Cueva de Belmaco

Parque Arqueológico de Belmaco

Useful Information

Location:	Near Malpaíses. Villa de Mazo. Barranco de La Chicharra. 9 km from the airport.
Open:	All year Mon-Sat 10-15. [2020]
Fee:	Adults EUR 2, Children EUR 0.75. [2008]
Classification:	Lava Cave
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	A=400 m asl.
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	No
Bibliography:
Address:	Cueva de Belmaco, Carretera General del Hoya de Mazo Km-7, 38730 Villa de Mazo, Tel: +34-922-440090. E-mail:
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

18th century	discovered by the Spanish.
1752	visited by Domingo Van de Walle de Cervellón, the mititary governor of of La Palma.
1959	excavation by L. Diego Cuscoy.
1961	excavation by L. Diego Cuscoy.
1974	excavation by Dr. Mauro Hernández Pérez.
1979	excavation by Dr. Mauro Hernández Pérez.
1984	declared a Monumento Histórico - Artístico (Historic Monument).
1991	archaeological museum inaugurated.
25-MAR-1999	Parque Arqueológico de Belmaco inaugurated.

Description

Cueva de Belmaco, inhabited by the Guanche, is today an archaeological park. The life and culture of the Canarian natives is explained in and around the cave. The cave is a huge shelter, which is interpreted as the audience hall of a local king. Of course, this interpretation is more or less fantasy, as archaeological evidence does not exist.

After the occupation of the Canarian Islands by the Spanish, this cave was used as a workshop, a stable, a barn, and at last as the place of catholic passion plays. The stone oven in the cave was built much later, probably while it was used as a workshop. The cave engravings in and around the cave are of Guanche origin.

Beneath the main cave there are numerous other caves, which are interpreted as dying caves. The story goes, old guanche were brought into the cave when they were dying, and then walled alive into the cave. Most likely this is also a modern legend, probably a legend created by the Spanish conquerors.