Monthly Archives: October 2022

Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park

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Pirámides de Güímar

Learn more about these mysterious pyramids in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and enjoy access the botanical garden with this attraction ticket.

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Wheelchair accessible

• Take in panoramic views of the pyramids
• See the beautiful flora in the botanical garden
• Enjoy both the ruins and the natural landscape together

Visit the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park and Botanical Garden and walk through an open-air museum with six stepped pyramids oriented towards the sun on key astronomical dates. Discover more about these strange lava rock formations from the 19th century AD.

Walk through a park that was twice nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award. Follow several outdoor routes and specialized gardens that cover over 64,000m2. Enjoy the large variety of plants at one of the five botanical gardens in the Canary Islands.

Select the premium visit option to explore aboriginal cultures from around the world, including the “Rapa Nui. Polynesia: Extreme Survival” exhibition. Enter the park’s poison garden to see over 70 poisonous plant species, including some of the most dangerous plants on the planet.

• Pyramids
• Museum
• Botanical Garden
• Access to the poisonous garden (with premium visit option)
• Access to the Polynesian exhibition (with premium visit option)

• Food and drinks
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

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Overall rating

4. 3

/5

based on 37 reviews

Review summary

• Value for money

  4.5/5

• Service

  4.4/5

• Organization

  4.6/5

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Excellent quality – price ratio for the basic package. We purchased the audio guide at a ridiculously low price but it allowed us to have some more information than the description shown. Environment cared for in all its parts. Perhaps we expected something more given the particularity of the place. Convenient free parking. We had lunch at the museum’s coffee bar which we recommend for the availability of the staff and for the simple but rich menu.

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Very nice park with a lot of interesting information about the history. The poison garden is also very interesting. In my opinion, an audio guide is highly recommended.

We priced the premium ticket, very expensive for what’s more. 2 exhibitions not terrible, we only took it for the poisonous garden Essential audio guide

Product ID: 405931

The Güímar Pyramids in Tenerife – Barceló Experiences

Now there’s no need to travel to Egypt to see breathtaking pyramids. Because Tenerife has the famous step pyramids of Güímar: an impressive, 64,000-m² complex which is still in existence thanks solely to the determination of the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002). Heyerdahl, who held a passion for ancient cultures, took on the cause of saving these pyramids, which were being threatened by an imminent building development. And he was victorious.

Thanks to Heyerdahl, today we can enjoy the Parque Etnográfico y Jardín Botánico Pirámides de Güímar [Güímar Pyramids Ethnographic Park and Botanical Gardens]. There is a total of six step pyramids in the area, which can be visited by following the footpaths. Along the way, visitors learn facts about construction of the pyramids, and can appreciate the precision with which the stones making up these structures were cut—as well as the steps leading up to the apex. Visitors will also find out about the volcanic origins of the stone and the orientation of the axes of the complex. The site includes a museum, an auditorium and extensive landscaped gardens.

Free cancellation

The origins of the Tenerife pyramids

The existence of these pyramids was discovered relatively recently: at the beginning of the 1990s, to be precise. It was then that the anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl, who had devoted much of his life to the study of the world’s ancient civilisations, examined the structures in Güímar, and discovered that these pyramids were very similar to others found in Sicily, Mexico, Mesopotamia, Polynesia and Peru. So, without a moment’s hesitation, Thor Heyerdahl settled in Tenerife to study the complex in situ.

There are many theories about the origins and age of these Tenerife pyramids. Some say they are mounds of stones (or majanos as they are known locally), placed there by farmers clearing the land before planting it. Heyerdahl, however, disagreed with this view, taking into account the fact that the pyramids were astronomically orientated towards the summer and winter solstices, suggesting a probable link with ancient civilisations. Another theory suggests that they were constructed during the second half of the nineteenth century by the then owner of the land, Antonio Díaz-Flores, although, admittedly, his purpose remains unknown.

Thor Heyerdahl’s campaign

As we have already said, the area where the pyramids now stand was earmarked for luxury building developments, something that Heyerdahl could not allow. So he went on the offensive, and did not give up until the land was acquired by the Fred Olsen shipping line with the aim of protecting and studying the pyramids, and setting up what is now the Güímar Pyramids Ethnographic Park and Botanical Gardens.

Subsequently, a museum was established in the former Casa Chacona, which was restored in accordance with traditional Canary Island architectural style. Here, visitors can see reproductions of ancient ethnographic and cultural works from the Old and New Worlds. Also on view are the findings of the various archaeological projects that have been undertaken at the Güímar Pyramids, together with other research into primitive navigation techniques and the use of boats made from reeds. In addition, there is an important collection of photographs of step pyramids in other parts of the world.

The complex includes an impressive auditorium, newly built as a semi-subterranean structure in order to minimise its environmental impact. The main hall can seat 164 people, and screens a documentary, in six different languages, illustrating human migration and the experiences of Thor Heyerdahl in his many trans-oceanic voyages. One of the most famous of these was the Kon Tiki expedition. It took place in 1947, when Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific Ocean in 101 days, from Peru to Polynesia, on a wooden raft. In recognition of this feat, he was awarded an Oscar by the Academy for the best documentary. Also on display is a large-scale replica of Ra II, a vessel constructed from balsa wood on which Thor Heyerdahl sailed to Easter Island in 1970.

The Güímar Pyramids and the botanical gardens

In 2017, the Güímar Pyramids attraction added ‘Botanical Gardens’ to its title. This was a right granted by the Ibero-Macaronesian Association of Botanical Gardens in order to highlight the botanical collection housed in the facility’s 20,000 m² plus of gardens—and in recognition of the work involved in the museum and the creation of several trails devoted to the culture, history and nature of the Canary Islands.

Another fascinating attraction is the Poison Garden whose 1,500-m² area is home to 70 species of poisonous plants from all over the world. This collection is the only one of its kind in Spain, and aims to raise awareness of the fact that some plants are harmful to health. The medicinal uses of certain species are discussed, along with the degree of toxicity of other plants, and the most dangerous plants are identified. The garden has a pleasant, peaceful setting, and appeals particularly to children. The Güímar Pyramids Park also has a full calendar of activities aimed at children.

The final attraction of the Güímar Pyramids Ethnographic Park (which is located 28 kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife), is the Sustainable Garden. This covers 1,000 m², and is the result of a partnership with the University of La Laguna to undertake environmental education projects. The garden is a reproduction of a Canary Island ravine by a water course with aquatic plants and European eels, the only freshwater fish to thrive in this kind of habitat.

Four trails in the Park of Güímar

Visitors to the Güímar Pyramids also have the opportunity to enjoy four trails on the themes of the history, botany and nature of the Canary archipelago. The first is the Ruta Botánica Canaria [Canary Island Botanical Trail], which allows visitors to see many of the Islands’ endemic species, such as the Canary Island palm tree, the cardón [or euphorbia, a species of giant cactus], the dragon tree and the Canary Island pine tree. All these are identified and the most representative are accompanied by information posters.

The second trail, known as the Ruta de Exportaciones [Export Trail], focuses on the archipelago’s most commonly exported products, including sugar cane, wine, cochineal, bananas and tomatoes. The tour concludes with a large display of vintage photographs which help visitors to understand the working of the Canary Islands’ economy from the time of the Castilian Conquest.

