The Pyramids

Pirámides de Güímar, S.A.U.
C/Chacona, s/n – 38500 Güímar – Tenerife Tel: +34 922 51 45 10
Fax:+34 922 51 45 11
e-mail: piramides@piramidesdeguimar.net
www.piramidesdeguimar.net

General Information.
The Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park is located in the town of Güímar at a distance of some 26 kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

In order to reach the park by road from the north of the island, you should travel south on the TF-1 motorway (towards Playa de las Américas) and take the Arafo exit at the 19-km point. Travelling from the south of the island, you should drive north on the TF-1 motorway (towards Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and take the exit for Puertito de Güímar at kilometre point 23 and drive up to the district of Chacona in the town of Güímar.

The site, which measures 60.000 square metres, received an investment of more than six million Euros, and has become a “must” among the places of interest for both tourists and residents of the islands.

· Opening hours:
Open Daily 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Except December 25th and January 1st)

· Prices:
Adults € 9.75
Children (9-12 yrs) € 5.00
Resident Adults € 7.00
Resident Children € 3.50
Audio-guide € 1.50
Special prices for groups. Please consult the Commercial Department.

·Transport:
The Park has its own bus service with pick up points in the south of the island. Visitors can also take the ordinary public bus service.

Amenities:
Toilets / Disabled toilet, Baby changing room, Wheelchair, Lost-property office, Customer Service, Cafeteria, Meeting Point, Shop, Total accessibility for wheelchairs, Information Centre,

      

The Beginning
The existence of the Güímar step pyramids first came to wide public notice when an article was printed in a local newspaper in the early 1990’s.

The information reached the Norwegian anthropologist, Thor Heyerdahl, who is internationally renowned for his transoceanic voyages using vessels of prehistoric design and for his theories concerning human migrations.

Heyerdahl, who dedicated much of his life to researching the cultural origins of ancient civilisations throughout the world, carefully studied photographs of the Güímar Pyramids, and put forward the hypothesis that they had been built in accordance with the same architectural principles as those of both the Old and the New World. The similarity of the pyramids in Güímar to those in Sicily, Mexico, Mesopotamia, Polinesia and Peru induced Heyerdahl to come to Tenerife to study the structures at the site itself.

Various theories exist as to the origin and age of the pyramids. Prior to the arrival of Heyerdahl in Tenerife, two alternative theories were disputed. Some researchers maintained that they were mere heaps of stone left by farmers clearing the land for cultivation, while others claimed that these structures were related to esoteric beliefs. After Thor Heyerdahl´s investigations, some professional archaeologists began to relate the existence of the pyramids to pre-Hispanic civilisations on the island.

In 1991, the Archaeology Department of La Laguna University carried out the first excavations and the Canary Islands’ Astrophysical Institute looked into possible ancient astronomical relationships. These studies revealed that the pyramids were aligned to the winter and summer solstices.

The land on which the Pyramids stand had been earmarked for development in connection with a planned expansion in the upper part of the town, jeopardising the survival of the structures.

Thor Heyerdahl’s interest became a personal commitment when the site of the pyramids was purchased by the Fred. Olsen shipping company in order to protect the structures and create what is today the “Pirámides de Güímar” Ethnographic Park.

A Voyage Through Cultures
CUEVA CHACONA
Excavations were carried out in 1997-98 beneath Pyramid 1 by a team of American and Canarian archaeologists, leading to the discovery of an eight-metre long cave containing remains dating from the times of the Guanches, the pre- Hispanic inhabitants of the island (goat and fish bones, bodkins, earthenware fragments, stone objects and decorative beads from a necklace). The organic remains were dated using the Carbon-14 method by the Beta Laboratory in Miami. The final report concluded that the cave dated from a period between 680 and 1020 AD

EXHIBITION AREAS
After viewing the pyramids, the visit continues with two exhibition areas. Firstly, there is the “Early Navigation Tent”, an area devoted to experimental voyages using crafts built according to ancient designs, which includes replicas of various totora-papyrus boats used by such renowned explorers as Thor Heyerdahl and Kitín Muñoz.

In the same area, there is also a full-size replica of Ra II, constructed by the same Aymará Indians who had helped Dr. Heyerdahl to create the original Ra II.

