Visiting Guimar Beyond the Pyramids – Volcanic Paths, Hidden Beaches & Local Life

Everything I knew about Guimar was its famous pyramids – the six-step stone structures that some believe were built by the Guanche people, the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands.

For the longest time, I had no real desire to visit. These pyramids felt more like a tourist attraction than a truly important archaeological site, especially since their origins and purpose are still debated.

But when Mark and I finally went to explore Guimar on one of our road trips around Tenerife, it was not the pyramids that impressed us. It was everything around them – black-sand beaches, volcanic coastal trails, rustic places to eat, and views that made this part of Tenerife feel much more interesting than I expected.

One of the walks here even reminded me of Teide National Park, except this time the volcanic landscape met the sea, with waves crashing against the rocks and a small rustic seafood place waiting at the end.

So let me show you the route we followed in Guimar and places that made this visit memorable. Just keep in mind that having a car makes a big difference here, since some of the spots are difficult to reach by bus.

How Much Time to Spend in Guimar?

If you are just coming to see the pyramids, then I’d say you need to allocate around one hour (because they are really not worth much time). But if you want to experience a few hidden highlights of this area (the ones I cover below), then plan to spend 5-6 hours or even the whole day.

So I would say – one full day is going to be ideal. Two days only make sense if you want to slow down, do longer hikes, or stay in/near Puertito de Guimar with a chance to spend time on the beach (because the beach here is beautiful and less crowded).

So while Guimar is small, the wider municipality has enough for anything from a short stop to a relaxed 1-2 day visit. Below are the places that, to me, make it worth the time.

Best Guimar Things to Do

Here is a list of my favorite Guimar things to do and information about its pyramids in the end of the post.

Go Hiking in Malpais de Guimar

Malpais de Guimar is a very special Nature Reserve in Tenerife whose landscapes resemble scenes from a science fiction movie.

The almost barren surface of the land blends with the dark hues of volcanic rock, adorned with splashes of reddish sand. It somewhat looks like another planet with such a realm of striking contrasts.

Particularly intriguing are the spots where you can witness frozen lava flows, once oozing through the crevices of the Montaña Grande volcano. Go on a hike here and explore the otherworldly terrain that goes through the preserve connecting Puertito de Guimar and a lovely village El Socoro.

Here is the exact path to follow, on google maps. It tells Earth’s ancient story and is a fantastic location for photos in Tenerife, surrounded by a futuristic landscape.

On the trail, you can also discover plant life typical of this part of the island and see milkweed and its variations bravely peek out from the crevices in the solidified lava.

In my opinion, it is one of the best places to go hiking in Tenerife to see volcanic landscapes outside Teide. In Teide National Park, you’ll find many trails like this one, but they are very rocky and difficult to walk on for a long time. In Malpais de Guimar, besides rocks, there are plants and ocean is right there under your feet.  

Spend Time on Puertito de Guimar Beaches

It is difficult not to love the atmosphere of Puertito de Guimar beach. This pebble and black sand beach, located in the very center of the town, is one of the main highlights here.

It is pretty wide and has a smooth entrance into the water which makes it a perfect beach for a family outing, especially with children, as the sea here is very calm. The beach is also equipped with facilities for disabled access.

But I personally love more not the sandy beach but the concrete platforms nearby that are equipped with ladders that go into the sea (see photos below). In summer, when the tide is high and when skies are clear, it is so enjoyable to swim here as the sea in this part of the town shimmers in different shades of blue.

And right by the beach and these platforms, there are a few restaurants specializing in seafood dishes and local Canarian cuisine.

If you stay late, you’ll see that in the evening there will be many people on the beach promenade strolling and enjoying the sea breeze.

Visit the Aloe Vera Farm

This is undeniably one of the unique and rather unusual things to do in Tenerife which you shouldn’t miss when visiting Guimar.

I’d even say to plan a separate trip around this farm as it has limited working hours when it is open to the public. Combining it with hiking in Maplais nature reserve can be difficult as hiking takes a lot of time (unless you go to the farm in the morning before the hike or beach).

The aloe farm I am talking about is Finca Canarias Aloe Vera Farm which you can find at this address. It is a place where to gain insights into the growth, cultivation, and properties of aloe vera and find out what its medicinal and cosmetic uses are. The farm produces aloe to make its own products that contain a high percentage of aloe vera (some items have 95% of it in their ingredients).

There is a free tour every visitor can get and the lady who offers it speaks many languages, so you can have a tour in English, German, of course Spanish, and Finnish.

We loved the tour, even my husband who is not a big fan of farms of this type was so fascinated and was asking dozens of questions about the aloe and farming practices. In the end, I purchased a few small items for my skincare but they even have aloe vera products for dogs (ha!).

When you go, try the juice the tour guide offers at the end of the tour. The taste of aloe is so weird but at least you’ll know what it’s like (most types of aloe are not eatable but here you’ll try one which is safe and beneficial to digest).

NOTE: There is a second Finca Canarias Aloe Vera farm in the south of Tenerife near Los Cristianos and also in Gran Canaria if you happen to be there and prefer it instead.

Stop for a Meal in a Rustic-Style Restaurant at Hotel Rural 

If you go to Aloe Vera Farm in the late morning/early afternoon, after it I suggest you stop by the Hotel Rural Finca Salamanca for a hearty meal in a rustic setting in a restaurant that looks a bit medieval. It reminds a dining hall of an old castle where in the past royalties liked to feast.

If you go for a meal in the afternoon (what we did), then you’ll be most likely alone in the entire hall which will feel like you are really imbued with historical mystique.

