Los Abrigos Viewpoint

The sun comes up out of the Atlantic straight ahead of the benches, and the surf breaking on the black rocks below catches the light first. The decks sit right over the shore: dark volcanic rock, sunbathers stretched out on it on warm days, white water pushing in between. Further along the coast stands Montaña Roja, its red cone rising behind the beaches.

Benches run across the deck in both sun and shade, so it works well for a picnic lunch. Inland, wind turbines turn on the skyline, and after dark their lights blink high above the village. The deck is also where the coastal walk to Montaña Roja begins, past beaches and rock pools.

• There are no toilets or drinking water at the deck, and none nearby. Bring water and food.
• On the coastal walk to Montaña Roja, the only toilets are at the La Tejita shopping centre.
• The walk to Montaña Roja is a long one. The road runs close to the coast, so you can take the bus back.
• Parking in Los Abrigos is hard to find, so arriving by bus is the simpler option.

Two unpaved parking areas lie about 150 m and 240 m away in a straight line. Spaces in Los Abrigos are hard to find, and street parking in the village is a matter of luck, so if both are full, it is better to drive on than circle.

Two Los Abrigos bus stops sit about 250 m away. They also make the return easy if you walk the coast to Montaña Roja: the road stays close to the shore, and the bus saves you retracing the whole route on foot.

Best: sunrise. The deck looks out over open sea to the east, so the sun rises straight ahead, and the first light reaches Montaña Roja along the coast.

Avoid: days of heavy swell if you plan to go down onto the rocks. Waves then break over the dark rock below the deck, and the shore becomes dangerous.