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.

Also Read:

My Favourite Must See Places

IRONMAN 2018 BEHIND THE SCENES

A great day at Volcan De La Corona

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. 

Also Read:

My Favourite Must See Places

IRONMAN 2018 BEHIND THE SCENES

A great day at Volcan De La Corona

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.

 

 

FAMARA MAGIC

FAMARA MAGIC

by | Lanzarote To Do, Lanzarote Trekking & Picnic Places

Famara Magic beach`s real name in Spanish is “CALETA DE FAMARA”, which means Bay of Famara.
It’s the beach where most of the citizens from Lanzarote go to during their holidays and especially on weekends. Most of the houses in Famara Village are owned by locals throughout generations and during the summer time families are often seen gathering together at the beach or even in the garages of their houses preparing PAELLA for themselves and their neighbours.

The beaches and the restaurants are full of life most of the year with people strolling around in bikini and flip flops. The smell from the ocean, fresh fish and garlic dominates the air, in a good way. The sand streets in the village are full of children playing and their grandparents letting the time fly by while keeping an eye on their young family members. 

FAMARA is situated in the North of the island, and when driving towards it you will soon get a sensational feeling that this is a different place. The rustic raw cliffs look fearless and somehow easy to reach. The light too is different, and very often the whole scenery can change from one minute to the other because of the clouds or the light from the sun passing over the huge brown cliffs.

There have been times, especially on late afternoons before the sun goes down, when the sky has had the most amazing evening colors I have ever seen.When that happens, there are no words for it, except that it looks like MAGIC.

The beach itself is nearly 6 kilometers long, and it`s absolutely perfect during summer time if you LOVE long walks as I do. It`s wonderful walking along the sea with your feet in the water while listening to the sound of the ocean and feeling the breeze in your hair. 

On extreme sunny days in the Summer and until late October the temperature in the water reaches up to 25 degrees and most of the people on the beach, myself included, stay in the sea for hours to cool down. It can actually be too HOT to sunbathe at times, believe it or not. 

FAMARA is also a paradise for surfers from all around the world. As there is a perfect wind from the north most days during the year. The waves are amazing for surfing, and there are plenty of brave and talented surfers doing it the whole year. I myself, did try years ago, and I have to admit that it`s much more difficult than it looks like. I might give it another chance next Summer though  starting taking classes with a Surfing School this time. As everybody should, because this is the best way to learn. Also, Famara beach has a STRONG undercurrent, and it’s a very good idea to be under observation by professionals while learning surfing.

If you like TREKKING too, the cliffs of Famara could be your perfect option while visiting Lanzarote. I’m sure you won’t regret it. There are two different kinds of walks. One is easy and comfortable. The other option is medium high plus, which is a little bit more rough. The starting point is from the same spot. There is little plot where you can park your CAR if needed.

To find it is easy. When coming down to Famara on the road, with the sea right in front of you,  turn to the right and then continue up the hill where you will see loads of BUNGALOWS. When the road ends up hill you have arrived at your destination and to the beginning of your adventure.

The easy option I do walk it quite a lot with friends during the weekends as often as I can. It’s a simple walk but so relaxing in all SENSES. The walkway can be seen from where you park your car. When you take the left turn, the easy option, it automatically takes you halfway up the cliff. The whole way you will be able to feel the fresh air and the loud sound from the ocean and the blue and turquoise colors will brightly fill your eyes.

On sunny days you can clearly see the two small Islands, La Graciosa, and the virgin island Alegranza. A breathtaking SCENERY imprinted into your memory forever, all though you are only half way up the mountain walk.

FAMARA

Me and my daughter did option two, the rough walk, together. The medium high plus is situated at the same starting point, but instead of turning left you walk straight on and upwards. It was the first time for both of us, which actually was in our favor. If we would have known the roughness beforehand I am sure both of us might have reconsidered. But the whole effort was worth every single bit.

Sometimes on the way up we would turn around to see how far we had got, and every time we were amazed over the beautiful views, which got better and better, the higher we reached. We reached the TOP of the cliffs in only one and a half hour and this is taking into consideration that the terrain is uneven and stony. But believe me, when we reached the very TOP of the mountain it was such a fantastic feeling. We both looked at each other and had a laugh of relief while we inhaled the fresh  cool wind into our lungs. It was a day to remember. STUNNING VIEWS.