The Ruta Cultural [Cultural Trail] deals with several aspects of the history of the Canary Islands over the past five centuries. Agriculture, crafts, water, traditional costume, gofio [toasted flour], Guanche mythology, pirates and corsairs, the role of the Church, emigration, lizards, local sports, livestock farming and fishing are just a few of the aspects featured in the tour. And, lastly, the Ruta Volcánica [Volcanic Trail] explains the geological origins of the archipelago, and shows how the Canary Islands were formed over millions of years, along with their volcanic activity.

Free cancellation

Visit of the Guimar Pyramids in Tenerife

Our Tenerife little trip was very last-minute. Completely unplanned, it was an escape from the cold and dump winter. Originally I wanted to go to Mexico and drive to Cancun through Yucatan to visit Mayan pyramids… Instead we ended up in Tenerife which I never thought could meet my expectations…until we found the Guimar Pyramids!

What an extraordinary surprise when I found out about the Guimar Pyramids. I had been dreaming of pyramids!! Ever since I was a child, I have been attracted by the Mayan culture. It probably has to do with the Mysterious Cities of Gold, a Japanese-French animated series I was religiously watching when I was young!

When I found out about them, I instantly knew we had to go and so we went the next day.

Arriving on the parking lot and seeing glimpse of the pyramids was very exiting. Despite the pressing urge to see the pyramids, we started the visit by going through the museum and the auditorium to learn about the site, the archeological researches and the amazing work of Dr. Thor Heyerdahl.

We have already traveled quite a bit, have been to many interesting places, we love architecture, and show a genuine interest in different cultures and history. And yet, the museum made me realize how much uneducated I was about pyramids, the astonishing work of man to build such prodigious constructions and the dedication of others to understand these past civilizations. For a start I just had no idea there were so many pyramids on earth! It is simply mind-blowing to hear about the different theories and to reflect on such wonders.

After that, walking through the park and seeing the pyramids was just the cherry on the cake.

Ending up in Guimar instead of Chichen Itzá could have been a disappointing experience. Instead I think it was a fantastic introduction for us to long-lost time and civilizations. It was also a sign that I wasn’t ready for the big trip to Mexico, and that I needed to study to make the most of our time there.

The Guimar Museum

The Entrance to the Guitar Museum

Welcoming Committee!

How nice…

The Guitar Museum auditorium

Thor Heyerdahl reed boat reproduction – The real boat crossed the Atlantic Ocean

My dream list!

The Guimar Pyramids

There are 6 pyramids in Guimar which are surrounded by a beautiful park which provides a beautiful view on the ocean.

Other areas of the Guimar Museum 

Rapa Nui from the Eastern Island! A surprise!

The poisonous herbs garden

The coffee shop

The technical bits:

There are 6 pyramids in Guimar which are surrounded by a beautiful park. the path to walk around is lovely and a soft zen music is playing which makes the experience even more enjoyable. The museum is very informative and well presented, the secret Garden hosting poisonous plants is a nice touch and let’s not forget about the cafe which serves freshly pressed fruit juice! Not too big, not too small, the whole thing represents a very nice experience.

Official link: www.piramidesdeguimar.es

Bonus?! 

The bonus of our visit to the Guimar Museum was to find out about the other pyramids of the island!

Two days later, en route for the South of Tenerife, we headed to look for the hidden pyramid of Icod! Well ok, it’s not really hidden but it took us a lot of driving, determination and a bit of luck to find it as it is not indicated on any sign. It is located in the upper part of the town, surrounded by houses, in the middle of a patch of small fields, back yards and vines which definitively look like private properties and is not really accessible. As we arrived there, we saw some kids climbing it and playing on the top. We had to go as well! Drove around it some more and asked some curious guys how to get there. Sign language is great, go down, turn right… we reached the vines which rested against one of the 5 (yes 5!) sides of the pyramid, avoided some giant spider webs, and M. A started climbing.

Icod pyramid

When you look at the pyramid on a picture or from far away, climbing it seems completely manageable. But when you are there, up close, not so much anymore. Each level is a giant step and the stones are wobbly. As I watched M. A climbing the 3rd level, I wondered how this pyramid and probably some others could have lasted for centuries. He decided to not go to the top and turned around. I decided to stay on the ground!

It is probably best anyway. I really didn’t want to be responsible for the whole thing to collapse! And if every tourist who manages to find this unprotected pyramid was to climb it, it would probably not last 10 years. I am still glad we got up-close with it because a pyramid with 5 sides is extremely unusual if not unique , at least as far as I know, but it seems I know so little 😉

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Visit of the Guimar Pyramids in Tenerife: A surprising museum about ancient pyramids where you wouldn’t expect to find some… come along

Tenerife Pyramids of Guimar Ticket, Güímar

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Tenerife is home to a number of fascinating archaeological sites, and the Pyramids of Guimar are the most enigmatic. Discover their secrets with skip-the-line access to the ethnographic park.

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Visit the Poison GardenMany plant species are exhibited hereVisit the Sustainable GardenVisiting the Guimar PyramidsGüímar Pyramids MuseumAccessing the auditorium of the Güímar PyramidsVisit the Poison GardenMany plant species are exhibited hereVisit the Sustainable Garden

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Aerial views of the Güímar PyramidsVisiting the Guimar PyramidsGüímar Pyramids MuseumAccessing the auditorium of the Güímar Pyramids

Tenerife is home to a number of fascinating archaeological sites, and the Pyramids of Guimar are the most enigmatic.  Discover their secrets with skip-the-line access to the ethnographic park.

Pyramids of Guimar Ticket

Located in the municipality of the same name, the Pyramids of Güímar are one of the most enigmatic ethnographic parks in Tenerife. 

In the past, it was thought that these stepped constructions were built by the aborigines of the Canary Islands, the Guanches. However, the latest research has shown that these pyramids actually date back to the 19th century. But the question is, who built them and why?

During your visit to the ethnographic park, you can find out more about the origins of the pyramids by visiting the Casa Chacona Museum. You’ll also be able to enter the expedition room and a small auditorium where you’ll enjoy a documentary that will help you to learn about the many other investigations of Thor Heyerdahl, the founder of the park. 

The Pirámides de Güímar is also a botanical garden. In the Sustainable Garden you’ll find a reproduction of a Canarian ravine with its typical flora. On the other hand, the Poisonous Garden will amaze you with its more than 70 species of toxic plants brought from different parts of the planet. 

Ticket options

When booking you can choose between two types of tickets:

• Standard ticket: Includes the Casa Chacona Museum, the Expeditions Room, the Sustainable Garden, the auditorium and the open-air tours of the Pyramids of Güímar and its gardens.
• Premium ticket: Includes the visits of the standard ticket plus access to the Poison Garden and the exhibition Colonising Polynesia. Rapa Nui: Extreme Survival.

Opening times

The museum and the installations of the Pyramids of Güímar are open every day between 10 am and 6 pm.

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Price

Standard ticket

• Canarian residents (adults)

  US$ 7.40

• Canarian residents (children between 7 and 12 years old)

  US$ 4.30

• Non residents (adults)

  US$ 12

• Non residents (children between 7 and 12 years old)

  US$ 5. 30

• Children under 7 years old

Premium ticket

• Canarian residents (adults)

  US$ 14.10

• Canarian residents (children between 7 and 12 years old)

  US$ 4.30

• Non residents (adults)

  US$ 17.20

• Non residents (children between 7 and 12 years old)

  US$ 6.20

• Children under 7 years old

More Information

Covid-19 Measures

Please check local restrictions before traveling. All of our services comply with recommendations to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
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A safe distance of one metre between clients will be maintained whenever possible.

