The Pyramids of Güímar are Tenerife’s great mystery. On the edge of the town of Güímar, in the east of the island, six stepped platforms built from dry volcanic stone rise in terraces, their corners squared and their stairs oriented to the sun. Their origin is still debated: many historians see them as nineteenth-century farm terraces built from stones cleared from the fields, while the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who studied them in the 1990s, argued that they followed astronomical alignments and linked them to ancient cultures on both sides of the Atlantic. The ethnographic park around them lets you weigh the arguments. Entry covers the pyramids, the Chacona House Museum, an auditorium with documentaries, outdoor trails with displays on geology, botany and local industry, a sustainable botanical garden developed with the University of La Laguna, and an exhibition on plastic in the ocean. It opens daily from ten until six.
How it works: buy a ticket online and show it at the entrance on Calle Chacona in Güímar. Last admission is an hour before closing, and the standard visit takes about ninety minutes. Tiqets also sells a full-access ticket and a premium experience of about three hours. You can cancel or reschedule free of charge up to twenty-four hours before. Güímar is about twenty-five minutes south of Santa Cruz by car, and buses 121 and 126 stop at Pirámides.
What to expect: the site is mostly outdoors and on flat paths, and it is listed as wheelchair accessible. Start in the auditorium to understand the theories, then walk the pyramid complex, where signs show the solstice alignments, and finish in the museum and gardens. The gardens are a pleasant surprise, with native Canarian plants and shaded corners for a rest. The east coast is often sunnier than the north and less crowded than the south, so it is a calm half-day out.
Making the most of it: visit in the morning before the midday heat, bring a hat, and combine the trip with Santa Cruz or the Candelaria basilica a short drive north. If you are curious about the solstice theory, go near the summer or winter solstice, when the sun lines up with the platforms.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to the pyramid complex, a museum, a documentary auditorium, outdoor trails and botanical gardens.
Best time
Morning, before the midday heat on the open paths.
How long
About ninety minutes for the standard visit, or up to three hours with the premium experience.
Tips
Watch the documentary first, bring a hat and water, and pair the visit with Santa Cruz or Candelaria.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Curious travellers who like a mystery and a quieter half-day away from the beaches.
- Families
- Flat, accessible paths and plenty to discover make it easy with children.
- Couples
- Wander the gardens and debate the theories, then lunch on the east coast.
- Pair with
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna or Playa de Las Teresitas on the same side of the island.
- Time needed
- Half a day with travel.
Good questions
Who built the Pyramids of Güímar?+
Nobody knows for certain. Many historians think they are nineteenth-century farm terraces, while Thor Heyerdahl argued they had an astronomical purpose.
What are the opening hours of the Pyramids of Güímar?+
The park opens every day from 10:00 to 18:00. Last admission is an hour before closing.
How long does a visit take?+
The standard visit takes about ninety minutes. Allow up to three hours for the premium experience or a slow walk through the gardens.
How do I get to the Pyramids of Güímar by bus?+
Buses 121 and 126 stop at Pirámides, close to the entrance. By car it is about twenty-five minutes from Santa Cruz.
Is the site wheelchair accessible?+
Yes, it is listed as wheelchair accessible, with mostly flat outdoor paths. Some garden paths are gravel, so allow extra time.