Zonzamas is a settlement of the Majos, the people who lived on Lanzarote before the European conquest of the early 15th century. Tradition places here the seat of Zonzamas, a Majo king of the island. The site holds the remains of stone dwellings and the Quesera de Zonzamas, a block of rock cut with long parallel channels whose purpose is still debated. It lies near Tahiche, in the municipality of Teguise, and is closed to visitors.
Zonzamas Archaeological Site
Local name: Yacimiento de Zonzamas
Pre-Hispanic Majo settlement near Tahiche, held by tradition to be the seat of the king Zonzamas.
- Parking
- No car park at the site. The nearest, unpaved, is about 1.8 km away in a straight line; a free asphalt car park for customers only is about 2.4 km away.
- Transport
- No bus stop at the site; the nearest stops, Las Cabreras and Tahiche, are each about 2.4 km away in a straight line.
- Hours
- Closed; the site cannot be entered.
What makes it special
The Quesera de Zonzamas is the piece people remember: a block of rock cut with long parallel channels, made by a people who worked without metal. Nobody has settled what it was for.
Around it lie the stone remains of a Majo settlement, the place tradition names as the home of Zonzamas, the king who ruled Lanzarote before the conquest. For anyone tracing the island's history back past the Spanish towns, this is where the story of its first inhabitants is set.
Good to know
- Closed: the site cannot be entered, so do not plan a day around walking among the remains.
- No facilities: no toilets, no drinking water and no information point at the site or nearby — bring water.
- Car and bus: neither a car park nor a bus stop sits close; the nearest of each is around 2 km away in a straight line.
Getting there
Zonzamas lies near Tahiche, inland in the municipality of Teguise. No bus stops at the site: the nearest stops, Las Cabreras and Tahiche, are about 2.4 km away in a straight line. The nearest car park, an unpaved one, is about 1.8 km away. The site itself is closed, so weigh the trip before setting out.
Access & restrictions
Zonzamas is a protected archaeological site, and it is closed: there is no entry to the ground. Do not climb in over the boundary, and do not move or climb on the stones — the walls and carved rock of a Majo settlement do not recover from damage.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Zonzamas Archaeological Site?
No. The site is closed and cannot be entered.Who was Zonzamas?
A Majo king of Lanzarote, remembered as ruling the island before the European conquest that began in 1402. Tradition holds the site to be his seat.What is the Quesera de Zonzamas?
A block of rock cut with long parallel channels, among the remains at the site. Its purpose is still debated.Are there toilets or water at Zonzamas?
No. There are no toilets, no drinking water and no information point at the site or nearby.