Now, the walk down is as hard as the walk up and also you have gravity to battle with. It is a little quicker to reach the bottom though, and when we reach the bottom, both of us starving, we jump into the car and drove straight down to Famara Village and hurried into our favourite restaurant, where we enjoyed a well deserved plate of seafood paella on their sunny terrace.

I absolutely recommend you wear good walking shoes and bring water and snacks on your trekking tour.

 

 

The Papagayo Beaches

The Papagayo Beaches

by | Bettinas World, Lanzarote To Do

The PAPAGAYO BEACHES in Lanzarote was announced by The Spanish Government as The Best Beaches of all the 8 Canary Islands this year.
It is one of my favorite Beaches during the Summer time, and I have many loving memories with family and friends there.I would classifier them as a MUST SEE. 
 
They are located in Playa Blanca – at the South in (Yaiza) You will see a PHENOMENAL SCENERY when you finally arrive to The Beaches, as there is a 15 minutes dusty road track where it’s absolutely convenient to drive slowly, and to keep the windows closed. But it’s worth the entire experience.
 
 Before reaching the Papagayo Beaches, you will automatically pass by a little Stonehouse where a Fee of 3 € has to be paid. The money is 
used to keep the area and the beaches clean.

There are seven Beaches in total. Each one of them has their own charm, and are totally different in shape and size from one another. The water is crystal clear, and the colour of the sea is Blue and Turquoise. It’s a fabulous place to SNORKEL due to the idyllic rocky bays between the beaches. Most of the year there is hardly any wind,and thanks to the sheltered location there are no dangerous undercurrents either.

 
 The entire Beach area is approximately 3 kilometers long,and from the TOP when parking your car you can walk easily down to the different beaches. The view as I mentioned earlier is phenomenal. On most sunny days you can clearly see the two neighbour Islands FUERTEVENTURA and the small Virgin Island LOBOS.
 
There are also two Restaurants at the Papagayo Beaches, and it’s an absolutely WONDERFUL experience to enjoy a refreshment or a meal there. The view is stunning, and at the same time totally RELAXING. On several occasions I have stayed the entire day at the Beach waiting for the SUNSET. As you can imagine, it’s worth waiting for!
 
The Beaches of Papagayo has a special place in my heart. It was the first beach I went to when I came as a tourist for the first time in December 1992. I remember it as it was yesterday, as hard to forget. We drove in a JEEP which at the time was the only kind of car who could handle THAT kind of roads. It was a tricky ride, and quite a few times my head boomed to the roof of the car due to the many huge holes on the road. In fact the wheel of the JEEP broke down when returning home!
 
But we had a fantastic day, and literally had all the seven beaches for ourselves. Today it’s a different matter. The road is so MUCH better. No comparison. And Rent a Car Companies do allow the tourists do drive there now.
 
Surprisingly, my first job on LANZAROTE  1 year later was as a TOURIST GUIDE on an Excursion Ship, and one of our Trips was to the Papagayo Beaches. I will never forget that Excursion. Everytime I go there I can’t help thinking of it. At one of the beaches, the one next to the Restaurant there is a small cave in the ROCK. At first sight you might not notice, but it has a small square entrance. Very discreet actually. Well, there lived a family with a BABY for several months! 
 
 So you can imagine how surprised one can get when arriving in a RIP BOAT with 15 Tourists that want to enjoy a few hours of relaxing time at the beach before lunch onboard on the Yacht, and there right in front of you stands a NAKED family with a newborn Baby in their arms in a complete Tarzan and Jane style. 
While writing this story it occured to me that the Internet wasn’t invented yet in the nineties, as I am sure that this family would have gone WORLD WIDE on the Social Media if it had happened today!
The family disappeared without any goodbye`s during Christmas time after 6 months of living in the CAVE, and no one seemed to know where they went. I have to say the little Boy looked healthy, and well taken care of!
 
The Beaches are perfect for CHILDREN. There are plenty of space to play Ball games. Don’t forget a parasol as there is NO SHADE at any of the seven Beaches. Suncream, snacks and of course plenty of WATER is a must to provide a GREAT day.. 
 
ENJOY!!  
error: Content is protected !!