The restaurant is located almost next door to Finca Aloe Farm along the same road and you need only a couple of minutes from the farm to drive there. The exact location is here. And if you intend to spend a night in Guimar, Hotel Rural Finca Salamanca is a lovely choice.

Besides a regular menu, you’ll also find on offer ‘Menu del Dia’ (menu of the day that consists of 3 courses and a drink) which is great. It is more expensive than what you’d pay in a local cafeteria but you pay more for the atmosphere and sophistication of the dishes, obviously.

We ordered 1 ‘menu del dia’ for two to share and surprisingly it was enough, even though we were pretty hungry. Everything was just right about this restaurant and it was such a wonderful addition to our afternoon. Try this pace too!

Other Hotels I Love In/Near the Guimar Area:

• Las Casa del Camino Real (for an authentic Canarian stay)
• Hotel Rural Finca La Raya (since 1866, green countryside hotel with a pool)
• La Casona Santo Domingo (from the 17th century, one of the central historical buildings of Guimar. You can also visit here just for the restaurant)

Go Hiking to Las Ventanas de Guimar

Before I jump to details about this trek, you need to know one thing – it is one of the most dangerous hikes in the Canary Islands but also one of the most unique ones with gorgeous scenery.

Not only is it not suitable for families with children or beginner hikers, but it won’t suit anyone who suffers from height vertigo or is simply afraid of heights and being close to cliffs.

I consider myself a good hiker who can endure various terrains and conditions while hiking. I hiked high peaks in the Alps and Tatra Mountains, but when I went along the Las Ventanas route, it made me so uncomfortable that I changed my mind right away and went to the beach instead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This hike is very difficult, even though photos on Instagram may make it look much easier. But if you are used to challenging routes, this one takes you along a canal through 10 tunnels, a few of which have natural “windows” (ventanas) opening up striking views through the rock.

These “windows,” and the canal itself, were never meant to be a hiking route. This was an engineering structure built for water transport, not for visitors. It no longer serves its original purpose, but the path remains open and anyone who walks it does so at their own risk.

Most of the route follows a steep gorge edge, with several exposed sections where there is very little room for error. You need proper shoes, a steady step, and no fear of heights whatsoever.

Trail begins at the end of a small asphalt road called Pista de Anocheza, which branches off from TF-28 in Ladera Guimar. If you have an off-road vehicle, you can drive a bit further along this road.

Take the Scenic TF-523 Road to Teide National Park

If you have a car, you can reach Teide by the TF-523 twisty road from Guimar. It winds up through a pine forest and offers a few nice vista points from where you get to see Guimar from above and a big part of the southern Tenerife coast.

Also, there are a few wineries along the way and the most famous one is Bodega Comarcal Valle, where you can do some tasting along with purchasing local wines. The exact location (and reviews) of the winery is here. 

When we drove this road, it happened to be after the many weeks of bad fires that were raging in Tenerife. So the scenery looked like foliage (that was the reason we went, originally thinking there was fall in the mountains).

When you drive, colors will be green again but still no less spectacular. I recommend you not just drive through but make stops in the forest to enjoy the smell of the coniferous forest and listen to the silence that reigns around.

More Things to Do in Guimar

Other things to do in Guimar are related to the town itself as you can go on a quick walk around old streets and sightsee a bit.

Check the main point of interest, a church Iglesia De San Pedro, the City Hall which is a former monastery but became a governmental building in 1649, Casa del Bueno Retiro located in the central part of the Chacaica district, is an example of traditional local carpentry and joinery.

A short drive away from Guimar towards El Carreton will bring you to Cueva de Chinguaro, a symbol of the pre-Hispanic culture of Guimar. This natural cave was the wintering site of the early tribal peoples of Guimar and where a place of veneration was created for the icon of the Virgin Mary found on the Chimisay beach.

There are also some events that are interesting to attend in Guimar if you happen to be visiting Tenerife on a specific date. “The Apparition and Pilgrimage of the Virgin Mary” holiday takes place annually on September 7th and 8th and an annual ‘gofio’ festival on May 29. Both are bright celebrations that involve food markets, processions and performances.

Should You Visit Guimar Pyramids?

Honestly? No, I would skip them. Especially if you are on a tight trip and have only a few days in northern Tenerife.

Before going, I expected this to be one of the main reasons to visit Guimar. But after seeing it for myself, I got disappointed and don’t think it is a place to go to, especially for first-time visitors.

Yes, the site is tidy and grounds are well kept. There is also a beautiful cafe and garden to walk through. But that is not the reason to come here. The problem with the pyramids of Guimar is that they are presented as something historically or archaeologically important when in reality, there is still no clear agreement on what these pyramids actually are.

Some archeologists say they were built by the Guanche people, while others argue they are simply agricultural terraces from the 19th century. And once you’re there, that lack of clarity becomes very noticeable.

On top of that, entrance fee (IMO) is high for what you actually get. The whole experience is quite small, and unless you are particularly interested in the theories behind it, it can feel underwhelming. I think that the idea of the pyramids is stronger than the actual experience. Marketing here is great, but actual place is very questionable.

That said, I wouldn’t call it a bad place. It’s just not something I would go out of my way for, and do not recommend that people who read this site spend money and time on such an experience. I’d skip it and focus on the rest of Guimar instead. Especially considering how many truly unique places there are to see on the island.

Keep Exploring Tenerife

• Visiting Bajamar – hidden jewel in the north of the island
• Museum of the Canary Islands Military – one of the most interesting museums in Tenerife
• Unique Places Where to Stay – to see the unusual side of the island
• Puerto de la Cruz in a Day – how to see the most with my step by step itinerary

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