The use of masks is obligatory. The client must bring their own mask.

Alcohol gel will be available before, during, and after the service.

All those running the service (guide, driver etc…) will wear a mask throughout its duration.

Showing your voucher on your phone will be enough, and it is not necessary to print anything.

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Included

Skip the line access to the attractions included on the selected ticket type.

Map and booklet about the Pyramids of Guimar in English and other languages.

When to book?

You can book up until the previous day (11:59 pm) if there are still places available.
Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets. An accompanying person is required.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code. Specifically, this activity applies the following practices:
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Pets

Permitted.

Frequently asked questions

If you have any other questions please contact us
.

Free cancellation

Free! Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts.
If you cancel under this time or do not show up, you will not be refunded.

Güimar Pyramids, Tenerife

Güimar Pyramids, Tenerife
© Sofia GK

The Ethnographic Park of Güimar’s Pyramids also known as Majanos de Chacona is located in the municipality of Güimar, in the island of Tenerife in the Canary islands.

Pirámides de Guimar, Tenerife
© Sofia GK

This pyramids, or Majanos de Güimar are a construction complex in pyramidal shape staggered astronomically according to winter and summer solstices. Precisely for this reason they have a great cultural, historic and astronomic importance. This monuments are categorized as Cultural Interest Good.

A visit to the Ethnographic Park of Güimar’s Pyramids will allow you to observe with great detail this valuable pyramids that have astonishing resemblance to the ones on Egypt, Sicily and Mesopotamia.

Nearby the pyramids you’ll find the following facilities:

An auditorium where you might watch an interesting projection about the past human migrations as well as about the enormous coincidences between different cultures of the world as the ones from the Atlantic, Peru, Mexico, Mesopotamia and Egypt.

A museum where you’ll find many sculpture replicas, models, ceramic and photographs that evoke the resemblances between civilizations located on both sides of the Atlantic. You might also learn some information about the Güimar’s Pyramids, the use of ancient boats and some results achieved after digging this region.

Furthermore, you’ll find an ancient tent that hosts different replicas and interesting informations about the reed boats used for early expeditions.

More information:

Address:

Calle Chacona, Güimar.

Schedule:

The park opens everyday at 9.30am and closes at 6pm.
The park’s only closed on the 25th December and 1st January

Telephone:

+34 922 514 510.

Recommended Excursions:

Hotels near this place:

Casa del Cura Viejo

(In 2777 meters).

Interactive Map:

What to see in Güimar

• Güimar Pyramids
• San Pedro Church

What to see in Tenerife:

• Arona
• Costa Adeje
• El Sauzal
• Granadilla de Abona
• Güímar
• La Orotava
• Los Realejos
• Puerto de la Cruz
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Santa Úrsula
• Santiago del Teide
• San Cristóbal de La Laguna
• San Miguel de Abona
• Tacoronte




• Beaches in Tenerife
• El Teide National Park
• Corona Forestal Natural Park
• Costa Acentejo Protected Landscape
• Las Aguilas Jungle Plark – Arona
• Monkey Park – Arona
• Camel Park – Arona
• Bananera Jardines del Atlántico – Arona
• Costa del Silencio – Arona
• Los Cristianos Beach – Arona
• Aqualand Aquapark – Costa Adeje
• El Infierno Ravine Natural Reserve – Costa Adeje
• Siam Park – Costa Adeje
• Güimar Pyramids – Güímar
• El Viento Sobrado Cave – Icod de los Vinos
• Museum of contemporary dollart and Designer Teddies – Icod de los Vinos
• Victoria Gardens – La Orotava
• Oasis del Valle (Thematic Park) – La Orotava
• Nuestra Señora de La Concepción Church – La Orotava
• Casa Lercaro – La Orotava
• Guindaste Natural Pools – Los Realejos
• San Fernando Fort – Los Realejos
• La Corona Viewpoint – Los Realejos
• Loro Parque – Puerto de la Cruz
• Martianez Lake – Puerto de la Cruz
• Las Teresitas Beach – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Tenerife Auditorium – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• San Juan Bautista Castle – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• García Sanabria Park – Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Benijo Beach Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Acantilado de los Gigantes – Santiago del Teide
• Chinyero Volcano – Santiago del Teide
• San Cristóbal de La Laguna Cathedral – La Laguna
• Nava Palace – San Cristóbal de La Laguna
• La Concepción Church – San Cristóbal de La Laguna
• El Capitán House Museum – San Miguel de Abona
• El Médano – Granadilla de Abona

What to do in Tenerife:

• Surf
• Diving
• Boat Trips
• Bus tours
• Climbing & Hiking
• Cycling
• Golf
• Aquatic and Theme Parks

What to see in las Islas Canarias:

• Tenerife
• Gran Canaria
• Fuerteventura
• Lanzarote
• La Palma
• La Gomera
• El Hierro

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Hotels in Tenerife

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• Hotels in Costa Adeje
• Hotels in La Laguna
• Accommodation in La Orotava
• Accommodation in Los Realejos
• Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz
• Hotels in Puerto de Santiago
• Hoteles San Miguel de Abona
• Hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

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Discover The Enigmatic Pyramids Of Tenerife In Güímar

One of the main attractions of the south of the island are the pyramids of Tenerife, located in Güímar.

They combine history and architecture with the beauty of the surrounding nature, where thousands of visitors stop and enjoy an ideal plan for any age.

The pyramids of Tenerife

Although for many people Tenerife is synonymous with sun and beach, there are also places where you can spend a different day and get to know both the present and the past of the island. The pyramids of Tenerife in Güímar are no exception.

This place is the Ethnographic Park Pirámides de Güímar, founded in 1998 by Thor Heyerdahl. This important Norwegian researcher built the park to protect, safeguard and study these constructions.

In addition to the pyramids, it also has large landscaped areas. As well as a museum and an auditorium. The space functions as an open-air museum where several open-air routes have been set up. This allows the visitor to learn about Canarian culture, history, botany and nature.

The extensive botanical collection integrated into the exhibitions is a major protagonist. In them, you can discover a multitude of plant species over an extension of accessible landscaped areas of more than 20,000 square meters. Its importance is such that in 2017 it will obtain the prestigious denomination of Botanical Garden, granted unanimously by the Ibero-Macaronesian Association of Botanical Gardens.

To complement all these spaces, we can find various exhibitions and ethnographic samples, a children’s playground, an information room, store services and cafeteria.

Discover the archaeological site in Güímar.

History and School of Travellers

The construction of the park took place at the end of the 20th century, by Thor Heyerdahl, but there are several theories about the origin of these pyramids in Tenerife:

• Some researchers expose that the pyramids are mounds of stones (which they call “majanos”). These stones were placed at the time by farmers to clean the land and thus be able to cultivate it.
• For Heyerdahl, the pyramids of Tenerife were related to other ancient civilizations located around the planet. These civilizations share architectural principles in their constructions. Therefore, it would hardly be a simple accumulation of stones.
• The excavations in the park were carried out by the University of La Laguna and the FERCO Foundation in 1991. Materials from the middle of the 19th century were obtained from it.
• Also during the ’90s, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute) realised a study in which it was demonstrated that the pyramids are astronomically oriented to the summer and winter solstices. From this research, the conclusion is drawn that a casual construction of it is easily discarded.
• Some documents of the purchase of the land where the pyramids are located have been used to check if there were references to them. In one document from 1854, they are not mentioned, while in another from 1872 they are. If that theory is true, the construction date would be reduced to the last two decades of that century. It also maintains its historical relevance as an ethnographic element of the Canarian people of the nineteenth century.

