Holidaymaker returns stolen Timanfaya rocks after they brought him bad luck
A German tourist who stole volcanic rocks from Montañas del Fuego in Lanzarote returned them to the island after claiming they had brought him “bad luck”. In a handwritten letter sent to Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, the man confessed that he had experienced a “serious personal tragedy” and felt “obliged to return” the pieces of rock he took from the protected natural area.
He explained, “I’ve heard the legends that say taking volcanic rock from its place of origin brings bad luck, and I’m afraid that’s what happened to me.” He admitted he had collected the stones from the area near the “hot embers” outside the main visitor centre at Montañas del Fuego.
The park authority recently shared the story publicly as a reminder of the rules protecting the island’s unique volcanic environment.
Officials also warned that stealing heritage or natural elements from the park can result in fines of up to €3,000. In fact, a large volume of stones and sand is regularly confiscated from luggage at Aeropuerto César Manrique.
Taking volcanic stones from Timanfaya does far more harm than most visitors think. Park officials explained that these rocks are home to small plants, fungi, insects, and other unique species that only exist in this environment. When the stones are removed, these tiny ecosystems are destroyed, the soil becomes weaker, and erosion gets worse. It also affects the entire food chain; without rocks to shelter, insects, reptiles, and birds lose their main source of food, creating what the park called a “dangerous domino effect.”
Beyond the environmental harm, these volcanic rocks are also part of Lanzarote’s traditional architecture and cultural heritage. “That rock has no meaning on your shelf. It’s not a souvenir or material for jewellery, it belongs to nature,” the park stated. “Stealing nature is stealing the future.”
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