Santa Bárbara Castle: One of Lanzarote’s Most Overlooked Views.

Santa Bárbara Castle: One of Lanzarote’s Most Overlooked Views.

by | Bettinas World, Costa Teguise, Lanzarote To Do

Santa Bárbara Castle sits quietly on top of the volcano overlooking Teguise, the former capital of Lanzarote.

Built in the early 16th century, the castle was designed as a defensive fortress at a time when Lanzarote was vulnerable to pirate raids. From its elevated position, it offered wide views across the island and out to sea, where approaching danger could be spotted long before it reached the shore.

It was never intended to be decorative. Its purpose was simple: watch, protect, and respond.

Today, it remains one of the most recognisable landmarks in Teguise, yet for years I was one of those people who only ever saw it from a distance.

I have driven past it countless times, always thinking the same thing: one day, I’ll go up there.

As often happens, “one day” slowly turned into years.

Then eventually I found myself asking a simple question: if not now, then when?

The decision to finally visit came while I was chatting with some dear friends about places we could explore together. We were looking for somewhere a little different, somewhere we hadn’t visited before, and Santa Bárbara Castle immediately came to mind. It felt like the perfect choice. Not only was it a place I had been meaning to visit for years, but it would also give us the chance to spend an enjoyable hour together discovering somewhere new. As it turned out, it was the first visit for all three of us, which made the experience even more special.

One of the things that surprised me was how easy it is to visit. You can drive most of the way up, making it accessible for almost everyone, and there is no entrance fee. No tickets, no queues, no pressure. Just a simple opportunity to explore one of Lanzarote’s historic landmarks.

The day we visited, the wind was strong and constant. Walking through the rooms of the fortress, it felt as though it followed us through every corner of the building. Standing there, it was impossible not to imagine what life must have been like centuries ago. Watching the horizon. Looking out to sea. Waiting for ships to appear.

Life here would have been shaped by awareness and vigilance.

From a distance, the castle looks smaller than you expect, but once inside it slowly reveals itself as a practical military structure built for survival rather than beauty. Room by room, it becomes clear why this was once such an important defensive point for Teguise and the island of Lanzarote. Nothing feels unnecessary. Everything had a purpose.

Standing at the top, the views stretch across Teguise and the surrounding volcanic landscape. Moments like that make it easy to imagine the past. Ships appearing on the horizon, signals being read, decisions being made quickly when uncertainty arrived from the sea. For a brief moment, the distance between past and present feels surprisingly small.

In fact, while I was standing up there, I found myself wishing that time travel existed. Just imagine being able to step back for a few moments and witness an ordinary day in the 16th century. To see the guards keeping watch, hear the conversations, and experience the atmosphere of the castle when it was still serving its original purpose. I bet I’m not the only person in the world who has wished they could return to a specific moment in history, just to see what it was really like.

Later, when I showed my daughter the photos, she said it looked like something from Game of Thrones. In her own way, she was right.

There is something about Santa Bárbara Castle that feels timeless. Raw, simple and untouched by modern distractions. The kind of place that seems to belong to another world.

Looking back, the visit wasn’t really about history or architecture.

It was about finally doing something I had been meaning to do for years.

Replacing “one day” with today.

Because the truth is, “one day” never arrives on its own.

You have to choose it.

I’m also pleased that I finally shared the experience with friends. Sometimes the best memories come from simple outings, good company, and finally visiting a place that has been waiting patiently on your list for years.

If you’re exploring Teguise or spending time in central Lanzarote, Santa Bárbara Castle is well worth the stop. It offers a glimpse into the island’s history, incredible views across the landscape and a quieter experience than many of the island’s more popular attractions.

If there’s somewhere in Lanzarote you’ve been meaning to visit, maybe this is your reminder.

Keep it simple. Pick a day. And go.

Sometimes the places we pass by the most are the ones worth experiencing the most.

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Las Grietas: A Hidden Corner On Lanzarote.

