Who has not ever dreamed of flying? Walking on clouds could become a reality if you know where to look. In Spain, there are several perfect locations to see a sea of clouds that can be photographed. However, to enjoy them you may have to wear comfortable shoes and go on a hiking route that reaches a remarkable height or get up very early to hunt this beautiful picture.
Some of the most famous and easy to observe cloud seas are found in the Canary Islands, as the low clouds reach the north face of the islands pushed by the trade winds. As simple as climbing a mountain that reaches at least 1,500 meters to discover incredible views.
Roque de los Muchachos Viewpoint
There are many places in the Canary Islands where you can enjoy a spectacular sea of clouds. Another of them is the viewpoint located in the Roque de los Muchachos, at the top of the island of La Palma. With an altitude of more than 2,000 meters above sea level, the Roque de los Muchachos completes and closes the Caldera de Taburiente in its northern area. Due to the very special climatic conditions of this place, in which the calm air of the Atlantic and the height create a calm space with a stable light, here is located the Astrophysical Observatory of the Roque de los Muchachos. From the summit you can see the neighbouring islands of Tenerife, El Hierro and La Gomera on days of good visibility. The seas of clouds that form around the viewpoint and the observatory are already characteristic.
The ascent to Gilbo Peak leaves the climber with unbeatable views, especially when the landscape is bathed in a sea of clouds and it seems that one floats among them. Gilbo peak, also known as Cervino Leonés, is located in the Cantabrian mountain range, on the banks of the Riaño reservoir. It is not the highest in the area, but its peak is the most characteristic and photographed, especially from the town of Riaño, in the province of León. Thus, it has a low height and its ascent is considered one of the most beautiful in León. During the ascent, besides being, with luck, in the middle of a sea of clouds, you can see beautiful beech forests and good panoramic views. To climb Gilbo Peak, there are two ways, from Riaño or from Horcadas.
On the island of Gran Canaria you will find the Roque Nublo viewpoint, located in the municipality of Tejeda. To reach it, it is necessary to take a 1.5-kilometre walk, but it is worth the effort. This natural rock of volcanic origin was used by the aborigines as a place of worship, so it has a very important meaning for the Canaries. Thus, it stands 80 meters above its base and almost 2,000 meters above the sea. On clearer days, the views of the Caldera de Tejeda, Pozo de las Nieves and Llanos de Pez stand out. However, when the view is plagued by a sea of clouds the picture is almost idyllic, with incredible views of the Teide peak on Tenerife, especially at sunset.
In the region of Babia is the Puerto de la Cubilla, a mountain pass that separates León and Asturias by an incredible sea of clouds. La Cubilla is known for being one of the highest mountain passes in the Cantabrian mountain range. It is located next to the protected area of the Ubiña Massif. It stands out for being an environment that has an abundant wealth of fauna and flora and where you can find different natural viewpoints where to discover the beautiful landscape and spectacular sea of clouds.
O Cebreiro is a village located in the upper area of Los Ancares, so with just a little climb you can not only enjoy excellent views, but some dawns give the early birds a wonderful sea of clouds. In the province of Lugo, it is the first Galician village on the French Way to Santiago. To complete the visit, O Cebreiro has a lot to offer, such as the curious pallozas (traditional buildings of the pre-Roman culture) and the church of Santa María, dated in the 9th century and where you can find a Romanesque chalice from the 12th century.
