The incredible pyramids of Güìmar in Tenerife

Published on July 30, 2024 at 4:00 pm

On the east coast of the island of Tenerife, you can see mysterious constructions made of plateaux rising to heights of over 4 metres. Not far from the village of Güímar, around 30 minutes from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, are the famous Guimar pyramids. Although there are 6 of them, the origin of these pyramids and the identity of their builder remain unknown. Built from volcanic rock from the centre of the island, they are of rare precision. During the summer and winter solstices, the walls of the pyramids point astronomically north as well as south... Come and discover the ethnographic site of the pyramids as well as the museum dedicated to the search for the origin of the monuments and its protagonists. The botanical garden surrounding the buildings is full of themed trails to help you discover the flora and fauna of the Canary archipelago. What's more, the Venenoso Garden is home to more than 70 species of poisonous plants from all over the world... Open all year round, discover this enigmatic site on Tenerife.

Pyramids on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe.

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Summary

The Pyramids of Güímar
Pyramids of Tenerife: history and hypotheses
Visit the archaeological site of Güímar

The Pyramids of Güímar

The pyramids of Güímar are a grouping of several pyramids with plateaus, made of rocks piled on top of each other in the manner of restanques. The origin of these pyramids is still unknown.

However, there are several hypotheses...

Une des pyramides de Güímar à Tenerife, îles Canaries, Espagne, Europe.

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Pyramids of Tenerife: history and hypotheses

For a long time, people in the Canary Islands thought that the pyramids had been created by local farmers, who had piled up rocks from their fields. But in the 1990s, a number of researchers took a closer look at the pyramids of Güímar and discovered major clues that refuted this hypothesis. The buildings all appear to have an astronomical orientation, pointing exactly north and south during the solstices.

What's more, the stones used in the construction do not correspond to stones from neighbouring lands; they are volcanic rocks that were brought there for a specific purpose. Finally, steps were designed on each floor to allow access to the top of the structure. These discoveries completely rule out the farmers' hypothesis, without proving the site's pre-Columbian origin.

Although no one knows the identity of the builder or even the date of construction, researchers have finally determined that the pyramids were built after 1800, due to the nature of the soil on which they stand.

The origin of the Güímar pyramids remains unknown, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe.

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Visit the archaeological site of Güímar

There are 6 pyramids on the island, each around 4 metres high. The ethnographic site also features a museum about the pyramids and the extensive research carried out around them. It highlights researchers who have devoted much of their lives to investigating the pyramids of Güímar, including Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl. You can also discover other pyramids around the world.

The botanical garden surrounding the pyramids is home to a number of themed trails. The Venenoso Garden, for example, features over 70 species of poisonous plants from all over the world. In all, there are four discovery trails. During your walk, you can learn more about the flora and fauna, history and volcanoes of the Canary Islands. There are several exhibition rooms to visit on the site. They focus on navigation in the Pacific Ocean and Easter Island.

Find out more about the history and attractions of the Güímar Pyramids Park on the official website.

Güímar Pyramid Museum, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe.

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Practical information

Where are the pyramids of Güímar?

The pyramids are located not far from the village of Güímar, on the island of Tenerife. They are close to the east coast, between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Teide volcano.

How do I get there?

From Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it's about a 30-minute drive along the TF-1 road that runs along the coast. It's a beautiful drive.

If you're coming from the west coast of the island, the journey is a little longer. It takes around 50 minutes to reach the Güímar pyramids. You also take the TF-1.

Opening times and days

The Güímar Pyramids archaeological site is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week.

Where can you eat near the pyramids?

A cafeteria with a view of the pyramids welcomes you directly to the archaeological site.

Alternatively, there are plenty of restaurants to grab a bite to eat in the village of Güímar. The pyramids make it very popular with tourists, but there are plenty of good places to sit down for a break or sample the local cuisine.

Finca Salamanca

We recommend the Finca Salamanca restaurant, a superb establishment with high ceilings and stone walls. The dishes are refined and inspired by traditional cuisine. During the day, you can even take a dip in the restaurant's swimming pool.

Finca Salamanca is open from 13:30 to 16:00 and from 19:00 to 22:00 every day.