Las Tirajanas Viewpoint

The ground falls away beyond the deck and the whole Tirajana basin opens up at once: a ring of cliff walls, ridges stacked one behind another, and below them the roofs, palms and terraced fields of the village. On a clear day the view runs for miles.

The shape of the land is the story here. The basin was hollowed out over a very long time by erosion and collapse, and from the deck you can trace how the slopes slid and settled. It makes a good day away from the beach and the dunes of the south, and the drive up is part of it, with views opening on the way.

• Bring a jacket: the air up in the mountains is noticeably cooler than on the coast.
• The mountain roads in take patience. Drive slowly and leave time to stop for the views on the way.
• The nearer car park, about 40 m away, is for customers only; a second sits about 130 m away in a straight line.
• Free public toilets stand about 430 m away in a straight line, and a water point about 500 m.
• Guideposts for trail S-57 stand about 100 m from the deck, for anyone who wants to walk further.

Most people come by car, on the winding mountain roads that run through the interior of the island. Take them slowly: the bends need care, and the views start well before you arrive.

A car park reserved for customers lies about 40 m from the viewpoint, and a second one about 130 m away in a straight line. From either, you walk the rest. The nearest bus stop, Mirador de Tunte, sits about 400 m away in a straight line.

Best: a clear day, when the far side of the basin stands sharp against the sky. The whole point is distance, and clear air gives you the full sweep of cliffs and ridges.

Avoid: days when cloud sits low over the mountains. Cloud can fill the basin or hide the ridges, and then there is little to see from the deck.