Meet the culture of the island through its pyramids.

The “Thor Heyerdahl Travellers’ School” was created to make known the history discovered in this space.

A series of conferences organised by the Vice-rectorate for University and Society Relations of the University of La Laguna, in collaboration with the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park.

Routes

When visiting Tenerife, the pyramids offer four routes that you can choose according to your tastes:

• If you are looking to know the products that are key pieces in the exports of the Canary Islands, there is the export route. It concentrates on the main products that have been exported from the archipelago since the time of the conquest. Examples include sugar cane, wine, cochineal, banana or tomato.
• In the case of preferring subjects related to agriculture, gastronomy, autochthonous sport and even mythology -in addition to other areas associated with Canarian ethnology-, the most appropriate would be the cultural route.
• Given the volcanic origin of the islands is logical that there is an exclusive route for it. The volcanic route explains this process of geological creation of the archipelago. It also shows the most common volcanic materials and how they affect climatology.
• The botanical route is recommended for lovers of vegetation. The Canarian archipelago has a high proportion of endemic species and plant communities. Many of them are only found here. The volcanic nature, together with the great heights of the islands and the climatic variety, gives rise to the formation of different landscapes or plant communities.

Make the different routes that the park has.

Inside the Ethnographic Park Pirámides de Güímar it is possible to see a series of botanical samples that will captivate anyone who prides himself:

• More than 70 poisonous plant species from all over the world are concentrated on the poisonous garden.
• The sustainable garden contains an atmosphere typical of a Canarian ravine, in which it is possible to see all the species of flora characteristic of this environment. Besides, the specimen of European eel, the only fish present in freshwater courses in the Canary Islands, has been introduced.
• Darwin gave special importance to the life strategies that orchids and carnivorous plants use to survive in tropical conditions, with constant temperatures and high humidity. To learn about the subject, you will find the tropicarium.

Local Tip: You must bear in mind that the visit to the tropicarium can only be done in a guided way.

You will have the opportunity to stroll through different gardens.

Events

Seeing a double sunset seems impossible, but it is not in the pyramids of Tenerife. Every year, on June 21, the park opens its doors to small groups to witness this unusual event.

This is an archaeoastronomical phenomenon that allows the sun to be seen again for a few minutes just after setting.

In addition to the double sunset, the facilities – and especially the auditorium – are also prepared to host groups that want to make events, from conferences and product presentations to birthdays.

In your hand is to discover these enigmatic Pyramids of Tenerife in Güímar. Its numerous activities for all kinds of audiences make the park an almost obligatory stop. Do not hesitate to delve into the history and culture of Tenerife, the pyramids and the Canary Islands.

(If you want to know more about different activities to do with the little ones of the house, you can read our article: The best things to do in Tenerife with your family. We give you lots of ideas to have a great time with yours.)

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Pyramids of Guimar, Tenerife | Tiqets

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What’s included

Ancient structures shrouded in mystery… discover the Pyramids of Guimard!

Access to the Pyramids

Access to the Expedition Room

Access to the Botanical Route

Access to the Exporters Route

Access to the Cultural Route

Access to the Volcanic Route

Access to the 9004 Plastic Ocean Exhibition

Standard ticket price:
€7. 75

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Entrance to Light Park Tenerife

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Pyramids of Guimard

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Pirámides de Güímar

Pyramids of Guimard

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Attractions Tenerife

Pyramids are 6 unusual stepped structures. They are located in the southeast of the island, not far from the coast, in the city of Guimar. Until the capture of the island by the Spaniards, it was the residence of one of the kings of Tenerife.

Guides claim that there were originally 9 pyramids of Guimar . Over time, people destroyed some of them, using stones for construction.

Versions of the origin of the pyramids of Guimar

According to one version, it is believed that the pyramids of Guimar were created by farmers who, while cultivating their plots, chose stones that came across and carried them to the border of their territory. Since, as a result of volcanic activity, most of the land was littered with fragments of rocks and stones, the peasants had to get rid of them in order to increase the fertility of their plots. Such pyramids began to appear in many places.

In 1991, the scientist Heyerdahl put forward the second hypothesis of the appearance of structures. After studying them, he stated that these were not just mountains of stones. The proof of this is the manual processing of the corners of the steps and the leveling of the territory under the pyramids. The material of the buildings was also called into question, it did not look like boulders from the fields, but consisted of solidified lava. All this spoke of a special and planned construction of the pyramids by people, although until that time their exact time of construction and purpose had not been established.

In one of the buildings of the Guimar pyramids , scientists found the remains of household utensils of Guanches (representatives of local tribes). They also established the connection of buildings with astronomy. During the summer solstice, from the top of the highest pyramid, you can see the sunset twice. First, the solar disk descends over the top of one mountain, then it arises and again sets only over the top of another mountain.

All buildings on the western sides have stairs, climbing which in winter, on the day of the solstice, you can see the rising sun.

One can doubt that the builders of these pyramids were deep romantics, having created them only to admire the sunsets and sunrises of the island of Tenerife. Perhaps the Guanches used the pyramids for their rites and rituals associated with the sun. However, most likely, the ancient civilization was much more intelligent, having built pyramids for unknown purposes.

Tourists should definitely visit the pyramids of Guimar…

Visiting a place that is now called ethnic Guimar Park , you can appreciate the complexity of the buildings and the fortress of the pyramids. Also in the museum of the park you can see many items found near the foot of the pyramids.

In the park there are covered pavilions that show tourists other interesting objects from the history of the civilization of this island. And in a specially opened lecture hall, you can see a video about the discovery and research of this mysterious landmark of Tenerife.

Park hours:
Open from 09:30 to 18:00 daily (except December 25 and January 1).

Ticket price:

• Adults: 11.00 €
• For children (9-12 years): €5.50
• Audio guide: €1.70
• Easter Island Exhibition: 5.00€
• Secret Garden: 5.00€
• Special prices for the purchase of the full package (Big Tour + Easter Island + Secret Garden), as well as for groups.

More about the park:

• Information about the park
• Park entrance
• Museum
• Auditorium
• Pyramids
• Chaconne Cave
• Botanical Garden Walk
• Botanical Route
• Export route
• Culture Route
• Rapa Nui exposition. Polynesia
• Secret Garden
• Architecture
• Curious facts, events, dates…
• Thor Heyerdahl

About the park

The popularity of the step pyramids in Guimar began to grow after the publication of an article in the local daily newspaper of Tenerife in the early 90s. Information about the pyramids reached the Norwegian anthropologist Dr. Thor Heyerdahl, known throughout the world for his transoceanic expeditions on prehistoric boats and theories about human migration. This Norwegian explorer, who devoted most of his life to studying the cultural origins of the ancient civilizations of the world, carefully studied the structures of Guimar and put forward the hypothesis that they were built in accordance with the architectural principles used in the Old and New Worlds. The similarity of the pyramids of Guimar with the structures of Sicily, Mexico, Mesopotamia, Polynesia and Peru moved the researcher to come to Tenerife to study them on the spot. There are several theories about the origin and age of the pyramids.

