The Plan
When we arrived in Fuerteventura, my secret wish was to spend more time in nature and enjoy a few windsurfing sessions.
Reality had other plans.
My wife was working, and once again I had to invent some activity for my son and me. So I thought: what better adventure than climbing a volcano together?
There was only one small problem. My son is 12 years old, loves Pokémon cards and Roblox, and does not always find the outside world as exciting as I do.
Turning a Hike Into an Adventure
Luckily, there is one universal remedy that always helps lure my son out into the wild: filming scary videos. It’s something he has loved ever since he was seven years old.
Instead of “just going for a hike,” we set off on a mission to scale a volcano, summon a demon, and witness an eruption with our own eyes.
In a normal, boring world, that would be difficult to accomplish.
But thankfully, we were in our post-apocalyptic world, where both of us understood that the stakes were high. And when the stakes are high, there is nothing standing between you and fun.
Where the Idea Started
This was one of the first trips we did after the concept had properly formed in my mind.
What began as a fun excuse to spend more time together slowly turned into something bigger. I started seeing it as a way to share ideas, create memorable adventures, and maybe even inspire other parents to spend more time outdoors with their kids through games, storytelling, and survival challenges.
Why Places Like This Fascinate Me
I have always felt attracted to abandoned places and desert-like landscapes, and over time I realised that maybe this fascination is not unique to me.
There is something exciting about places that feel empty, forgotten, or untouched by modern life. Volcanic landscapes like the ones around Caldera de Gairía feel almost post-apocalyptic even without any imagination. The dry ground, black rocks, silence, and endless wind make you feel like you have stepped into another world.
I think this atmosphere is one of the reasons our survival quests work so well. It becomes much easier for both me and my son to imagine stories, dangers, and adventures when the environment already feels unreal on its own.
What We Took With Us
We did not pack much for this trip.
We had a backpack with two bottles of water and some food. Definitely not enough to survive for long in a post-apocalyptic world.
At the time, the whole thing was mostly just for fun. But this trip became an important milestone for me. It made me realise that I wanted to take the idea more seriously, get proper gear, and start teaching my son how to use it in rougher environments while still making the experience exciting and playful.
The Route
The Location
Both videos on this page were filmed at Caldera de Gairía in Fuerteventura.
Caldera de Gairía is one of the best-preserved volcanic cones on the island and is located near the village of Tiscamanita in central Fuerteventura. The crater rises above large lava fields and dry volcanic terrain that make the entire area feel almost alien. The landscape is rocky, windy, and completely exposed to the sun, which makes it perfect for survival-themed adventures and exploration.
Standing near the crater, you can see volcanic formations stretching far into the distance, with almost no vegetation and very few signs of modern civilisation. It genuinely feels like stepping into another planet.
Journey to the Volcano
Halfway up the slope, we stumbled upon what looked like an ancient ghost grazing ground. Scattered across the volcanic rocks were old skulls and bones, bleached by the sun and surrounded by silence and black lava fields. The place instantly felt cursed.
Naturally, within seconds, we decided this was the perfect location for a demon summoning ritual.
Volcano Survival Quest
The journey would not have been complete without descending into the crater itself. And honestly, what could possibly go wrong when two explorers walk into the heart of a volcano in a post-apocalyptic world? Naturally, that was the exact moment the volcano decided to awaken and begin erupting.
What Would You Pack?
I would genuinely be curious to hear what you would bring if you had to survive in an environment like this for longer.
What would your backpack look like?