Map of Mirador del Rio, Lanzarote Lanzarote, Canary Islands:

Mirador del Rio, Lanzarote
So, how do you get tourists to drive to the top of a cliff to look at the view and pay for the privilege? Easy! You chip away the top of the hill, turn it into a large room and put a couple of glass dome rooves on top. Then you blast a hole in the side of the hill and carve out a tunnel to meet the room. Next, you build a viewing platform above a sheer drop, outside the room and serve food and drink inside. Voila! Sit back and watch the punters pay!

To be fair, it is a great view. (Mirador means viewpoint.) El Rio (the river) is the name given to the corridor of water which separates the island of Lanzarote from the tiny neighbouring island of La Graciosa. The view from the top of the Famara cliffs over the water to La Graciosa is stunning. The interior of the room and tunnel is white, light, airy and very tastefully done, if you forgive Manrique from taking a few liberties with Mother Nature.

Outside the Mirador, one of Manrique's metalwork sculptures acts as a signpost. Without this, you would never know that behind a wide, stone wall was the best views in Lanzarote.