Archaeological Route and Coustal

Separating the municipalities of Ingenio and Agüimes, el Barranco de Guayadeque (the Guayadeque Ravine) is a place of amazing beauty where unique flora and fauna converge, with a notable cultural interest as it houses both old cave settlements and numerous archaeological sites. These details have contributed to its declaration as a Natural Monument and of Cultural Interest, categorized as an Archaeological Site. It has a comprehensive Interpretation Centre where the extraordinary values of nature and heritage of the ravine are displayed and taught.

The Museo Canario, situated in the capital neighbourhood of Vegueta and founded in 1879, is a scientific and cultural institution where a collection of archaeological and ethnographical finds are conserved, studied and exhibited. The Library and its Archives also focus on indigenous themes.  In 1944 the Institute for Scientific Research was incorporated and starting in 1984 it began to modernize and specialize its content in archaeological finds relative to the pre-Hispanic cultures of the Canaries. In 1996 the institution was recognized with the Canaries Award of Historic Artistic Heritage. For those researching, studying or simply curious about Canary culture, between the museum, its archaeology, libraries and documentaries, this site is essential.

Declared as an Archaeological Zone and Asset of Cultural Interest, El Cenobio de Valeron is situated in the Silva ravine in the municipality of Santa María de Guía. The site, with more than three hundred caves, chambers and silos placed at different levels, is one of the most spectacular of Gran Canaria. The most recent interpretations find that the Cenobio de Valeron was used as an enormous collective granary meant to warehouse all types of foodstuffs that could be conserved for times of scarcity. Traditionally, the cenobio was considered a site of reclusion for the harimaguada or the aboriginal high priest.  

La Cueva Pintada, situated in the municipality of Galdar, is an artistic example true to the aboriginal culture of Gran Canaria. This man-made cave was excavated from a volcanic tube and its walls decorated with friezes of geometrical inspiration. The nearby remains of bridal linen found in the homes of a former town testify to the activities that once took place inside.  Recently, la Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park has been reopened, where the conservation, investigation and diffusion join together to provide a space in which the preservation of the pre-Hispanic past provokes the emotional and intellectual stimulation of its visitors.

Agaete is a municipality rich in archaeological wealth with sites such as el Valle de Guayedra, El Risco (Cliff) Beach, Tirma, and a special recreational area called La Palmita. Excavated caves can also be found on the Berbique Mountain. Outside of the centre of Agaete the Necropolis de Maipes can be found. An ample funeral site made up of more than six hundred burial mounds, varying in size and dimension, raised above the lava. The entire necropolis (currently under construction) is encircled by a stone wall that acts as a boundary for the burial area from their surroundings.  It will soon have a learning centre along an interior path groomed for visitors.