We packed our road bikes and brought them on the plane with us as we’d heard the cycling in Lanza was really good, great roads and MMA if a little windy and the occasional hill! Lanza hold one of the hardest Ironman competitions here so I’m guessing it’s going to be tough but good fun! 

Playa Quemada was a complete random find while on a road trip when we decided to cycle down to the coast and back up again. At the bottom, we came across a tiny village which you could have mistaken for having been abandoned. There was no one about, a few cars but no people… until we got off our bikes and walked to take a closer look at the boat that was anchored there in the bay.  

We came across a small taverna right on the waters edge so we stopped and had a spot of lunch. 

Well, what we enjoyed was nothing short of one of the best meals while sat overlooking this beautiful bay! It was called Restaurante Playa Quemada Casa Tino

We enjoyed it so much, we told the others about it who came for dinner one night and then again the next! It was a pity we found it the day before we left the island! 

So, here is where the story begins I guess as we said to ourselves then and there, if ever we managed to get our 5 year plan to travel the world on Walkabout off the ground, we would definitely come back here to visit - and here we are!!! 

We made it and it was all we had dreamed and planned about and more … 

This is Walkabout anchored at Playa Quemada.

On arrival we motored the tender ashore (another beach landing with much to improve on) and had a nostalgic wander around before walking a few miles along the coast to Puerto Calero. We all stayed here back in 2019 and so we knew there was a shop to buy a few supplies and marina where we might see a few ARC boats. 

While there we had a quick look back at the photos we took in 2019 and found one of Andrew stood in front of a boat that was still here so here is a 2019/2021 pic of us both in similar spots only a few years apart!

That evening we ate once again at Casa Tino, sat on the waters edge enjoying some delicious locally caught fish and a bottle of Yiaza wine. Andrew is also sporting a new shirt!

The following day we spent on the boat doing a few odd jobs, swimming, trying out our new paddle boards and snorkel gear. 

 

We put on our hiking shoes the next day and hit the hills! We didn’t plan to go far, it was another 30C day so walked the coast to find a beach and enjoy our packed lunch. 

In the middle of nowhere we stumbled across a secret garden! It was so intricately laid out and clearly loved! 

 

It was right next to a beach and apparently a local family have been coming to this little beach for many years and decided to create a secret garden for everyone including themselves to enjoy. There is a cave next to the garden full of sea-plastic the family add to each visit while on the beach. Their own beach-clean I guess? There are lots of messages left in the cave like ‘life is for living’ and ‘save our oceans’. What a heart-warming place to have stumbled across ❤️ 

You never know what you are going to find when exploring, a secret garden in the middle of such a desolate place just wasn’t on my list!

12 km’s later, via a route up the side of a volcano to who knows where, we arrived back in Playa Quemada, stopped for a refreshing cold beer and headed back to Walkabout. 

 

The following morning we headed back round to Papagayo for the night, visited the local

Super Dino supermarket before leaving Lanza and heading south to Fuerteventura.