Mirador de Los Helechos

Mirador de Los Helechos stands at 557 metres above sea level in the municipality of Haría, at the northern end of Lanzarote. Its balcony looks straight down onto the village of Haría and the valley around it, popularly known as the valley of a thousand palms because of the density of palm groves covering the valley floor. The view sums up the contrast that defines this corner of the island: the green vegetation of the valley set against the emphatic white of traditional Lanzarote architecture spread across the floor and the slopes.

It is a natural stop for anyone touring the north of the island by road and works as a regular meeting point for travellers, motorcyclists and local residents. There is a restaurant serving Canarian cooking at the viewpoint itself, so the visit can amount to more than a quick look. Sitting halfway up the slope, the air here tends to be cooler and breezier than on the coast, which is worth bearing in mind when choosing what to wear. The Haría area is one of the few green pockets of Lanzarote and looks nothing like the arid volcanic landscape that dominates the centre and the south, so this viewpoint works well as a counterpoint within an island route.