Cave Village Artenara

Museo Etnográfico Casas Cuevas de Artenara

Useful Information

Location:	C. Párroco Domingo Báez, 13, 35350 Artenara. From north coast GC-2 take GC-701 or GC-75 to Artenara. (28.019296, -15.645871)
Open:	Museo Etnográfico: All year daily 11:30-16:30. Closed 01-JAN, 06-JAN, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, 24-DEC, 25-DEC, 31-DEC. La Cuevita: [2026]
Fee:	Museo Etnográfico: All year daily 9-19. La Cuevita: free, donations welcome. [2026]
Classification:	Cave House Cave Church
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:
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Bibliography:
Address:	Museo Etnográfico Casas Cuevas de Artenara, C. Párroco Domingo Báez, 13, 35350 Artenara, Las Palmas, Tel: +34-638-929-509, Tel: +34-928-666-102.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1962	three cave houses inherited by Santiago Aranda.
1993	bought by the City Council, museum created.

Description

Artenara is the highest village of Gran Canaria at 1,251 m asl. Most of the village is built underground, into the soft volcanic rock. From the road the houses look rather normal, the facades are like all other facades on the island. But many of the houses end after a few meters at the cliff, and the house goes on into the rock.

The main tourist site is of course the Santuario de la Virgen de la Cuevita, also called La Ermita de la Cuevita. This cave church uses a very old cave, said to have been made by the native Guanche very long ago. It was then transformed into a church by the Spanish at the time of the conquest. The Guanche built this cave at this place, as the cave entrance faces towards Roque Bentayga, which was an important place of spirituality to them. Today it houses the statue of the Virgen de la Cuevita, who is celebrated from the 15-AUG with a big fiesta. The image of the Virgin Mary is an 80 cm tall polychrome wooden sculpture, its origin is unknown.

Another underground site is the restaurant Méson la Silla. It is entered through a long tunnel, which leads to a cavernous terrace, which was also carved out of the rock. Even the ceiling is a natural rock wall. This restaurant offers substantial local dishes and magnificent views on Roque Bentayga and Roque Nublo.

Numerous private houses are cave houses too, and several offer bed and breakfast. It is really impressive to stay in a cave house for one night, and you should probably try it, even if you already have a bed in the tourist bunkers at Playa del Ingles. Examples are the Warung Cave Hostel, the Casa Cueva Mama Nieves, or the Casa Cueva Las Margaritas in nearby Las Arbejas

And then there is the Museo Etnográfico Casas Cuevas de Artenara (Ethnographic Museum Cave Houses of Artenara). It is located inside three cave houses which were inherited by Santiago Aranda in 1962, who subsequently restored them preserving the traditional style. He sold them to the City Council in 1993, who created the Museum of Domestic Ethnography inside. The caves and the furniture inside are between 50 and 150 years old.

Quite famous is Cueva de Los Candiles which is located east of the village, to reach it a 1.6 km/30 min hike is required. The cave is closed, which actually means it is gated with iron bars, and it is not possible to enter. Nevertheless, it is possible to see most of the cave through the bars, and the view from the entrance is also quite spectacular. The cave is an archaeological site and notable for its murals.