Prior to Heyerdahl’s arrival in Tenerife, two possibilities were considered. Some researchers believed that the pyramids arose as a result of clearing the earth from stones by farmers to make it suitable for agriculture, while others were inclined to believe that the structures were related to esoteric beliefs. After the study of Thor Heyerdahl, some archaeologists began to associate the emergence of the pyramids with ancient civilizations. In 1991, the first archaeological excavations were carried out by the department of archeology of the University of La Laguna, and the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands carried out a study of the archaeoastronomical characteristics of these structures. These studies have demonstrated that the pyramids are astronomically oriented according to the winter and summer solstices. The territory where the pyramids rise today was intended for the development of the upper part of the city, so their safety was in jeopardy. Thor Heyerdahl’s interest in the Guimar pyramids became a personal matter when the pyramid site was purchased by the Fred company. Olsen S.A., which aimed to preserve them and create what is today the ethnographic park “Pyramids of Guimar”.

Entrance to the park

Entering the park, visitors enter the Dragon Tree Yard, where groups form, then visitors can see the triptych by the Swedish artist Per Lilleström, which precedes the exposition of the Chacon House Museum.

Museum

The museum is located in the old Chaconne House, which has been refurbished for a new purpose in accordance with the principles of traditional Canarian architecture.

The expositions of the various halls offer visitors exhibits that tell about the culture of the Old and New Worlds, leaving open numerous questions about possible cultural contacts between both sides of the Atlantic. The museum presents finds made during various archaeological campaigns in the pyramid complex, the results of archaeoastronomical studies of the orientation of the main complex to the sun during the winter and summer solstices, information about ancient navigation and the use of reed boats in the world, as well as one of the largest collections of examples of step pyramids all over the world. After visiting the museum, the route leads to a panoramic terrace overlooking the main pyramid complex.

Auditorium

Auditorium (auditorium) is located in a new building, which is partially hidden underground, as its creators tried not to disturb the integrity of the natural ensemble. It shows a documentary film (in 6 languages) that tells about the migration of peoples in ancient times and the amazing coincidences between cultures located on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, such as Mexico, Mesopotamia and Egypt. The film also tells about the expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl, who was one of the first to talk about the need to study the pyramids of Guimar.

The rooms adjacent to the Auditorium contain detailed information about the life of Dr. Heyerdahl, which is presented in the form of an exhibition that tells about his amazing travels. The “Expedition Hall” is dedicated to various transatlantic expeditions of the researcher, it also displays models of reed boats “Kon-Tiki”, “Ra”, “Ra-II” and “Tigris”, on which he made his voyages. The famous Kon-Tiki expedition, during which Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific Ocean in 101 days in 1947, won him the Academy Award for Best Documentary. At the entrance to the Auditorium there is also a copy of the Ra-II boat, made on a large scale.

Pyramids

After the Auditorium, the route passes along the road that runs between the pyramids, allowing you to get acquainted with the building fragments, see the carefully processed stones that form their construction, the exact proportions of the steps leading to the top, the volcanic origin of the stones and the ideal archaeoastronomical orientation.

Through the museum’s exposition and documentary film, visitors can get an idea of ​​the monumentality of the surrounding complex.

Chaconne Cave

Under Pyramid No. 1, a group of archaeologists from the United States and the Canary Islands excavated in 1997-1998 and discovered an eight-meter-long cave with archaeological traces of Guanches (bones of goats and fish, punches, fragments of ceramics, stone tools and necklace beads). The found organic remains were subjected to radiocarbon analysis to determine their age. The final conclusion made it possible to date the materials to 680–1020 AD.

Walk in the Botanical Garden

One of the main attractions of the park is its over 20,000 m2 of green areas, which, along with other plants, contain more than thirty species of endemic plants of the Canary Islands. This made it possible to create several routes introducing the flora and life of the Canary Islands, among them the Botanical Route and the Export Route.

Botanical route

The Canary archipelago has numerous endemic plant species and families that can be found only in the Canary Islands and other archipelagos of the Atlantic Ocean that form Macronesia (Madeira, Cape Verde, Azores, Selvages and a small area near off the coast of Africa). Volcanic nature, mountainous terrain and a variety of climates have led to the diversity of natural landscapes and flora. Plants endemic to the Canary Islands include the Canary palm (Phoenix canariensis), Canary spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), bindweed (Convolvulus floridus), dragon tree (Dracaena draco) and Canary pine (Pinus canariensis). The botanical route passes through green areas, allowing visitors to experience these and other endemic plant species for themselves. All plants have plates with household and scientific names, and the most interesting species are also equipped with special information panels.

Export Route

The Export Route is dedicated to the main products that have been exported from the Canary Islands since the conquest of the archipelago, among them sugar cane, wine, cochineal, bananas and tomatoes. Along with panels dedicated to each of these products, the information is complemented by numerous photographs of those times. In addition, each panel is installed next to the corresponding plant or plant species that constituted the export item. This visibility and tangibility of the display helps to understand the importance that each of these products had for the economy of the Canary Islands over many centuries.

Cultural Route

The Cultural Route, recently created in the park, introduces visitors to numerous aspects of the culture and history of the archipelago, recounting facts related to the ethnography of the Canary Islands over more than 500 years since the conquest of the archipelago, in including: agriculture (products of domestic consumption), crafts, obtaining and using water resources in Tenerife, traditional costumes of the inhabitants of the islands, gofio, mythology of the Canary Islands, prominent personalities who visited Tenerife, emigration to the Canary Islands, animal husbandry and fishing, native species sports, lizards, etc.

Rapa Nui exposition. Polynesia

The Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi (Easter Islands) Foundation has organized this exhibition, which aims to acquaint visitors with one of the most amazing and exciting stories on the planet: the achievements of the people of Polynesia, who for a millennium created a grandiose culture on the lost in the ocean on a small island of Easter (Rapa Nui). This society deserves special attention, as people were forced to fight for survival in conditions of complete isolation and a sharp deterioration in the state of the environment caused by direct human intervention.

Rapa Nui is the most isolated island on the planet, which, due to its geographical location, has unique physical characteristics and minimal biodiversity, and where human intervention has led to a risk relationship with the environment. Therefore, the exposition serves as a reminder to the inhabitants of the planet about the destructive influence of man on the environment.

Secret Garden

Nestled along the park’s alleys, this unusual natural space stands out as home to over 70 species of poisonous plants from around the world. This is a unique exposition in the Canary Islands with an area of ​​1,500 m2, which contains the most dangerous plants on the planet.

This amazing garden is designed to enhance the cultural and family experience that the park has been striving for since its inception. Along with the fact that the Secret Garden has an educational value, aims to preserve this unusual botanical collection and give pleasure from getting to know it, it also performs a general educational function, telling in a fascinating way about the danger posed to humans by poisons that exist in the plant world. .

The entire route of exploring the Secret Garden is accompanied by attractive signs and information panels. This supporting material tells about fantastic myths and legends about poisons, contains information about the use of some plants in medicine, gives information about the level of toxicity and the geographical origin of each botanical species, and identifies plants that are considered the most dangerous on the spot. The Secret Garden is for all ages and is a delight for all family members to visit. Children and adults can expand their knowledge of poisonous plants in a fun way. Therefore, this living museum is of great interest to schoolchildren and students, in addition, lovers of landscape art and specialists in the field of botany and pharmacology can study interesting aspects of deadly plants in a relaxed atmosphere.

