El Golfo / Charco de los Clicos

One of the most surreal and photogenic sunset locations in the Canary Islands — El Golfo is a half-submerged volcanic crater on Lanzarote's wild southwest coast, where the western half of the crater has been eroded away by the Atlantic, leaving a crescent-shaped green lagoon called the Charco de los Clicos. The lagoon's intense emerald-green color is caused by Ruppia maritima algae thriving in its hypersaline waters, creating a startling contrast with the black volcanic sand of the beach, the dark red and ochre crater walls, and the deep blue Atlantic. At sunset, the entire scene is bathed in golden light — the green of the lagoon becomes even more vivid, the crater walls glow with an almost Martian red intensity, and the crashing white waves on the black beach below complete the otherworldly palette. The viewpoint is a short walk from the tiny fishing village of El Golfo, which has several excellent seafood restaurants with sunset terraces serving fresh-caught fish. The combination of the volcanic landscape, the unique green lagoon, and the sunset light creates photographs that look digitally enhanced but are entirely natural. Free access to the viewpoint above the lagoon (a 5-minute walk from the village). Swimming in the lagoon is strictly forbidden (protected natural feature). Best visited on clear days for maximum color intensity. Combine with dinner at one of El Golfo's waterside seafood restaurants — the village is famous among locals for the quality of its fresh fish. A 35-minute drive from Puerto del Carmen. The sunset here, with the green lagoon reflecting the orange sky, is a genuinely unique natural spectacle that exists nowhere else in Europe.