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All Spain La Palma Pirámide de Vandama
AO Edited

Pirámide de Vandama

A pre-Hispanic pyramid in the middle of a tourist district in the Canary Islands.

La Palma, Spain

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CoolCrab
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Pirámide de Vandama.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Walls around the pyramid.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Pirámide de Vandama.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Pirámide de Vandama.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Pirámide de Vandama.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
View from the H10 hotel in Los Cancajos.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Pirámide de Vandama.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Pirámide de Vandama.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Pirámide de Vandama   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The island of La Palma is a beautiful place filled with inky volcanic beaches, telescopes, and nature reserves. What some visitors don't know is that it's also littered with ancient pre-Hispanic ruins left by the island's indigenous inhabitants, the Guanches. 

Indigenous to the Canary Islands, the Guanches had the bad luck of being discovered by the Spanish, who conquered and absorbed their society. The Spanish did a predictably thorough job, but Guanche ruins can still be found scattered around the islands. 

One of the most impressive ruins is the Pirámide de Vandama, a step pyramid made of smartly stacked stones. Visible from the tourist district of Los Cancajos, it has been subject to many legends and stories. Some skeptics say it's a new structure made for the tourists, while others insist it's an ancient sacrificial ground where captured Spaniards were murdered. Old accounts from a visiting Spanish captain suggest it was used as a place to dry fruits. 

Modern archeologists have determined that the pyramid is indeed pre-Hispanic and information about it can be found in the local museum dedicated to the island's history. The pyramid itself is, however, fully accessible if you know where to go, and unfortunately not currently protected. So if you visit, please do your part to leave the historic pyramid untouched. 

Related Tags

Pyramids Islands Ruins Colonialism

Know Before You Go

There is no road to the pyramid but the best way to reach it is from the LP-5 road, where you can walk north until you see it between the shrubs. It is required to cross some rough terrain to get to it, but it is possible.

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Edited By

Xavixavir

  • Xavixavir

Published

July 11, 2018

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Sources
  • ( Fr. J. de Abreu Galindo). 1493
  • http://elblogdeunpalmero.blogspot.com/2018/03/las-piramides-en-la-palma.html
  • https://www.palmerosenelmundo.com/bre%C3%B1a-baja/
  • http://liferfe.blogspot.com/2006/05/viaje-la-palma-3-la-torre-vandama.html
Pirámide de Vandama
LP-5
La Palma, 38712
Spain
28.641658, -17.760258
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Tidal Waterspout of Los Cancajos

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miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of La Palma

La Palma

Spain

Places 28
Stories 3

Nearby Places

The Tidal Waterspout of Los Cancajos

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Los Cancajos Salt Factory

La Palma, Spain

miles away

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La Palma, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of La Palma

La Palma

Spain

Places 28
Stories 3

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