Architecture

The new architecture of the building that houses the House of Chacon respects the environment and the pyramids with the utmost respect.

The park was designed by Cesar Ruiz-Larrea, Enrique Alvarez and Carlos Rubio Carvajal. They managed to create an atmosphere that allows visitors to immerse themselves in courtyards with green areas, accompanied by the sound of water and reservoirs.

The ubiquitous presence of water serves as a reminder that this natural element was used by ancient cultures as a means of making contact, confirming Thor Heyerdahl’s theories. In addition, intertwined courtyards use the oldest layout of mankind: a house with a patio. At the entrance to the park, the visitor is greeted by the Dragon Tree Courtyard, and along the route there are other courtyards and boulevards, among them: Papyrus Boulevard, Laurel Tree Courtyard, etc. In each of them, a certain type of plant reminds us of the origins of the mutual exchange between cultures.

With the help of careful processing and classification of stones, specialists managed to separate the new stone buildings from all the original structures surrounding them. To this end, they opted for black basalt to avoid mixing new buildings with pyramids and ancient stone walls. The existence of a bioclimatic mechanism based on planted vaults and green spaces in the yards enhances the effect of the park’s natural environment.

Numerous terraces, yards and balconies offer visitors the most beautiful views of the park. The new architecture used in the Pyramids of Guimar ethnographic park is designed to quietly and in complete silence enhance the visitor’s pleasant experience while in the historical complex.

Curiosities, events, dates…

Since the ethnographic park “Pyramids de Guimar” officially opened its doors in April 1998, thanks to the large offer and the varied programs that are always a success, the park has hosted more than 100 000 visitors. The park has expanded its capacity to host cultural meetings, conference cycles, temporary exhibitions and special events such as Canary Islands Day celebrations, International Museum Day, etc. The presence of television workers and journalists among the visitors of the most prestigious European media has also become a common sight in the park.

Thor Heyerdahl (1914–2002)

Thor Heyerdahl was born in Larvik, Norway in 1914. He studied biology and geography at the University of Oslo.

In 1937-1938 he visited the Marquesas Islands, Polynesia, where, as part of an expedition organized by this university, he studied how the animals inhabiting the islands today could get there. From that moment on, all his interests were focused on the study of anthropology and the migration of peoples, and primarily on primitive boats and navigation of the natives.

In 1947, together with a team of five Scandinavian navigators, Heyerdahl traveled on the Kon-Tiki raft from Peru to Polynesia, covering 8,000 km in 101 days and proving that the Indians of the pre-Inca era of the coast of South America could be the first to populate the islands of eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean, having reached there on their primitive boats. In 1969–1970 set sail from Morocco, on the northeast coast of Africa, across the Atlantic Ocean, and on the second attempt, with a team of seven people of different nationalities, aboard a papyrus boat “Ra II” after 57 days reached the island of Barbados on the American continent.

With his travels, Heyerdahl proved that the Atlantic and Pacific oceans could be crossed in the most ancient boats known to us. Later, in 1977, Dr. Heyerdahl went to Iraq to build a replica of an ancient Sumerian boat. With ten crew members from different countries, different political and religious beliefs, he sailed on the boat “Tigris” on the river of the same name and reached through the Persian Gulf to Pakistan, Asia. Then he crossed the Indian Ocean, sailing to the state of Djibouti in Africa, at the entrance to the Red Sea. This expedition proved that the founders of civilization in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and the Nile Valley, could have had maritime contacts in the prehistoric era. From 19In 52, Dr. Heyerdahl organized a number of archaeological expeditions to the Galapagos Islands, Easter Island and eastern Polynesia, the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and also to the Tucume pyramids on the northwestern coast of Peru. During his illustrious career, he has received the highest honorary awards from the kings and presidents of Norway, Italy, Peru, Egypt and Morocco. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain awarded him the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, and the King of Sweden awarded him the Gold Medal of the Royal Swedish Anthropological and Geographical Society.

Heyerdahl received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oslo in 1961, after which he has received many other honors, titles and awards. During the Cold War, he was a member of the New York Academy of Sciences and at the same time an honorary doctorate from the USSR Academy of Sciences.

He was awarded the United Nations International Environmental Prize for his contribution to the conservation of nature.

His documentaries have won an Oscar and been nominated for another Oscar. Heyerdahl is the author of numerous books, and his book Expedition to Kon-Tiki has been translated into a record sixty-seven languages. Heyerdahl died at the Colla Micheri estate (Italy) on April 18, 2002.

“He will live on in the hearts of the people he influenced. We are honored to be among them.”

Pyramids de Guimar Ethnographic Park

In the south-east of the island of Tenerife there is a small town of Guimar, which has gained worldwide fame due to the presence here of a unique structure – the ancient pyramids of Guimar. Tourists can admire these ancient architectural structures here, as well as visit the anthropology museum and the botanical garden.

Origin Pyramids de Guimar

Pyramides de Guimar are six blocks of volcanic rock that are stacked in steps without the use of a binder. There is still heated debate about the origin and purpose of these pyramids. Only one thing is known for sure – initially there were 9 of them, but 3 of them, unfortunately, did not stand the test of time.

At the moment, 3 versions of their origin are most common:

1. The main hypothesis – the pyramids were “built” by local residents, who, in the process of developing the new territory of the island, simply removed unnecessary stones from their path and put them into a kind of pyramid. This hypothesis has a large number of adherents, including among world-famous scientists;

2. According to Thor Heyerdahl’s well-known theory of the continuity of cultures, the Canary Islands at one time were a place where multiple ships coming from different continents met, so the Guimar pyramids originally performed a religious function and were copied from similar Egyptian pyramids. Tur was the first to draw attention to the exact astronomical location of the pyramids and their similarity with similar structures in South America and Egypt. A lot of scientifically substantiated facts speak for confirmation of this point of view;

3. the most exotic hypothesis – the Guimar pyramids are the creation of some ancient civilization that has not survived to this day. There is little evidence for this, supporters, as a rule, refer only to Pliny the Elder’s note about these places.

One thing can be absolutely certain: one way or another, the Guimar pyramids are a building made by the Guanches, who at one time were indigenous to Tenerife. For the time being, the building did not arouse any interest among the inhabitants of the island, it was believed that in ancient times it performed some protective functions. And only thanks to the famous Norwegian traveler and explorer Thor Heyerdahl, the Guimar pyramids not only survived to this day, but also gained worldwide fame, became a popular attraction in Tenerife.

Now the Pyramids of Guimar are just one part of a large complex consisting of a park, exhibition pavilions and a museum. Geographically, all this wealth is located in the northern part of the city of Guimar, an area called Chaconne. At one of the museums, “Casa Chacona”, I would like to dwell in more detail.

Museo Casa Chacona

The name of the museum coincides with the name of one of the pyramidal caves. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by the statue of the sun god Kon-Tiki (he was revered even before any Incas). By the way, that was the name of the raft on which Thor Heyerdahl made his travels. A copy of the raft is in this museum.

The beginning of the exposition presents us with an exhibition of objects of the religious cult of the ancient inhabitants of Peru and Mexico. Further, a separate room is specially allocated for exhibits related to Heyerdahl’s legendary theory of the so-called parallelism of cultures, which was the basis of his hypothesis about the origin of the Guimar pyramids.

