Tenerife Alternative Tour. Arico, Güímar, Fasnia- photos included

The most unusual stop here is an abandoned leprosy settlement near Arico, with about 40 late-Franco-era buildings, a church, crematorium, hospital, school, and military quarters. Add Candelaria’s Black Madonna and the sea-facing Guanche statues, and you get a day far removed from Tenerife’s standard resort circuit.

I like the private format, which lets Theo adjust the day around your interests. I also like the mix of culture, odd history, villages, and easy coastal walking. The main catch is time: the Arico walk can be demanding in duration, and the Pyramids of Güímar and lunch both cost extra.

Key points

• Arico’s abandoned leprosy village: See a striking group of unfinished and unused buildings, including the so-called Cathedral of Lepers.
• Candelaria’s Black Madonna: Visit one of the Canary Islands’ major pilgrimage sites and its sea-front basilica.
• Private guide Theo: Your group of up to four has a flexible day rather than a fixed coach-tour schedule.
• Coastal walking: Follow paths near beaches, a lighthouse, white villages, and Atlantic viewpoints.
• Optional Güímar stop: Add the volcanic-rock pyramids, botanical garden, and Thor Heyerdahl exhibits for an extra admission fee.
• Local food option: Finish with an optional meal of Canarian dishes, meat, fish, pasta, and local wine.

A Different Side of Tenerife, From Candelaria to Arico

This private Tenerife tour is built for people who want more than resort streets and famous viewpoints. It heads along the island’s eastern side, linking religious landmarks, small coastal settlements, unusual modern history, and an optional archaeological park.

You begin at about 10 a.m., with pickup arranged from your location. The air-conditioned vehicle matters here because the day covers several separated places, and you will not need to manage buses or rental-car directions between them.

The tour costs $378.71 per group of up to four people. That is not a low-cost sightseeing trip for one person, but it becomes a reasonable deal when divided among four. You are paying for private transportation, a guide, bottled water, a photo session, and the ability to shape the day around your group.

Guide Theo has proved especially useful for this format. He can explain the choices and help you decide how to use a limited shore-excursion day. If you are arriving by cruise ship, that flexibility is a real advantage.

Candelaria and the Sea-Front Basilica

Candelaria is the most traditional opening to the day. It is an important pilgrimage town, centered on the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria and its dark-skinned Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the Canary Islands.

The basilica faces the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias, a broad square beside the sea. Along the sea wall are nine large statues of Guanche chiefs, representing the island’s Aboriginal rulers. Their presence gives the square more weight than a simple church stop. You are looking at a meeting point between Catholic devotion, Indigenous memory, and Spanish colonial history.

You can visit the Cave Chapel of San Blas, see the basilica, and spend time around the square. The cave adds an older, more intimate setting to the grand church. It is also a useful reminder that Candelaria’s religious importance is tied to the coast and to the local story of the Virgin.

Allow about 90 minutes here. That gives you time to walk through the old town, look for traditional wooden balconies, and stop for coffee or a snack. The harbor and sea-front promenade make this an easy place to slow down before the walking portion begins.

Candelaria is not a long museum visit. Its value comes from the combination of setting, faith, public sculpture, and local architecture. If you prefer ruins or long hikes, this may feel brief. If you want context for Canarian culture, it is a strong start.

Arico’s Abandoned Leprosy Settlement

The day’s strangest and most memorable stop comes near Arico. From a small white hamlet by a golden-sand beach, you walk toward an abandoned settlement built for people with leprosy.

The site contains about 40 buildings in a late-Franco, Spanish Fascist style. This is not a polished attraction with restored rooms and neat signs. Its power comes from the empty buildings and the unsettling question of what the place was meant to become.

The planned complex included accommodation blocks, a hospital, school, recreation spaces, a crematorium, and a church. The church is especially imposing, and it is often called the Cathedral of Lepers. Its scale and unfinished feel make it the visual center of the visit.

The site also included a military quarter. That adds another layer to the stop, since the complex was not simply a medical facility. Its design reflects the social control and isolation associated with the period in which it was built.

You will receive historical explanation as you walk, and the setting gives you plenty to photograph. The nearby Atlantic and mountains provide a sharp contrast to the abandoned structures. One moment you are looking at a beach and a white village, and the next you are among empty institutional buildings.

Be clear about the physical side of this stop. The walk is described as easy, but the full route is about three hours round trip. The itinerary allocates roughly 90 minutes to the Arico visit, so the exact pace and route may depend on the day’s plan and your group. Wear practical shoes, bring water, and do not treat this as a quick roadside photo stop.

