Anden Verde Balcony Lookout Gran Canaria

Winding north-east along the cliff face, the road offers thrilling glimpses downwards, by way of plummeting rock, to a vertiginously distant sea. Though the extent of the Anden Verde is a little vague, this most exciting part of the west coast effectively begins a short way north of San Nicolas de Tolentino.

Running just inland for 6km or so from San Nicolas, the road suddenly veers towards a gap in a hillcrest above the sea. There is a small car park here, the Mirador del Balcon, or Balcony Lookout Point. Though views from the car park are very fine, it is worth descending the few steps to a lower platform. From here, the rocks beneath, and the cliff foot to the southwest, may be seen clearly. The cliff is surmounted by a dramatic series of hills, each of them terminating suddenly in a triangle of dark cliff.

 Each successive triangle is a little lower than the one before, their diminishing height marking the descent towards the harbour at Puerto de la Aldea. The island of Tenerife lies west across the water. The road continues to the northeast, following the cliff. There are one or two further spots where cars can pull off the road, sometimes with difficulty, so take care. As the Anden Verde draws to a close the road swings inland, descending towards the little village of EI Risco.