The Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park stands in the town of Gáldar on Gran Canaria. At its centre is a cave decorated with geometric paintings, surrounded by the excavated remains of a settlement of the ancient Canarians, the people who lived on the island before the Castilian conquest. The museum displays artefacts from the site and screens films on island life before and after the conquest, and guided tours take visitors through the cave and the village.
Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park
Local name: Museo y Parque Arqueológico Cueva Pintada
Archaeological museum and park around a painted cave and the excavated houses of a pre-Hispanic village
- Entrance
- Paid entry; a guided visit costs a little more than the standard ticket.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible toilet.
- Parking
- Free customers-only car park about 130 m away; a second car park nearby is private.
- Difficulty
- None: a museum in the town of Gáldar, with the car park and bus stops within about 200 m.
- Transport
- Bus stops Huerto Nuevo and Seat (Servicios), about 170–180 m away.
- Hours
- Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday 11:00–18:00; closed on Mondays.
- Address
- C. Audiencia, 2, 35460 Gáldar, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
The paintings are the draw: a panel of geometric designs in red and white on the walls of a cave carved into soft volcanic rock. Around it lie the excavated houses of the village that stood here, roofed over to protect them.
The guided tour is the way to see it. It moves between the cave, the village, films in the museum's cinema and cases of artefacts, so each stretch of commentary on how the ancient Canarians lived before and after the conquest comes with something in front of you. It lasts about an hour and a half, runs in English, and the guides take questions as they go.
Good to know
- The museum is closed on Mondays.
- A guided visit costs a little more than the standard ticket and is worth taking: it brings the cave, the village and the films together.
- Allow about an hour and a half for the tour, more if you want time with the displays afterwards.
- Everything is indoors or under cover, so the visit works on a grey or wet day.
- There are toilets on site; the entrance and the toilets are wheelchair accessible.
Getting there
The museum stands inside the town of Gáldar, so the approach ends on town streets and there is no walk to speak of. Drivers have a customers' car park about 130 m away in a straight line; a second car park close by is private. By bus, the Huerto Nuevo and Seat (Servicios) stops are both about 170–180 m away, and from either one you walk straight to the door.
Best time to visit
Best: a grey or wet day between Tuesday and Sunday, with time set aside to join a guided tour.
Avoid: Monday, when the museum is closed.
The cave and village are under cover and the tour takes about an hour and a half, so the visit fills a day when the coast is not worth it.
Things to do nearby
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Frequently asked questions
Is the guided tour worth it?
Yes. It costs a little more than the standard ticket, lasts about an hour and a half, and alternates commentary on the cave and village with films and the museum's artefacts.Are tours available in English?
Yes, guided tours run in English.Which day is the museum closed?
Monday. It opens Tuesday to Sunday.Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The site is good for children, and the films and artefacts break up the commentary.Can I get there by bus?
Yes. The Huerto Nuevo and Seat (Servicios) stops are about 170–180 m from the museum.