Benehauno – Centro de Interpretación de Petroglifos de El Paso
Interpretation centre in El Paso dedicated to the rock engravings of the benahoaritas, with original archaeological pieces and the starting point for guided routes.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Benehauno is the native name of the Pico Bejenado massif, a mountain visible from every point in El Paso, which was of great importance to the benahoaritas of the former canton of Aridane. Its slopes are full of dwelling caves, and on its ridges around fifty engraving stations are known. The interpretation centre takes its name from it.
The project was initiated by the El Paso town council, which received European funding through the Leader programme. Construction of the building began in 2009 and took nearly ten years. The town council was responsible for the building, the access roads and the car park; the Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural del Gobierno de Canarias (Directorate General for Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands Government) designed and set up the exhibition, and the Cabildo de La Palma (island council) coordinated the content, written by the archaeologist Felipe Jorge Pais Pais. The centre opened on 26 June 2019.
The building has two floors with terraces facing the Aridane valley. The ground floor houses the reception and a small audiovisual room, and the upper floor holds the exhibition. The main room presents the pre-Hispanic archaeology of the municipality with original pieces, such as pottery and objects of shell, stone and bone from sites such as the Salto de Casimiro necropolis or the caves of Las Calderetas and El Hoyo-Peña del Diablo, as well as petroglyphs that were previously in private hands. A smaller room is devoted to five engraving stations: La Fajana, El Verde, Lomo de Tamarahoya VI and Lomo Gordo I and II. The visit is completed by a documentary about the petroglyphs and a short fiction film set during the conquest of the island.
Guided routes set out from the centre along old paths to the engraving stations of La Fajana and El Verde, among others.
Highlights
- Original archaeological pieces from sites in El Paso
- Benahoarita petroglyphs previously kept in private collections
- Room dedicated to five rock-engraving stations
- Documentary on the petroglyphs and a short fiction film
- Starting point for guided routes to La Fajana and El Verde
Permanent exhibitions
- Arqueología prehispánica de El Paso – Original pieces from sites in the municipality, petroglyphs, panels in Spanish, English and German, reconstructions and a documentary on the benahoaritas' rock engravings.
- Estaciones de petroglifos – Room devoted to five groups of rock engravings: La Fajana, El Verde, Lomo de Tamarahoya VI and Lomo Gordo I and II.
- Founded
- 2019
- Operated by
- Ayuntamiento de El Paso
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50Residents |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The centre is listed as accessible on the tourism portal of the Cabildo de La Palma.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The centre is on Calle Paso de Abajo, in El Paso, in the Aridane valley.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided walks on foot to the petroglyph stations are scheduled from the centre. The short route to La Fajana and El Verde takes around an hour; the full route takes between five and six hours. |
