Pyramids of Güímar Archaeological Site

Address: Parque Etnográfico Pirámides de Güímar, C. Chacona s/n, 38500 Güímar, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Website: http://www.piramidesdeguimar.es

Hours: Daily 10am-6pm (seasonal variations; check website)

Admission: Approx. €8 adult (reduced rates for children/seniors) - check site for exact prices

The Pyramids of Güímar are a group of stepped stone platforms on the eastern slopes near the town of Güímar on Tenerife, Canary Islands. The structures and surrounding landscaped area are now presented as an ethnographic park with a museum.

The site contains six stepped lava-stone platforms built of local basalt and presented in a landscaped park that includes explanatory displays and a visitor centre. The park also features botanical elements and walking paths up the slope above Güímar.

The origins and age of the stone platforms have been debated; some researchers describe them as recent agricultural constructions while others have proposed older or ritual functions. Norwegian researcher Thor Heyerdahl promoted study of the site and helped establish the present Ethnographic Park in the late 20th century.

The pyramids and park sit on the eastern side of Tenerife above the town of Güímar, within the Canary Islands archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa.

• Number of pyramids: There are six main stepped stone platforms within the site, built from local basalt blocks laid without mortar.
• Visitor centre: Guided tours and a visitor centre are available that explain the debated origins of the structures and display archaeological and ethnographic material.

What to See#

• Stepped pyramids: The six stepped lava-stone platforms are the principal archaeological features; they are built without mortar and are grouped within a landscaped park on the slopes above the town of Güímar.
• Ethnographic Park and Museum: The Ethnographic Park and Museum, developed with involvement from Thor Heyerdahl, interprets the structures and displays regional ethnography and natural history; the park opened in the late 20th century.

The Pyramids of Güímar are in the town of Güímar on Tenerife’s southeast coast. From Santa Cruz de Tenerife take the TF‑1 motorway southbound and exit for Güímar, then follow local roads to the Ethnographic Park (Parque Etnográfico). Interurban TITSA buses run from Santa Cruz to Güímar and the park is a short walk from the town centre.

• Arrive at the Parque Etnográfico de Güímar when the visitor centre opens to avoid mid-morning coach arrivals and to join the scheduled guided tour of the pyramid terraces before they fill up.
• Start at the ethnographic museum and watch the introductory film or guided talk - the interpretive centre explains construction and context that many casual visitors miss when they only walk the outdoor terraces.
• Combine the pyramid visit with the on-site gardens and viewpoint trail; the botanical terraces and coastal lookout provide perspectives of the structures and landscape that are easy to overlook from ground level.