Unlocking La Palma’s Ancient Secrets
The Tendal Archaeological Park Visitor Center, located in Los Galguitos (San Andrés y Sauces), opened in 2018. Yet as Jorge Pais—a University of La Laguna prehistory PhD and head of La Palma’s Historical and Archaeological Heritage Section—notes on social media: “Seven years later, we still haven’t made the archaeological site fully visitable or accessible.” This site has yielded some of the most important discoveries about ancient La Palma’s indigenous inhabitants.
A Long-Awaited Revival
Pais reveals that stalled projects are finally being revived. For about a year, La Palma’s local government has prioritized “breathing new life into long-dormant initiatives.” The park currently consists of a visible excavation site and a visitor center, but Pais admits: “We’ve only completed phase one. While we’ve worked for years to protect and improve access to the Cueva del Tendal, various obstacles prevented full implementation.”
Exploring Volcanic Time Capsules
The ambitious vision extends beyond the main cave. Plans include opening three nearby volcanic tubes—Cueva Honda, El Jurao, and Cueva de Los Milagros—all containing pre-Hispanic remains. “This week,” Pais shares, “we revisited the area with technical staff to relaunch these projects. We’re hopeful this attempt will succeed.”
La Palma’s Future Archaeological Gem
“The Tendal Archaeological Park has unparalleled potential,” Pais concludes. “With its remarkable archaeological, ethnographic, landscape, and geological value, it could become one of La Palma’s most visited sites.” This hidden treasure promises to connect modern visitors with the island’s ancient past through its volcanic caves and artifacts.
