Mirador del Rio in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

North of Lanzarote lies the Chinijo Archipelago, with La Graciosa as its largest islet. Sometimes referred to as the eighth Canary Island, it is the only inhabited island in the Minor Canaries. You can visit La Graciosa by ferry across El Rio, the river, as a day trip from Lanzarote. Even if you don’t plan on traveling to the islets, you can still admire them from a far – by heading to Mirador del Rio. The northeastern tip of Lanzarote provides a mind blowing view from atop a 1,560 foot cliff, Batería del Río, an escarpment that stretches for over 13 miles. Down below the staggeringly steep drop is remote Playa El Risco and the salinas del Rio which have been used since Roman times – the oldest in the Canaries.

Not only a place of incredible beauty, but the mirador is also a strategic viewpoint utilized since the 16^th century. First by Spanish settlers to look out for pirates, then in 1898 a fortress and gun battery were installed during the Spanish-American war. The guns have were dismantled after WWII and subsequently moved to Castillo de San Jose in Arrecife used as decorations. There are two ways to enjoy this vista:

+Enhance the view: Visit the artistic gem created by the islands beloved César Manrique, built in 1974. A café, gift shop, and overlook are expertly camouflaged from the outside to look like a cliff, built up from the old artillery battery using local stone. However, this is all a part of Manrique’s conception to blend nature and design, because inside is an architectural wonderland, organically curved walls, wide slanted windows, stunning sculptures, and the typical Lanzarote fashion of white-washed walls. Outside you can take a coffee or a fruit juice from the café and read up on the information panels or look through the telescopes. There is an entrance fee which is 4,75 euros per person.

+On a budget: You can simply walk down the road and get the same view for free!