, especially at sunset.  Wear grippy shoes and watch your step, as there are no guardrails around the viewpoint.

These water caverns, turned into an architectural destination by César Manrique, is situated 15 km (9 miles) north of the Costa Teguise. They were created when molten lava streamed through an underground tunnel and hissed into the sea. Look for the tiny albino lobsters on the rocks in the underground lake—this blind species (Munidopsis polimorpha) is found nowhere else in the world. There's a pleasant if basic restaurant by the lake, and the Casa de los Volcanes is a good museum of volcanic science. Night visits are possible on Saturday.

Beside two picturesque lighthouses (one built in 1903 and the other in 1985) are salt flats set amid a starkly black lava landscape. Placards along a footpath explain how salt is extracted from ocean water according to an ancient method. There's a souvenir shop selling various types and textures of salt as well as local wines, T-shirts, postcards, and more, and a good oceanfront restaurant specializing in salt-baked fish that's filleted tableside.