Las Grietas: A Hidden Corner On Lanzarote.

by | Bettinas World, Lanzarote To Do, Lanzarote Trekking & Picnic Places

  Las Grietas: A Hidden Corner On Lanzarote.

I’ve been living in Lanzarote since 1993, and I like to think I know the island pretty well. Its landscapes, moods, and quieter corners have all become familiar over the years. But Lanzarote has a way of surprising you. Just a few years ago, I discovered LAS GRIETAS, and it instantly became one of my little favorite spots.

Even though it’s more known now thanks to social media, it’s still one of those places where you feel close to Lanzarote’s volcanic heart quiet, raw, and endlessly fascinating.

Las Grietas are natural volcanic fissures, formed when lava moved under the surface and cooled, slowly splitting the basalt rock. Walking through them, you don’t need a geology lesson  the place explains itself. The layers of rock, the colours, the textures, all whisper the story of Lanzarote’s CREATION.

What I love most is how accessible it is. There’s no long hike, no entrance fee, no visitor center.  You just arrive, step inside, and suddenly you’re standing inside the history of the ISLAND.

After visiting the fissures, I always suggest taking a few extra minutes to cross the road and walk up the small mountain opposite. It’s an easy walk, and from the top you get stunning views over the city`s of Arrecife and Tías. There’s something MAGICAL about moving from the intimate, shadowed cracks of Las Grietas to seeing the island open up around you.

Inside Las Grietas, the sunlight changes constantly, casting deep shadows and strong contrasts. The walls shelter you from the wind, and there’s often an unexpected sense of calm. It’s one of those places where you can simply slow down, take a breath, and let Lanzarote speak for itself.

What I love about living here is that even after decades, I can still discover new places. My good friends SHELDON & MARIE, who visit Lanzarote more than five times a year, are a perfect example. Every visit, I manage to show them a different corner of the island  from hidden beaches to volcanic trails, there’s always something unexpected to explore.

And it’s easy to see why: even though Lanzarote is only 80 km long, it offers a surprising variety of landscapes, moods, and experiences. That’s one of the things I love most about this island is it always has more to reveal.

A gentle reminder here: Places like Las Grietas are fragile. Wear good shoes, don’t climb the walls, and leave it exactly as you found it. That’s all it takes to make sure these corners remain peaceful for everyone who comes after.

Even after years of living here, Las Grietas reminded me that Lanzarote never stops revealing itself. If you want to understand Lanzarote  not just see it  this little fissure in the volcanic rock has a lot to TEACH.

TO GET TO LAS GRIETAS FOLLOW THIS ROUTE:

 VIDEOFRABJERGINFRONT.MOV

  1. Take the LZ-35 road. This is the main asphalt road connecting Tías and San Bartolomé.

  2. If you are coming from Tías, head north/northeast on LZ-35 toward San Bartolomé.

  3. The access point / roadside parking is a small unmarked spot along this same LZ-35.

  4. From the parking area, you’ll walk a few minutes across a pedestrian tunnel under the road and up a short path to the fissures. 

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Los Charcones: A Story of Wild Beauty and Quiet Magic

Los Charcones: A Story of Wild Beauty and Quiet Magic

by | Bettinas World

Los Charcones: A Story of Wild Beauty and Quiet Magic

There is a place on the western edge of Playa Blanca where the ocean seems to breathe a little deeper. A place where the volcanic cliffs meet the Atlantic with a steady, honest strength. No sand, no promenade, just nature being exactly what it is. This place is called Los Charcones, though for many years it lived mostly in quiet conversations, shared only by those who held LANZAROTE close to their hearts.

I first went there in the early nineties, when the island still felt wonderfully unhurried. A friend of mine told me about some natural pools beyond the lighthouse, and there was something in the way he mentioned them that stayed with me. So one morning I climbed into my jeep and set off along the dusty tracks, not entirely sure what awaited me.

