Mirador del Río is a viewpoint built between 1971 and 1973 by the Lanzarote artist César Manrique, with technical work by Eduardo Cáceres and Jesús Soto. It stands at about 475 metres on the Batería del Río escarpment in the north of the island, in the municipality of Haría. A skin of stone hides the building in the rock. Inside are a café, a shop and a platform at the top, looking over the El Río strait to La Graciosa and the Chinijo Archipelago. Its surroundings are a protected natural area.
Mirador del Rio
César Manrique viewpoint set into a clifftop above the El Río strait, with glass-walled rooms facing La Graciosa.
- Entrance
- Paid entry, €9–10 per person.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance and seating.
- Parking
- Free visitor car park on asphalt about 45 m away; unpaved overflow area about 170 m away.
- Difficulty
- None: you park beside the building and walk straight in.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stops: Ye, about 2 km away in a straight line, and Las Rositas, about 2.5 km.
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–16:30.
- Address
- Mirador del Rio, 35541, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
From outside there is hardly a building to see: Manrique covered it in the same stone as the cliff. A winding corridor leads in, then opens into two vaulted rooms, each with one huge window — the eyes of the Mirador. Through them La Graciosa lies straight below, across the narrow blue channel of El Río.
On a clear day the view keeps going, past La Graciosa to Montaña Clara, Roque del Oeste and, furthest out, Alegranza — the islets of the Chinijo Archipelago. The café sits behind the curved glass, so a coffee and a slice of cake come with the whole archipelago in front of you. Upstairs, the viewing terraces on two levels take the full Atlantic wind. Look out for Manrique's iron sculptures and the rounded, organic shapes of the rooms on the way through.
Good to know
- Cloud settles on the escarpment and can blank out the view completely. Check the sky over the north of the island before you drive up.
- The terraces are exposed and the wind up there is strong. Bring a light jacket, even on a warm day.
- Entry is ticketed. A seat at the café windows is the way to stay with the view once you have seen it from the terraces.
- There is a café, a gift shop and toilets inside, all for paying visitors.
Getting there
The approach is by road, up onto the escarpment in the far north of the island. The visitor car park sits right beside the building, about 45 m away, and there is an unpaved overflow area about 170 m away. From there you walk straight in through the winding corridor.
Buses stop well short of the viewpoint: the nearest stop, Ye, is about 2 km away in a straight line, and Las Rositas about 2.5 km.
On the way back, take the road along the cliffs. It runs high above the sea, with grey volcanic mountains on one side and open ocean on the other.
Best time to visit
Best: on a clear day, either at opening time or in the last stretch before closing.
Avoid: days when cloud sits on the cliff top, and the middle of the day.
Cloud hides La Graciosa entirely, and tour coaches fill the rooms and terraces through the day; once they leave, the place goes quiet.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Mirador del Río worth visiting on a cloudy day?
Cloud on the escarpment can hide the view completely, and the view is the reason to come. If the north of the island is under cloud, wait for a clearer day.What can you see from Mirador del Río?
La Graciosa, across the El Río strait directly below. On clear days the view reaches Montaña Clara, Roque del Oeste and, furthest of all, Alegranza, the other islets of the Chinijo Archipelago.Who designed Mirador del Río?
César Manrique, between 1971 and 1973, with technical work by Eduardo Cáceres and Jesús Soto. It opened in 1973.Is there a café at Mirador del Río?
Yes. The café sits behind the large curved windows facing La Graciosa and serves coffee and cakes. There is also a gift shop and toilets.Is Mirador del Río wheelchair accessible?
The parking, the entrance and the seating are wheelchair accessible.