The third and fourth halls are dedicated to cultures where such pyramids are also found. Here, experienced guides will be able to thoroughly tell everyone about the pyramids of Guimar. Of course, the museum also has a special exhibition dedicated to Thor Heyerdahl himself, who, by the way, liked the island of Tenerife so much that he lived here for a long time.

Thor Heyerdahl’s Expedition Hall

Various reed and wooden ships that Thor Heyerdahl used in his travels are collected here: Kon-Tiki on the Pacific Ocean (1947d), Ra and Ra II for the Atlantic Ocean (1969-1970) and Tigris for the Indian Ocean (1977-1978).

For the adventurous, we recommend watching Thor Heyerdahl’s documentary Kon-Tiki, 1950. This film will be even more interesting if you watch the 2012 feature film “Kon Tiki” in front of it.

Poison Garden (El JARDÍN VENENOSO)

More than thirty varieties of so-called endemic plants have been collected in the Guimar Botanical Garden. These are representatives of the plant world that are found strictly in a certain area, in this case only on the Canary Islands. The most famous of them are: Canarian Pine (Pinuscanariensis), Canarian Palm (Phoenixcanariensis), Dragon Tree (Dracaenadraco) and Euphorbia (Euphorbiacanariensis). As you may have guessed from the name of the garden, in addition to endemics, the park’s collection also includes poisonous plants – more than 70 species in total.

Routes in the ethnographic park of Guimar

There are three thematic routes to pass through the Guimar park, each of which will be interesting for children and adults.

Botanical route
This is the best route to discover the flora of Tenerife. In addition to plants that grow on the islands of the archipelago, here you can see many poisonous species collected from all over the Earth.

Export route
After the conquest of Tenerife, various goods began to be exported from the island, such as: bananas, sugarcane, cochineal, wine and tomatoes.

Cultural route
Walking through the Pyramids of Guimar, you will learn about the history of the archipelago, the culture and way of life of the people who have inhabited it for 500 years since the conquest of the Canary Islands. The indigenous people were engaged in animal husbandry and fishing, agriculture, were engaged in agriculture, handicrafts, studied various technologies for extracting water – there is something to see here.

Recreation area

The complex has a cafe “Kon-Tiki”, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the pyramids and at the same time something to eat or drink a refreshing drink. For children there is a playground. The small market “Pyramids of Guimar” is very popular with tourists, where you can buy handmade souvenirs, products from Canarian Ceramics, books by Thor Heyerdahl and other publications on anthropology and culture of the Canary Islands.

Pyramid Exhibition of the World

One of the world’s largest photographic collections of pyramids and step structures in the world is located in the Güimar Ethnographic Park. It is located in two halls of the Chacon House-Museum, as well as in the central courtyard of the building. Visitors will be able to see numerous sites around the world that have pyramids and stepped structures, such as the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt or the Pyramids of Tikal in Guatemala.

How to get to the Pyramids of Guimar in Tenerife

Getting to Piramides de Guimar is very easy, just take one of the routes 121 or 126 and get off at the Bar Piramide stop. Do not be afraid to drive the right place – you will see the pyramids right away, they cannot be missed. Just remember that the entrance will not be from the side of the exit from the bus, that is, you will have to go around the complex to get inside.

Access to the Pyramids of Guimar is open every day from 08:30 to 18:00 (except for holidays on December 25 and January 1).

The entrance fee ranges from 11 euros for an adult ticket. Believe me, what you see is worth the money, you will get a lot of impressions from viewing.

In addition, it will be possible to buy inexpensive souvenirs in memory of the visit, as well as have a bite to eat in a small cafe. More detailed information can always be found on the official website www.piramidesdeguimar.es, only to view it you will need knowledge of one of the languages ​​- English German or Spanish.

Summing up all of the above, we can confidently recommend visiting the Guimar pyramids to everyone who wants to touch the mysterious artifacts of history. These pyramids are the last living mention of the practically disappeared Guanches, which, perhaps, will be finally deciphered by our descendants.

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Non-Egyptian pyramids: synthsnow — LiveJournal

A visit to the pyramids in Güímar was one of the revelations in Tenerife for me. And not so much the pyramids themselves, but the ethnographic museum with them, full of interesting facts about the Canaries and not only

The museum was founded by the well-known Thor Heyerdahl, the one who sailed the Pacific Ocean on the Kon-Tiki raft. It was Heyerdahl who was credited with “discovering” the pyramids in 1991. Of course, stone pyramids were known long before that, but they were considered just piles of cobblestones collected by farmers in their fields. Meanwhile, Heyerdahl’s research showed that the platforms under the pyramids were artificially leveled, the outer stones were hewn pieces of lava, and inside the pyramids there were sand and small pebbles. In addition, the faces of the pyramids are made in such a way that their height is exactly equal to the width, and, most importantly, on the western side of each pyramid there is a staircase that accurately indicates the place of sunrise on the day of the summer solstice

However, it was impossible to establish the exact age of the pyramids from the stones, so there are still several versions of their origin. According to one hypothesis, the pyramids were built in the 19th century, probably by the owner of this piece of land, who was fond of the teachings of the Masons. This hypothesis is confirmed by the study of the soil around the pyramids, in which pieces of pottery from the 19th century were found. The second hypothesis put forward by Heyerdahl is more complex: he believed that the pyramids were built by the Guanches in the pre-Hispanic period. In defense of this version, evidence is given that there used to be such pyramids in other parts of the island, but the locals, as unnecessary, dismantled them for building materials

A cave was found under one of the pyramids. It was found that here in the period 600-1000 AD. the Guanches certainly lived. Supporters of Heyerdahl consider this time as the minimum time for the appearance of the pyramids, while others say that the pyramid stands over a cave and, accordingly, was built later. But Heyerdahl’s version seems more elegant, especially since the Canarian pyramids fit perfectly on the map of ancient pyramids scattered around the world, ranging from the famous pyramids in Egypt and Mexico, to the lesser known ones in Europe, the USA and Oceania

Heyerdahl was a supporter of a more general theory of “cultural parallelism”, according to which Europeans could have reached the Americas long before Columbus. As proof of this theory, he personally sailed from Morocco to the Caribbean Sea on the boat “Ra-II”, made of papyrus (its duplicate can be seen in the museum). In addition, Heyerdahl and his followers found many other archaeological and other evidence of their theory, for example, white people in the images of the Maya of the pre-Columbian era or bearded deities of the Indians, who themselves did not have facial hair

Guanches were one of the important confirmations of Heyerdahl’s theory: pyramids like in Mexico, mummies like in Egypt, and they lived just on the way to the New World. For me personally, it was a discovery that the Guanches did not look at all like Negroes or Arabs, on the contrary, blue-eyed, bearded and fair-haired themselves looked like Europeans. During the conquest, part of the Guanches died in battles, many died from introduced diseases, and the rest disappeared among the alien Spanish population, so now it is difficult to find purebred Guanches

The most famous red-haired mummy from the Canary Islands

Meanwhile, the origin of the Guanches is still a mystery. At the time of the arrival of the Spaniards, the Guanches lived somewhere on the border of the Stone Age: they did not know iron, they did not know how to sew. On the other hand, the Guanches had livestock and raised cereals that were not of Canarian origin. Artifacts have also been discovered, indicating that the Guanches had their own script. At the same time, what is most interesting, the islanders did not know the sea and even sailed to neighboring islands very rarely

