Mirador del Río and Ye

Overview:

Situated in the Haría region, the village of Yé is near the very north of Lanzarote island. Although the village itself is very small, it is the gateway to one of the top attractions on the island: the Mirador del Río. A stunning viewpoint, Mirador del Río allows you to see beautiful views of the island of Isla de La Graciosa.

How to get there

As it is only a small village, and not one of the main tourist resorts of Lanzarote island, transfers to Ye are few and far between. A better option would be to rent a car in order to get there from the larger towns and cities on the island. Cars can be rented at the airport, and prices start as little as €30 a day.

To get to Ye, from the airport, simply take the 3rd exit towards Arrecife, onto the LZ-2. From here turn left onto the LZ-3, then take the exit onto Av Campoamor. Continue along this route until you reach the LZ-1. When you reach the first roundabout, take the second exit onto the LZ-201. Continue along the left side of this road and you will reach Ye. The journey should take approximately 40 minutes, and will only set you back about €6 in petrol.

Sights:

Ye is a typical residential town with a small church and houses. There is only really one main attraction in Ye - Mirador del Río, which is only about 2km north of the village centre.

Mirador del Río

Built in 1973 by lanzarote's beloved son César Manrique, El Mirador del Río (which translates as "the lookout of the river") is a vantage point from which you can enjoy the stunning panorama of the Salinas salt pans, the salt pans and Isla de la Graciosa. A staggering 400 metres high, Mirador del Río is situated at the end of Risco de Famara. The location has always been used as a lookout point, long before the domes that lie there now were built.

                 

Back in the 19th century, the spot was used by the Spanish settlers, to keep an eye out for the marauding pirates who would ransack the land and cause unrest. In 1898, a small fortress and a gun battery was added to the site during the war between the USA and Spain over the ownership of Cuba. However the guns do not stand here anymore, and have instead been replaced by a domed building, designed by famous architect, Cesar Manrique.

The two large curved windows at the main area allow undistracted panorama of the spectacular views below and beyond. Everything inside is designed in a minimalist but unique way while every features are well thought of. For example: the two sculptures made of iron rods and plates hanging from the ceiling are meant to reduce noise and prevent reverberations in the vaulted space.

There are toilets, a bar/cafe and a souvenir shop onsite.

Address: Mirador del Río, Calle Remo, Ye, Lanzarote island.
(follow the LZ-203 north from Ye, there will be signs to guide your journey) 
Telephone: +34 928 526 548
Admission fee: Adults €4.50, children (7-12 years) €2.25
Opening times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00

Restaurants:

There isn't much in the way of restaurants in Ye, however in the nearby village of Orzola (10 minutes drive away), there are many restaurants offering locally caught seafood.