The road was rough back then, the kind that makes you slow down, pay attention, and wonder if you should just turn around and enjoy your Sunday at the beach instead.

When I finally reached the coastline, I felt myself pause. The landscape was wild and beautiful in a way that felt almost intimate. Dark lava fields shaped by years of tide and weather, quiet pools carved naturally into the rock, and the Atlantic stretching endlessly in the the horizon.

The pools shimmered with a clarity that almost didn’t seem real. The waves crashed nearby, but the pools themselves stayed calm, protected, as if the island had set them aside for anyone willing to make the journey. There were no footprints, no noise, no reminders of anything except the moment right in front of me.

Just before you reach the pools, there is the unfinished hotel a concrete structure that has stood there for nearly forty years, never completed, always weathered by sun and wind. To many of us, it feels like a misplaced idea the island simply refused to accept. And yet, over time, it has become part of the approach. Seeing it rise in the distance has a strange comfort to it; it means you’re almost there, almost at the part the island protected for itself.

All these years later, Los Charcones hasn’t lost its magic. The pools still feel quiet and almost sacred, as if the island is still watching over them. And respect is essential here. The coastline is open to the Atlantic, and the sea can change quickly. It’s important to check the tides, to keep a safe distance when the water is rough, and to move carefully across the volcanic rock. This isn’t a place to rush, It’s a place to understand.

One of the simplest but most important things is to take everything back with you. There are no bins, no facilities, and that’s part of what makes Los Charcones feel the way it does. Over the years I’ve seen how even small bits of rubbish can interrupt the quiet beauty of a place like this. The magic stays only if we care for it.

Walking along the coastline, you can still discover pool after pool, each one shaped differently. Some are shallow and peaceful; others are deeper, glowing in shades of blue and green that feel almost like a secret. The silence here isn’t empty. Its filled with the sound of waves, the touch of wind, and the quiet energy that makes Lanzarote feel both wild and welcoming.

Sharing Los Charcones with family and friends has become something I cherish. Seeing their faces light up when they first take in the pools, watching them pause the way I once did makes the place even more meaningful. Each visit becomes a moment you carry with you.

When you finally walk away, leaving only your footprints on the rock, you understand why Los Charcones has stayed a treasure for so long.  It’s not just a place. Its a reminder that some places keep their magic only when we treat them with care.

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Punta Mujeres A Lanzarote Village By The Sea

Punta Mujeres A Lanzarote Village By The Sea

by | Bettinas World, Lanzarote To Do

Punta Mujeres is a small fishing village on the Northern East coast of LANZAROTE, not at all touristic. Very quiet and very traditional. When entering into the village you will see white houses with blue windows for about two kilometers. That’s the size of the village. All of them built close to and along the sea.

When you walk along the tiny streets in between the houses a very laid-back atmosphere is felt straight away.  Old fishing boats are lined up on some of the streets. The smell of salt and sea is filling the fresh air too. Its Flip Flop life!

The Name “Punta Mujeres” when translated into English, actually means the “The Women Spot”. There are various stories as to why the village was named like that back in the 17th Century. I was told by an elderly villager that there are some rocks near the sea that look like the silhouette of a women. That’s where the name of the village came from, he told me. How romantic!

In Punta Mujeres there are approximately 1000 habitants. Do I need to say more?

As well as being a very laid-back and peaceful village it also has some marvelous natural pools just next to the sea.  So, if you decide to visit PUNTA MUJERES don’t forget your swimming suit. And because the “Pools” are not connected to the open sea they have a lovely temperature all year along.

You will find this lovely Tapas Bar named “Bar La Piscina” just 20-foot steeps from the sea and the pools and it’s really worth while a visit. The food is very good indeed. Even sitting outside the Bar is actually quite entertaining too. Especially when the adults jump into the pools and behave like happy kids.

 Close to the SWIMMING POOLS you will see this house decorated with flowers of all sorts from ground to roof. In between as shown on the photo there are decorations that match the sea as well as decorations that will make you laugh and smile at the same time. This is a house when first seen is never forgotten!

