Free walking tours in Güímar and what to see

Must-sees

Güímar is in south-east Tenerife, in a valley running from the summit down to the sea. Its historic centre can be walked from the hermitage of San Pedro Arriba, a small 18th-century chapel, past the early 17th-century church of San Pedro Apóstol and the town hall, which occupies a former Dominican convent. Next to it is the church of Santo Domingo, rebuilt after a fire, and the walk ends at the Plaza de las Flores.

Outside the centre, the best-known visit is the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park, with its stepped stone structures and halls about cultures that built pyramids elsewhere in the world. On the coast, the Malpaís de Güímar Special Nature Reserve is a volcanic landscape of lava flows and a cone, crossed by an easy trail. The Badajoz ravine, deep and with the island's native vegetation, has a moderate trail.

Free tours and guided visits

There's no regular free walking tour of the centre in Güímar, but you can book entry to the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park, which you visit at your own pace. There's also a guided tour of the Badajoz ravine focused on its mysteries and legends, a different way to get to know the area. For the Malpaís and the historic centre, people usually go on their own, as the routes are well signposted.

How long to spend

The historic centre takes an hour or two. The Pyramids need at least another two hours. The Malpaís trail, about seven kilometres, takes half a day at a relaxed pace, ideally early in the morning to avoid the heat. With a full day you see the essentials, and with two you can add the Badajoz ravine and a swim at El Puertito.

Where to stay

Güímar's centre has rural houses and small places to stay, handy for exploring the valley and its slopes. If you prefer the sea, El Puertito de Güímar, by its beach and marina, has apartments and a quiet atmosphere. Candelaria, very close, has more on offer, and Santa Cruz is about half an hour away on the southern motorway.