Cofete Viewpoint

You open the car door into a wind that tries to tear it from your hand, and the whole west coast is suddenly below you. Cofete beach runs on for more than ten kilometres, often softened by haze, and behind it the mountain ridge comes crashing down into the Atlantic.

The drive up is part of the experience. The gravel road from Morro Jable winds along the slopes with the view opening at every bend, and by the time you reach the pass the whole road has been one long lookout. The viewpoint itself is where you stop, get out and take the photograph of the coast that everyone comes for.

• Check your hire-car terms before setting out: many rental policies do not cover driving on unpaved roads, and the road up is gravel.
• The wind at the top is fierce. Bring a windbreaker and keep a firm grip on the car door as you open it.
• Parking spaces fill up, and you may have to wait for one to come free.
• There are no toilets, drinking water or information point at the viewpoint or nearby — bring water with you.

The viewpoint is reached by car on the unpaved road that climbs from Morro Jable into the mountains of the Jandía peninsula. The road is narrow and bumpy, with sharp switchbacks and drops that have no guardrails, so take it slowly and steadily.

The car park sits right at the pass, Degollada de Agua Oveja, beside the viewpoint: there is no walk, and the view is there as soon as you step out. The same road carries on down the other side to Cofete and its beach. The nearest bus stops, Cofete and Playa Cofete, lie about 4.5 km away in a straight line.

Best: around noon or early afternoon, when the sun is over the west coast and lights the beach and the ridge.

Avoid: early morning, when the sun is still behind the mountains and the shore below lies in shade.

The viewpoint looks out over the west coast, so the beach only comes into full light once the sun has swung round over the ridge.