 

Quite often, especially in the late afternoons, you will see local families with their kids standing FISHING on the volcanic rocks along the sea avenue. When the sea goes shallow, its perfect for catching octopuses. It’s one of the typically diches on the Canarias dinner table, and also one of my own favorites. See my typical Canarian recipes HERE

 

Welcome to laid back and peaceful Punta Mujeres. And don’t forget to bring your Flip Flops!

 

Haria Valley Of A Thousand Palms

Haria Valley Of A Thousand Palms

by | Bettinas World, Lanzarote To Do

Haria Valley Of A Thousand Palms

 

HARIA VILLAGE is situated in the North of Lanzarote and is one of the cutest and unspoiled villages here. I am sure you will love the place if you visit. It received its name “The Valley of A 1000 palms” many years ago from an old tradition of planting a new palm tree every time a new baby was born. It is now the greenest village of the Island. Apart from being cute it is also very authentic, CANARIAN and delightful at the same time.

 

“Haria boasts about its peaceful and harmonious atmosphere”

       – Cesar Manrique, Lanzarote

 

When driving downhill from the Mountains of Las Valles towards Haria you will see a fantastic view of the village and all the Palm trees surrounding the white houses.

All the buildings are traditional painted in white with wooden windows, with small cute balconies most of them with Bougainvillea flowers. The streets are tiny, so one has to drive carefully and slowly. There is a small plaza with Coffie and Tapas Bars. Perfect for relaxation, and an opportunity to letting the time fly by in a non bussy VILLAGE.

Just 50 meters away around the corner you will see the Local Townhall of Haria. Well maintained with a touch of Canarian style to it, and with a little Plaza in front, and of course plenty of Bougainvillea’s flowers. That`s HARIA.

My personal favorite Tapas place in Haria is the TELECLUB “La Tegala” next to the Local Church. I have to say they got a lovely menu card, and the strongest MOJO Garlic sours I ever tried. So, if you go there to enjoy a meal or Tapas with family or friends, I suggest you all join in! There is also an Aloe Vera shop with plenty of interesting natural products of all kinds.

Lanzarotes most famous Arquitect CESAR MANRIQUE built his second home in Haria in the eighties.

The house is today a Museum and open to the public. When he bought the place, it was an old run downed farmhouse. He refurbished the old building into a traditional Canarian Arquitecture mixed with modern vision and comfort. He worked and lived in Haria until his death in 1992. It’s a very special house and must be visited to be appreciated. Cesar Manrique was an absolute genius. Don’t miss you chance if you visit Haria.

 

 

I Love The Delicious Canarian Cuisine

I Love The Delicious Canarian Cuisine

by | Bettinas World, Lanzarote Eating Out

I LOVE THE CANARIAN CUISINE and everything that is represents. Family and friends. Everything we do here together is somehow connected to food. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to give you a little bit of insight of what most of us who live here on LANZAROTE permanently actually eat on a daily basis.

I have chosen 7 recipes which are the most common. Some of them, such as the wrinkled potatoes with Mojo Sauce, is a must try and you will most likely see it on the menu in the restaurants and for sure at the dinner table too if you make a private visit to family members or friends who live here. It’s a big hit.

When my brother visits me he is always the first to order them from the menu when we eat out. And since I am very often asked by friends from Denmark about certain recipes, well here they are just below!

And secondly, the idea of making this Blog post with RECIPES came along with the current situation we are all living in at the moment. Which is for most people, myself included, that we have been forced to work from home and been limited with social outdoor celebrations and crowds, such as Restaurant visits especially. Which is one of my favorite pleasures. I love to eat! And I love the outdoor atmosphere at the restaurants.

Therefore I have been COOKING at home a lot more than I used to.

While doing so I thought to myself “Why not share my Canarias food recipes with the rest of the world?”  So here they are my dear friends.

CLICK HERE TO GET THEM

I hope you will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

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