The main version is the kinship of the Guanches with the North African Berbers – light-skinned tribes of North Africa, who were forced out by the Arabs in the 7th century. This is also evidenced by the discovered similarities between the language of the Guanches and the Berbers. DNA analysis confirms that the people closest to the Guanches in terms of genotype are the Moroccan Berbers (for example, here and here)

-73%). On the paternal side, the coincidence is only from 7% to 16%, which is not surprising, given the bloody battles of the conquest times

The Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands began in 1402 and took about a hundred years. The islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote were the first to surrender, while Tenerife held out until 1496. It is known that the Guanches in Tenerife were not even allowed to land on the island of the expedition of Columbus in 1492. In 1494, the Guanches managed to defeat the conquering army, but they lost the next two major battles. A natural outcome, given that the Guanches were armed only with pikes and stones, while the Spaniards had metal armor, bows, firearms and, most importantly, cavalry. In addition, the cunning Spaniards managed to negotiate help with the Guanches of the neighboring islands, who had already been baptized, and to attract the Guanches from the southern part of Tenerife to their side, promising them rich northern lands. Of course, they did not get any lands, but the old principle “Divide and rule” showed its efficiency

The victory of the Spaniards was largely facilitated by the disunity of the Guanches: shortly before the conquest, Tinerfe, the last great king (mencey), who ruled the entire island, died. After that, Tenerife was divided between the sons of Tinerfe into nine kingdoms (menceyatos)

Tinerfe statue in Adeje

Now in the city of Candelaria there is a whole street with statues of the last kings of the Guanches

Menceyes Guanches

By the way, a couple of faces – I first thought that these are some spaniards

Bencomo

Beneharo

So briefly about the history of the Guanches, and now, in fact, the museum itself and those very pyramids – at first I also only wanted to see the pyramids, but then I got carried away.

Statues of a conquistador and a guanche at the entrance – behind them is the building of the ethnographic museum Casa Chacona

Papyrus and a pyramid – almost like in Egypt. Papyrus here – to the fact that Heyerdahl made boats from it, on which he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. The first “Ra” got wet and did not swim far, but the second one – “Ra-2” – was made using improved technology, and it sailed all the way to Barbados

Statue of Atlantis – something from Greek mythology – a gift to the museum

Originally there were 9 pyramids in Güímar – 6 of them can still be seen today. The pyramids are not high, and on top there is a large platform – something like a square

Two pyramids were connected into one

On the territory near the pyramids there is a garden with native and overseas trees, including those from South America and Australia. You can not only look at the pyramids, but also study the flora of the Canary Islands, which I have long wanted to do. Agave bushes can be found throughout the island, but this plant was brought from Mexico

And these are thickets of Canary milkweed (Euphorbia canariensis) – in the local Cardon. This native plant is one of the most common in the Canary Islands

Another cactus brought from America and spreading throughout the island in huge quantities is Opuntia dillenii. It was brought in in the 19th century to establish the production of cochineal (cochineal) – flies that settle on cactus leaves, from which a natural dye, carmine, was made. Now cacti grow all over the island, and jams are made from their fruits

Finally, a couple of local landscapes against the background of mountains and clouds

And this is a proper barraquito from the museum bar. First condensed milk, then liquor, then espresso and then milk. Plus cinnamon and lime peel. It turns out very tasty

to be continued…

Tenerife – general impressions
Life on the volcano

Cities
Los Realejos
Garachico
Buena Vista, Los Silos, San Juan de la Rambla and Punta Bravo
Arafo

Nature
Teno Parque
Chanajiga
El Socorro Beach
Rambla de Castro

Loro Parque

Tenerife sightseeing tour – price 95 €

Tenerife sightseeing tour – price 95 €

Individual tour

•

8 hours

Conducted by agreement with the guide

no reviews

Prepayment 20% of the cost

95 €

per person

Description of the tour

Tenerife is not only well-traveled up and down the Teide National Park, the two capitals of the island and entertainment in Loro Parque. During the tour you will discover the other side of this extraordinary place. You will see the mysterious pyramids of Guimar, taste Canarian wines in Icod de los Vinos, follow the footsteps of filibusters in the vicinity of the village of Masca and admire the marvelous sunset at the Teno lighthouse.

What you will see and visit during our fascinating trip around the island:

• Masca village. The village is a traditional Canarian village with a church on the main square, old buildings, small guachinches, a museum and souvenir shops. The Mask Gorge is of the greatest interest to tourists: according to legend, sea robbers hid their treasures there. The gorge is very picturesque, and although the path to it is difficult, there are always a lot of people who want to find the wealth of pirates;
• Garachico. Once this town was the main port of Tenerife. After several devastating earthquakes and landslides, almost nothing remained of it. In Garachico it is worth seeing: Fort San Miguel preserved from the 17th century with a museum inside, the Church of St. Anna and the Monastery of St. Francis;
• Icod de los Vinos. In addition to the ancient churches and mansions of the 16th century, in this city you should definitely see the dragon tree (or dracaena), which is more than one thousand years old. The height of the plant reaches more than 20 meters, and in girth it is about 10 m. Another pride of the city is vineyards and sugarcane plantations. Be sure to try the local wine and sweets such as fried milk;
• La Orotava. The historical center of the city (17th-18th centuries) has reached our days in excellent condition. You will visit Casa de los Balcones with fancy balconies, a museum and a souvenir shop. See the oldest house in the city – Casa del Turista. But the most remarkable event of village life is Carpet Day. Unusual carpets of flowers, volcanic sand, stones and tinted sawdust are created by craftsmen in front of the city hall and on the streets of the city;
• Guimar. Mysterious pyramids, which Thor Heyerdahl himself once became interested in. The pyramids are oriented to the sun and are tied to the winter and summer solstices. The shape of the building in Guimar is very reminiscent of the step pyramids of Peru and Mexico. In total, 6 out of 9 pyramids have been preserved; they form an ethnographic park. For 20 years, inquisitive minds have been solving the mysteries of Guimar. The park has a cinema hall with films about the connection between the ancient civilizations of the planet. There you can also see the model of the papyrus boat Ra-II, on which Heyerdahl and his team crossed the Atlantic in 57 days;
• Candelaria. The main shrine of this town is the statue of the Virgin Mary of Candelaria, which is located in the Basilica of the same name. Interestingly, the Mother of God has a dark skin color. On the embankment of Candelaria, there are nine statues of the rulers of the Guanches – the Mensei, who keep the memory of the indigenous population of the island.
• Lighthouse of Punta de Teno*. Ships are still guided by its bright red and white building. This is the westernmost point of the island, from there we will admire the stunning sunset.

*A visit to the Punta de Teno lighthouse is possible only by prior arrangement.

Overview
Automobile

• Type of excursion: individual by car
• Group size: up to 8 people
• Dates: choose a free date when booking
• Duration: 8 hours
• Language: Russian
• Price: 95 € per person
• Meeting point: Your hotel
• Includes:

  transport, guide services

• Not included:

  entrance tickets – 12. 50 euros for adults, 5.5 euros for children from 9 to 12 years old and an audio guide in Russian – 3.75 euros in the ethnographic park “Pyramids of Guimar”.

• Attractions:

  Masca – Garachico – Icod de los Vinos – La Orotava – Guimar – Candelaria

Reviews of tourists

Elena B.

about 3 years ago

Vadim

Guide in Tenerife

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