EASTER ISLAND
One of the world’s largest photographic exhibitions on Easter Island is on display in the other exhibition area. The exhibition of photographs taken by the photographer Roberto de Armas has been displayed throughout Spain and received over 100,000 visitors in Madrid alone. The life-size images lining a route of more than one hundred metres in length show the legendary “Moai” as well as details of how the statues were raised into position. Roberto de Armas, first became interested in Easter Island as a result of Thor Heyerdahl’s expeditions and research, which included the first excavations on the island, took the photographs in the course of three separate expeditions.

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS
The spacious facilities enable the Park to house temporary exhibitions for the enjoyment of both local residents and the thousands of holidaymakers who visit the park every month.

NATIVE PLANT SPECIES
The gardens are one of the most attractive features of the Park, containing a representative selection of the native plants of the Canary Islands as well as others from elsewhere in the world. The plants are clearly labelled with both their common and scientific names together with their place of origin thus permitting them to be correctly identified for study.

WITH CHILDREN IN MIND
The Park includes a children’s playground so the younger members of the family can enjoy a healthy romp as a climax to the visit.

THE SHOP
The Park has a well-stocked shop where you can choose from a wide range of souvenirs, craftwork, textiles and books as well as drinks and liqueurs typical of the Canary Islands.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Both the Auditorium and the terraces may be used for cocktail receptions, gala dinners, congresses and other special events. Applications should be made to the Park’s Public Relations Department.

ARCHITECTURE
The new building housing the Casa Chacona Museum has been designed so as not to detract from the prominent role of the archaeological site and the pyramids. The architects, César Ruíz-Larrea, Enrique Alvarez and Carlos Rubio Carvajal, have managed to create a setting made up of plant-lined courtyards where the visitor can observe the surroundings to the sound of running water, the presence of which aims to constantly remind us that, according to Thor Heyerdahl’s theories, this was the element that enabled ancient cultures to come into contact.

The series of interlinked courtyards also recalls that these have been a fundamental feature of human dwelling places since the earliest of times: first “El Patio del Drago”, to receive the visitor, then other courtyards and walkways, such as “Paseo del Papiro” and “Patio del Laurel”, each of which has a predominant plant species reminding us of the origin of cultural exchange among the peoples of the world. The finely-crafted black basalt stone has been selected to clearly differentiate the new construction from the preexisting buildings, dry stone walls and the pyramids so as to avoid any risk of confusion in the future. The natural appearance of the Park is enhanced by several planted vaults covering a number of the courtyards, providing a cool, shady space beneath.
The many terraces, courtyards and balconies are vantagepoints enabling the visitor to enjoy an array of spectacular views over the Pyramids and the surrounding area. All new building has been designed to discreetly complement the moving experience of visiting a place of ancient human activity.

Curiositires, Events, Data
Since the “Pirámides de Güímar” Ethnographic Park opened to the public in April 1998, it has enjoyed considerable success, receiving over 150,000 visitors a year.

Quite apart from the permanent elements, the Park has hosted temporary exhibitions and such special events as “Canary Islands Day”, the “Day of the Child” and the “Day of the Senior Citizen”, all of which have served to enhance its popularity. Special prices have likewise been introduced for schools, associations, clubs and other groups.

The Park is also available as a cultural visit for companies’ incentive trips or for congresses with the support of the Tenerife Convention Bureau (www.tenerifecb.com), of which Pirámides de Güímar is a member.

The Park promotes the use of the Auditorium during evening hours for meetings, presentations and similar initiatives in a unique setting where the latest technology is contrasted with a historical background that is second to none.

In the course of these first few years, many special events have taken place such as the “Summer Concerts” with a variety of Canarian musicians and groups (e.g. Taburiente, Benito Cabrera).

The now well-established annual Festival of Canarian Films is an initiative designed to give support to and provide a rare opportunity for Canarian filmmakers to meet and discuss their activities and related matters. The Festival is going from strength to strength, attracting more and more interest, and funding, every year.

Another important initiative is the audio-guide, which can be hired at Reception and which gives an entertaining and informative commentary on the significance of the contents of the Park in any of seven languages. The audio-guide is the ideal companion for the visitor who wishes to choose his own route and go at his own pace through the Museum and the Park in general while at the same time learning in detail about everything he sees.

The audio-guide has been introduced in conjunction with the prestigious Seville-based company, GTP (Guía Turística Personal S.L.), which offers this same service at such important institutions as the Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, the Real Alcázar in Seville and overseas at the Palace of Versailles in France and the Library of Congress in Washington, among many others.

