Güímar is a very interesting stop if you want to leave Tenerife’s most frequently repeated route. It is in the south-east of the island and has a valley, coast, history, volcanic scenery, and one of its most unusual places to explore at a relaxed pace: the Pyramids of Güímar.
In 2026, it is a good option for a half-day or full-day excursion, especially if you are staying in Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Costa Adeje, or the south of the island and want a different route without driving too many kilometres.
Pyramids of Güímar
The Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park and Botanical Garden officially describes itself as an open-air museum and botanical garden that is home to pyramid structures and promotes the conservation and study of the area’s culture and nature. The official website lists daily opening hours from 10:00 to 18:00, except 1 January and 25 December.
It is an easy place to visit at a relaxed pace, especially if you enjoy gardens, ethnography, and spaces that combine walking with explanations. Check current ticket prices and conditions before visiting.
Malpaís de Güímar
Malpaís de Güímar is the other side of the municipality: lava, coast, cardón cacti, tabaiba plants, and trails through a dry, open landscape. Tenerife Tourism highlights the area’s volcanic value, with the cone and lava reaching towards the sea. If you follow a route, take water, a hat, and comfortable footwear.
Puertito de Güímar and the coast
Puertito de Güímar is perfect for slowing down after a walk. It has a coastal atmosphere, restaurants, a promenade, and bathing areas when sea conditions permit. It is not a perfect postcard beach, and that is precisely part of its charm: it is more local, more everyday, and very pleasant for eating fish or having a drink beside the Atlantic.
Viewpoints and the valley
The Güímar Valley deserves to be viewed from above. Chivisaya viewpoint, for example, lets you see cultivated land, greenhouses, and protected natural areas such as Malpaís de Güímar, Siete Lomas, and Corona Forestal. It is a good stop if you enjoy understanding the land before continuing to drive.
Recommended route
For a first visit: Pyramids of Güímar in the morning, the historic centre or a viewpoint at midday, Puertito for lunch, and a short walk along the coast. If you want to add religious heritage and the sea, combine Güímar with Candelaria on the same day.
If you want to turn the visit into a complete route through the south-east, you can combine what to see in Candelaria with what to see in Güímar on the same day.
How to fit this visit into an itinerary
My favourite way to approach these towns and cities is to choose one main visit and two gentle stops around it. This prevents the day from becoming an endless list and leaves you time to walk, eat well, or make a detour if an attractive viewpoint appears.
Park outside the most central area whenever possible and walk in. In historic centres, saving five minutes in the car is almost never worth the narrow streets, one-way systems, and search for a space.
If the day is clear, combine heritage with scenery. If it is cloudy or windy, focus on the historic centre, market, cafés, museums, or restaurants. Tenerife varies greatly from one area to another, and adapting your plans to the weather is usually better than fighting it.
What to avoid for a better trip
Avoid overloading the day with too many stops. Tenerife invites spontaneity, but every detour, parking stop, and meal adds time. Choose one priority, two extras, and leave time to enjoy them.
It is also a good idea to check the weather by area, not only the island’s general forecast. You can have sunshine on the coast, clouds in the highlands, and cold at altitude on the same day.
If you are travelling in high season, book the essentials and leave flexible activities until the day. This gives you structure without losing that wonderful feeling of discovering the island at your own pace.
If your plans depend on events, opening hours, or regulated access, check the official source the day before. That small action prevents you from arriving after the best part has ended or when a street is closed.
Frequently asked questions
What should you see on a first visit to Güímar?
The most practical combination is the Pyramids of Güímar, the historic centre, Puertito de Güímar, and a walk through Malpaís if the weather is suitable.
What are the Pyramids of Güímar opening hours?
The park’s official website lists daily opening hours from 10:00 to 18:00, except 1 January and 25 December. Even so, check before visiting.
Is Güímar a good stop on a driving route?
Yes. It is in south-eastern Tenerife and combines very well with Candelaria, Arafo, the Güímar Valley, and the TF-1 motorway.
