Cueva de El Tendal

Cueva de El Tendal is the most significant archaeological site on La Palma, tucked into the Barranco de San Juan near Los Galguitos, in the municipality of San Andrés y Sauces in the Canary Islands.

What will you see there?

The centerpiece is a natural cave over 60 meters wide, home to roughly twenty Benahoarita people — La Palma's indigenous inhabitants before Spanish conquest — for at least a thousand years. The cave interior splits into three distinct zones: a rock ledge on the right side used for sleeping, and a central area once screened off with hides or plant-fiber mats, where cooking and stone-tool production took place. Around 27 cave dwellings are scattered along both sides of the ravine, alongside hut settlements, three necropolises, and a small rock-engraving station.

Archaeologists carried out five excavation campaigns between 1981 and 1988, uncovering a stratigraphic layer over 7 meters thick. Finds included pottery fragments more than 2,000 years old and an extensive assemblage of shell remains, pointing to heavy use of marine resources by the site's ancient inhabitants. In 2021, the IsoCAN research team resumed excavations after a thirty-year gap, underscoring the site's continued scientific relevance.

How do you get there?

The site sits in Los Galguitos, part of the San Andrés y Sauces municipality on La Palma's northeastern coast. Driving is the most practical option — a road leads into the Barranco de San Juan, from where access to the archaeological area begins. A nearby interpretation center helps visitors understand the historical context before heading to the excavation area itself.

When should you visit?

La Palma enjoys a mild climate year-round, but spring and autumn offer the best conditions for exploring exposed terrain like this ravine, with comfortable temperatures and no midday heat to hinder walking over uneven ground. Check the interpretation center's opening hours in advance, since direct access to the cave interior is sometimes restricted to protect the site.

Why is it worth visiting?

Cueva de El Tendal is more than a cave — it's a record of everyday life for the island's original inhabitants, preserved in soil layers thicker than an adult's height. The site reveals how the Benahoaritas organized their living space, gathered food, and produced tools long before Europeans reached the island. It offers a rare chance to see an authentic prehistoric environment rather than a reconstruction.

Frequently asked questions

Can you enter the main cave? Access is sometimes limited due to ongoing research and site protection — check with the interpretation center before your visit.

How many cave dwellings make up the complex? About 27 cave dwellings line both sides of the Barranco de San Juan, with the main cave measuring over 60 meters across.

How long was the site inhabited? The Benahoaritas used the cave for at least a thousand years, confirmed by the thick stratigraphic layer uncovered during excavations.

Is archaeological work still ongoing? Yes, the IsoCAN team resumed excavations in 2021 after a thirty-year break, and the site continues to yield new information about La Palma's earliest inhabitants.