Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
9 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
10 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
11 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
12 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain La Palma Roque de los Muchachos

Roque de los Muchachos

A series of well-preserved ruins show the culture of the ancient Benehoaritas people.

La Palma, Spain

Added By
CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Animal pen   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Pasture with telescopes in the back   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Hut with telescopes   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Inside Hut   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Carved rock   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Outside Cave   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
carved rock   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Inside cave   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Carved rock   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The island of La Palma was once inhabited by several indigenous tribes collectively known as the Benehoaritas. Having lived on the island for hundreds of years before the Spanish conquest, theBenehoaritas built pyramids, cave dwellings, and complicated rock carvings, many of which have been lost to time. 

Today, mere remnants of Benehoaritas culture can be seen on La Palma. One such example is the Roque de los Muchachos. The top of the Roque de los Muchachos seems to be a focal point of Benehoaritas ruins, housing four interesting structures that offer a glimpse into their lives. There are two small settlements that farmers would use during summertime, a cave that once housed people and a sacred sight full of piled rocks and geometrical carvings. 

On the very top of the Caldera de Taburiente, in between a couple of telescopes, one can still find remains of their ancient settlements. This is believed to have been one of the most important year-round sources of water anywhere on the mountain. For this reason, it is believed that the Benehoaritas used this site as a seasonal pasturing camp, probably to keep goats and make cheese. Visitors to Roque de los Muchachos and the surrounding area will find remnants of Benehoaritas life, that shows how this indigenous group once lived. 

Know Before You Go

For anyone who is enthusiastic about old civilizations and structures, there is a lot to do here and you get a good hike too. All locations are legally accessible, just don't hop any fences or graffiti anything. The islands do not have a lot of money for proper archeological research, so these sites are mostly untouched.

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Published

January 4, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://lapalma-island.com/archeology-at-the-roque-de-los-muchachos-2/
  • A Breathtaking Window on the Universe, Crosby
Roque de los Muchachos
Ctra. al Roque de los Muchachos
La Palma
Spain
28.760621, -17.890975
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Roque de los Muchachos Helicopter Pads

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Roque de los Muchachos Observatory

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Gran Telescopio Canarias

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of La Palma

La Palma

Spain

Places 28
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Roque de los Muchachos Helicopter Pads

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Roque de los Muchachos Observatory

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Gran Telescopio Canarias

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of La Palma

La Palma

Spain

Places 28
Stories 3
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.