How to Visit the Stratified City (Antigua rofera de Teseguite), Lanzarote
Last Updated on 5th June 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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One of the most unique rock formations in Lanzarote is the Stratified City (known in Spanish as Antigua rofera de Teseguite), which is a large set of rocks which have been created over the course of thousands of years by wind, sun, and rain. Today, a number of weird holes, tunnels, and caves have been created in the massif and a wander through the area feels otherworldly. Here’s how to visit Stratified City, as well as what to know before you go!
What is the Rofera de Teseguite?
Situated directly in front of the “Barranco de las Piletas” ravine, the Stratified City is a series of leftover volcanic rocks that have been shaped by the wind and time.
Over thousands of years strange out of this world formations have formed in the rocks, which are still degrading over the time and are constantly changing appearance as a result.
How to visit Stratified City, Lanzarote
The rock formations are located just off the road LZ-404 and can be visited with a rental car. They’re around a 16 minute drive from Arrieta and a 14 minute drive from Cueva de los Verdes. The parking is off road and a little bumpy so be prepared to drive slowly to avoid gravel flying everywhere!
The closest settlement is Teseguite, a small and charming whitewashed town just a short drive from the former capital of Lanzarote, Teguise, which is incidentally a great place to grab lunch or dinner if you’re in the area.
While I would probably not recommend going out of your way to visit Antigua rofera of Teseguite (particularly if you are short on time), they are well worth checking out if you happen to be driving past during your trip. If you want to know when to visit during your trip, check out our Lanzarote suggested itinerary.
What is perhaps so unique about the Stratified City is that, while many other unusual rock formations on Lanzarote can only be seen after a walk or hike, many of the rock formations can literally be seen from the car, making them one of the more accessible geological formations on the island.
The Stratified City is completely free to visit, as is the parking directly in front. The site is open 24 hours a day, though there is no artificial lighting so there wouldn’t be any point in visiting after dark! There are no facilities such as toilets at the site.
Be sure to take your litter home with you and pack your own snacks and drinks (particularly water if it’s going to be a hot day- the site is rather exposed to the elements and can get really hot as well as windy).
A note of warning should be said before visiting: unfortunately, over the years, people have not cared for the rock formations. We noticed that there was quite a lot of litter and even some abandoned building material. There was also some graffitti and some people had even used the site as a toilet.
A rock formation which I preferred but is harder to get to is Las Grietas, which is located in the South of Lanzarote. For more Europe inspiration, here are the best quotes about Spain.
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