Visitors can also find the “By-Cam” in the leisure area, which offers the possibility to record a 30-second-long video and send it to three different e-mail addresses.

This new service replaces the traditional postcard, in such a way that the user does not only send a photograph of their visit through Pirámides de Güímar, but also will be able to record their voice, so that it will become a “live” greeting that the tourist can send immediately to anybody in the world. This system has been designed by the biscayan company “Galatea Aplicaciones Tecnológicas, S.L.”, involved in the industry of interactive services and included in the technological area "streaming media”, that enables the spread of audio and video contents through Internet.

In recognition of all the services offered, Pirámides de Güímar has been accepted as a member of ICOM, the International Council of Museums (). This world-renowned international association of museums is devoted to the development of professional museums, whatever their subject matter.

The management of the Park has also made great efforts to include “Pirámides de Güímar” as an excursion destination for both holidaymakers travelling with tour operators and cruise passengers, for whom a special programme has been designed. The people of Tenerife and the Canary Islands as a whole also enjoy special offers throughout the year.

The educational value of the Park has attracted many school groups, guided by the Park’s own staff. These visits include “educational workshops” enabling the children to take part in a variety of activities. At the end of each visit a “family photograph” of the class is taken and sent to the schools as a souvenir.

Another attraction for the schoolchildren is the different contests that are organised every year. In these competitions the pupils, by classes, have to carry out a work, encouraging creativity and teamwork. At the beginning of every school year information about these initiatives is sent to all primary and secondary schools.

TV cameras and journalists from some of Europe’s leading media mingling with visitors are a common sight.

Thor HererdahlTHOR HEYERDAHL. (1914-2002)
Thor Heyerdahl was born in 1914 in Larvik, Norway. He studied biology and geography at the University of Oslo.

In 1937 and 1938, he visited the Marquesas Islands in Polynesia on an expedition financed by his university to study the routes by which the animals found on these oceanic islands had come to be there. From then on, he devoted himself entirely to anthropology and human migrations, specialising in primitive watercraft and ancient sea voyages.

In 1947, he sailed the balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki from Peru to Polynesia with a crew of five Scandinavians, covering 8,000 kilometres in 101 days. This proved that the pre-Inca Indians on the coast of South America using primitive vessels could have been the first people to inhabit the islands of the eastern Pacific.

In 1969 and 1970, he sailed from Morocco on the northwestern coast of Africa across the Atlantic towards America. At the second attempt, with a crew of seven men of different nationalities, on board the totora ship Ra II, he completed the crossing to the island of Barbados after fifty-seven days at sea.

Heyerdahl proved that both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans could have been crossed using the oldest known forms of watercraft.

In 1977, he went to Iraq to construct a replica of an ancient Sumerian vessel. With ten men from as many countries each representing different political and religious views, he sailed the Tigris, as the craft was known, down the river of that name towards the Persian Gulf and Pakistan, finally crossing the Indian Ocean until he made landfall in the state of Djibouti in Africa at the mouth of the Red Sea.

This expedition showed that the founders of civilisations in ancient Mesopotamia, in the Indus Valley and the Nile Valley, could have had contact by sea in ancient times.

Heyerdahl organised since 1952 archaeological expeditions to the Galapagos Islands, Easter Island, eastern Polynesia, the Maldives in the Indian Ocean and to the pyramid complex at Tucume on the north-western coast of Peru.

In the course of his brilliant career, Heyerdahl received honours from the Kings or Presidents of Norway, Italy, Peru, Egypt, and Morocco. Queen Elizabeth II of Britain decorated him with the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the King of Sweden with that of the Royal Society of Anthropology and Geography of Sweden.

The University of Oslo conferred an Honorary Doctorate on him in 1961 and since then he received many other awards and honours. During the Cold War he was a fellow of the New York Academy of Science and at the same time Doctor Honoris Causa of the Soviet Academy of Science.

For his campaign in favour of nature conservation, he was awarded the United Nations’ International Environment prize. Moreover, his documentaries have brought him an Oscar and an Oscar nomination. He wrote a significant number of books, of which the one titled “The Kon-Tiki Expedition” is the bestselling book of all time after the Bible, holding the world record for translations, with 67 different languages.

He died in Colla Micheri (Italy) on April 18th 2002.
“He will remain alive within those whom he influenced.
We are honoured to be amongst those privileged ones”.