Mirador de Guinate, a balcony overlooking the Chinijo Archipelago
Situated at 500 meters above sea level on the cliffs of Risco de Famara, in the north of Lanzarote, the Mirador de Guinate is a window overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Chinijo Archipelago. Always facing the strong trade winds coming the north, this secret wonder of the island is part of Guinate, a small hamlet distinguished by its potato farming, seated on a fertile plateau at the foot of the Volcán de la Corona (the crown volcano) and is the perfect place to make a halfway stop between the towns of Yé and Máguez.
As the mosaic on the wall separating the viewpoint from the abyss says, “déjate llevar” (let yourself be carried away). The breathtaking views of the landscape seen from the Mirador de Guinate do not require anything else: you only need to breathe the fresh air that blows from the ocean and gaze at the large masses that emerge from the water in the horizon. First you will see the island of La Graciosa, where you can distinguish the Caleta del Sebo, its only port and one of the very few places with civilization. In the distance, you can see the silhouettes of the islands of Montaña Clara and Alegranza. Although, from the lookout point you are not aware, that you are in front of the largest marine reserve in the European Union, with 70,000 hectares of marine wildlife which stands out between the volcanic and dessert landscapes.
Tips for enjoying the view
Even though it is hard to believe, it can be cold and cloudy in some parts of Lanzarote. These are two things to bear in mind before going to the Mirador de Guinate, as it is located north and faces the trade winds coming from the ocean that travel across Lanzarote (it is used as a launch base for paragliding and hang-gliding). For this reason, it is convenient to carry some warm clothes with you.
Furthermore, we do not recommend arriving before 11:00 AM, as before this time it is likely that you will find the viewpoint amongst fog and end up without your postcard picture. This is due to the clouds being swept by the sea winds and getting stuck at the cliffs of Risco de Famara during the early hours of the morning.
Once you arrive at the viewpoint, it’s not a good idea to jump over the walls to explore the edge of the cliff. In addition to the danger posed by the strong winds, the rocks could be slippery due to humidity.
Additional plans after visiting the Mirador de Guinate
Once you have enjoyed the spectacular views of the Chinijo Archipelago, you can discover other areas nearby to end your trip to the Mirador de Guinate.
Four kilometres north is the Mirador del Río that offers similar views of the archipelago. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is an architectural creation by the local artist César Manrique, who “camouflaged” the lookout point in the rock, combining art and nature. Also, this building stands in the remains of an old military base from the late nineteenth century.
From Guinate you are also not far away from the Volcán de la Corona, which has been part of the Lanzarote landscape for over 3,000 years. The excursion to its crater, which only takes 45 minutes on foot from the nearby town of Yé, is an unforgettable experience. At the top, as well as enjoying the impressive panoramic views, you can discover its 6 kilometre volcanic tunnel and watch the migratory birds passing by.
Information of interest
Information of interest
- How to arrive: from Máguez, take the LZ-201 road towards Yé and, about halfway take the turning to Guinate.