Lanzarote Walk - Hidden Garden of Casita

Starting point: Playa Quemada – Large rough parking area in the village centre.		Map I have found this to be the best map for both walking routes and driving, from Discovery Walking Guides Ltd Lanzarote Tour and Trail Map 1:40,000 scale
Distance: 4.4 miles (2.2 miles each way)
Traffic light rating:   (For explanation see My Walks page) More great Lanzarote Walks	Click the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the photos.

Introduction: This walk is not one you are likely to find in the main stream walking books. I have called it the Hidden Garden of Casita simply because it sits at the foot of the Barranco of that name. You are unlikely to resist a “Wow” when you see it!

It is an easy, short walk from Playa Quemada and is a linear “there and back” walk. If you wanted a longer day, you could combine it with my other walk from Playa Quemada to Puerto del Carmen.

The walk gives good views of the mountains inland from Puerto del Carmen before passing Playa del Pozo and arriving at this remarkable hidden garden at the foot of the Barranco de la Casitas, virtually on the beach.

It is remarkable “oasis” of garden and art in a pretty barren landscape. Alongside the planting is something of a grotto under the overhang of the cliff, where people leave “stuff” ranging from toys to ornaments and there were a couple of visitors books.

It seems to be common practice to write names/messages on pebbles and indeed a felt tip pen was provided, if somewhat worn flat, so if you want to do this I suggest you take your own.

It is a testament to all visitors that the garden and grotto are respected, so please continue the tradition.

At the time I did the walk, why the garden was there and who created it was a mystery. However, a year later, someone who had followed my directions bumped into the creator, Natalia, a women who lives in Arrecife and, with the help her son Carlos, who comes from Tenerife in the holidays, has maintained the garden for about 30 years. They are rightly proud of their work. They have to carry water to the place from time to time to keep the plants green! It is to be hoped that in the fullness of time, the baton can be passed to someone else to keep the garden going.

I revisited the walk in 2022 and noticed the plaque, which I missed the first time. It is in Spanish but a translation is:

The Secret Garden has been made by my parents, Juan Maria and Natalia (those with the Yellow Toyota).
They started in the late 80's to entertain the days when the sea was bad for fishing.
During all these years we have been expanding it by maintaining and repairing it.
The name The Secret Garden was written in stones by a tourist who passed by here (that's why it's in English).
We started decorating it with buoys brought by the tide, but the people who visit it got used to leaving souvenirs.
Just outside the garden is the grave of Kevin, the guard dog who barked at visitors for over ten years

The beach at the Barranco de la Casita is a quiet spot and you are not likely to see many (any) people. Unusually, there is some shade to be had, from the cliffs.

You barely need a route description – just follow the coast – but there several paths and I have described the most straightforward which minimises the ups and downs.

The walk starts from Playa Quemada although there is a trail down the Barranco de la Casita via Femes if you wanted a more substantial walk.

As you walk along the cliffs, out to sea is the clearly visible fish farm which, produces some 2000 tonnes of seabass (dorada) and seabream (lubina) each year.

To get to Playa Quemada, turn south off the LZ 2 (signposted). The walk starts from the large earth parking area on the right just as you turn into the village (where the dustbins are).

Start: From the parking, facing the sea, turn right along the tarmac road. When it bends right, stay parallel with the coast until you can branch off right up a rough path, to what is almost a separate part of the village. At another tarmac road (Calle Playa de la Arena), turn left along it.

At its end, turn left by a notice board to climb the dusty path.

Arrive at a sign proclaiming the Monumento Natural Los Ajaches. Follow the path to the right of this.

The path descends gently to the head of a little valley. Follow it up the other side. It soon forks. Take the right fork which avoids a steeper descent to the beach. (Playa de la Arena) and subsequent climb up.

Pass and ignore a path on the left which is the climb from the beach.

Pass a trail coming in from the right marked by a flat steel post.

You reach the wide Barranco de la Higuera, which has a broad track running along the bottom. At the other side of the barranco, you should see a broad climbing path, to the right of a derelict building, which is your onward route. However you might like to venture left along the valley bottom track first, to see the Playa del Pozo (Well’s Beach), a black beach where there is another ruined building, a shelter with seat (though without any roof when I visited) and an old well.

Return to the junction and climb the broad path to the right of the derelict building. Just beyond the building is a junction marked with a fingerpost turn left here. It is worth mentioning that the direction of some of the fingers looked questionable!

Quickly arrive at another fingerpost and again keep left.

The next barranco is your target, the Barranco de la Casita. The path zig-zags down the side. I recommend you follow the zig-zags rather than trying a more direct approach. The path turns inland for a hundred yards or so before arriving at the valley bottom. Turn left along the track at the bottom to the beach and the garden.

The return to Playa Quemada is a case of retracing your steps.

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All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.