Most visitors to Lanzarote spend their time soaking up the sun and enjoying the surf on the island’s coastline. But for those who can bear to tear themselves away Lanzarote offers some truly breathtaking views from the countless miradors, or lookout points, which are scattered across the island.

Lanzarote is well known for its volcanic terrain – large scale eruptions rocked this small Canary Island in the 1730’s. And this activity created hundreds of new peaks, adding to older mountain ranges such as the Famara massif, which is the highest point on Lanzarote at around 630 metres.

Mirador del Rio

Not all of these lofty spots were the result of Mother Nature’s works alone though, as the local artist Cesar Manrique also transformed a former naval gun emplacement into a stylish mirador in the 1970’s, offering amazing views across to the neighbouring island of La Graciosa.

The Mirador del Rio was initially designed as a restaurant and bears all of the trademark design touches associated with Manrique’s other major projects on the island, such as the Jameos del Agua and the Museum of International and Contemporary Art. It’s relative isolation at the northern tip of the island though made it something of an out of the way eatery, so emphasis was instead placed on the panoramic vistas that it offers to visitors.

Whether viewed from the main outdoor observation deck or inside from behind the huge curved floor to ceiling windows the scenery here is simply amazing, with the small islets of Roque del Oeste and Montana Clara also plainly visible, along with the ‘8th Canary Island’ of La Graciosa, which is home to around 600 inhabitants.

La Graciosa apparently provided inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island and anyone who wants to view this jewel from a closer perspective can take a short ferry ride from the port of Orzola across to the ‘capital’ of Caleta de Sebo. There they’ll find an almost totally unspoiled island, with no tarmac roads and only 4×4 jeeps for transport.

El Bosque

Many visitors to Lanzarote are amazed to find that the island is home to a small wood, or Bosque in Spanish. That’s because the climate here is very arid and the winds at times strong, two factors contributing to a fairly denuded landscape. However the Bosque is a real green oasis in the north, perched atop the Famara massif range of cliffs.

From this lofty elevation visitors can drink in some singularly spectacular views, often encompassing both the neighbouring island of La Graciosa to the north and Fuerteventura to the south. Whilst the huge beach at Famara unfurls some 600 metres below like a huge yellow carpet.

Mirador del Haria

It’s just a five minute drive from El Bosque to the Mirador del Haria, a now abandoned building that is still worth visiting as it offers the best view down into the Valley of 1000 Palms, Lanzarote’s most verdant outpost. Locals here have long followed a tradition of planting new palms to mark the birth of local children and the result is a huge swaying oasis redolent of Africa, which after all lies just 80km away.

Balcon de Femes

It’s not just the north that is home to the best miradors, as the small southern village of Femes also boasts a cracking lookout point, from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view down to the popular coastal resort of Playa Blanca.

Find out more about Playa Blanca and view some great accommodation options, such as Villa Cancun, which is available for rent with Optima Villas from £630 per week.