Parque Arqueológico de El Tendal
Archaeological park and visitor centre in San Andrés y Sauces, with the large cave of El Tendal, home of the benahoaritas for about a thousand years.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The heart of the park is a huge natural cave, more than 60 metres wide, in the Barranco de San Juan at Los Galguitos. About twenty benahoaritas, the ancient inhabitants of La Palma, lived there for at least a thousand years. Five excavation campaigns directed by the archaeologists Ernesto Martín Rodríguez and Juan Francisco Navarro Mederos brought to light thousands of remains of domestic equipment (pottery, stone tools, bone and shell artefacts) and of everyday activities, such as bones of domestic animals, remains of marine food, seeds and charcoal.
Around it, the site includes at least 27 habitation caves spread across both sides of the ravine, open-air settlements that may have been pastoral areas or huts, three necropolises and a small station of rock engravings.
The Cabildo de La Palma opened the park to the public in 2019 as the first centre in its network of tourist interest centres. The visitor centre explains the research on the cave and the life of the former canton of Adeyahamen, today San Andrés y Sauces, with its use of the surroundings, its magical-religious beliefs and its funerary customs. The exhibition combines original archaeological pieces, panels and audiovisuals, including a scientific documentary, fiction shorts and a video mapping. A path leads to the cave at the bottom of the ravine.
Highlights
- Large natural cave at El Tendal, more than 60 metres wide
- Original archaeological pieces of the benahoaritas
- Video mapping, scientific documentary and fiction shorts
- Path to the cave in the Barranco de San Juan
- Habitation caves, necropolises and rock engravings
Permanent exhibition
- Centro de visitantes de El Tendal – Exhibition with original archaeological pieces, panels, a scientific documentary, fiction shorts and a video mapping about the life of the benahoaritas.
- Founded
- 2019
- Operated by
- Cabildo de La Palma
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Residents of the Canary Islands, large families, people over 65 resident in Spain, and tourist or cultural groups of at least 10 people with advance booking and their own guide |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 12 · Free admission for children up to 12. |
| Seniors | –Pensioners and seniors resident in La Palma: free admission. People over 65 resident in Spain: reduced rate. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personTourist and cultural groups of at least 10 people, with advance booking 3 days ahead and an accredited guide. |
Admission is also free for unemployed people in Spain, practising journalists, guides accompanying a tourist group and educational groups with advance booking. Proof of entitlement must be presented. Only card payments are accepted. Passes are available for 2 or 3 centres of the network, with a 50% discount on the second and third centre.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- 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 visitor centre building is adapted for people with reduced mobility, with ramps and a lift. The path to the cave runs along the bottom of the ravine.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 12 |
Admission is free for children up to 12. The centre includes audiovisuals and a video mapping about the life of the ancient Palmeros.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Line 100 (Santa Cruz de La Palma – Barlovento), with a stop at the park entrance.
By car
Free parking
Free parking for cars, buses and bicycles.
Reached via the LP-1 road at the height of the hermitage of San Juan de los Galguitos.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
El Tendal café-bar with panoramic windows overlooking the Barranco de San Juan and the sea, and a shop at the entrance to the centre.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | A self-guided visit of the centre takes about 45 minutes. The walk along the path to the cave at the bottom of the ravine takes about 20 minutes there and back. For the path, closed or trekking footwear, a cap, sun protection and sunglasses are recommended. |