You should also expect uneven ground and a site that is valued for its atmosphere rather than polished visitor facilities. That is part of the appeal, but it may not suit anyone wanting a formal museum experience.

Arico el Nuevo, Beaches, and the Lighthouse

After the abandoned village, the route continues down to Arico el Nuevo, another attractive white village where you can stop for coffee and a sandwich. This pause is well placed. The Arico walk and the warm eastern coast can make a break feel necessary, not optional.

The return route follows a different path, allowing you to see more of the coast rather than simply retracing your steps. The plan includes several nearby beaches and a picturesque lighthouse. These stops help balance the darker history of the leprosy settlement with ordinary island life.

You can also spend time at the beach near the starting village. If conditions suit you, you may get into the ocean for a swim. Swimming is optional, so bring the right clothing if you want that choice. Do not assume the stop is designed as a full beach day. It is one part of a long tour that also includes walking and sightseeing.

This section is where the tour feels most local. You are moving through small settlements, coastal paths, and beaches instead of staying on a major sightseeing route. The scenery is attractive, but the greater value is the change of pace. You get time to sit, walk, photograph, and watch daily life rather than rush from one headline attraction to another.

Optional Pyramids of Güímar

The Pyramids of Güímar are an optional addition, with admission not included in the tour price. You will need to decide if the extra cost and time fit your interests.

The site contains six stepped pyramids made from volcanic rock. Their purpose remains a matter of discussion. They may have served as agricultural terraces, observatories, or something connected to older cultural traditions. The visit presents the theories rather than offering a single simple answer.

The Ethnographic Park includes exhibits about Thor Heyerdahl, the explorer who argued for possible ancient links across the oceans. You can also see collections focused on human ingenuity and walk through a botanical garden with plants from different parts of the world.

Plan about one hour for this stop. It works best for you if you enjoy archaeology, disputed theories, gardens, or cultural exhibits. If your priority is time in villages and along the coast, you may prefer to skip it and keep the day less crowded.

Because this stop is optional, the private format is useful. Theo can help you weigh the choice against your available time and the energy of your group. On a cruise-day schedule, that decision may matter more than the pyramids themselves.

Choosing the Optional Canarian Lunch

Lunch is also optional and is not included in the price. The area has several restaurants where you might order chicken, pork, rabbit, fish, pasta, and local wine.

A meal here can make the day feel more connected to Tenerife’s food culture, especially if you ask Theo for a recommendation. A previous meal arrangement included tapas such as chickpea and pork stew, goat cheese with sauces, roast goat, and Canarian potatoes. Those choices give you a better sense of what to order than simply choosing familiar international food.

You should budget separately for lunch and pyramid admission. The tour’s advertised price covers the private vehicle, water, guide service, and photo session, but not these extras.

The meal also affects the rhythm of the day. A proper restaurant stop can stretch the tour, while coffee and a sandwich keep things moving. Tell Theo what matters more to you: a relaxed meal or extra time by the coast.

What the Private Format Is Worth

For up to four people, the $378.71 group price works out to about $94.68 per person if the vehicle is full. For a couple, the per-person cost is much higher, but you still gain a private vehicle, direct pickup, and a guide focused only on your group.

The strongest value comes from flexibility. You can ask questions, choose the optional pyramids, spend longer in Candelaria, or keep moving if a stop is less interesting to you. That is hard to achieve on a large group excursion.

The tour also includes a photo session, which is a nice extra if you want pictures of your group at the coast, in Candelaria, or near the unusual Arico buildings. Bottled water is included, and the air-conditioned vehicle gives you a comfortable base between stops.

The tradeoff is that the itinerary covers a lot. Candelaria, the Arico site, Arico el Nuevo, beaches, a lighthouse, Güímar, and lunch can create a full day. You should not expect a slow, unstructured village holiday. The day works best when you are happy with variety and willing to keep an eye on the clock.

Who Should Book This Day Out

I would choose this tour if you have already seen Tenerife’s main resort areas and want a less familiar side of the island. It suits you if you enjoy unusual historical sites, coastal villages, local food, and moderate walking.

It is also a good match for a family or group of friends who can share the fixed group price. The private setup gives you space to ask questions and make decisions without waiting for a bus full of strangers.

The tour may not suit you if you want a beach-only day, a formal museum visit, or a short and effortless outing. The Arico walk is a real part of the experience, and the abandoned settlement can feel stark rather than cheerful.

You should also think about how much optional material you want. Adding lunch and the Güímar pyramids makes the day fuller and more expensive. Skipping one or both gives you more breathing room.

Booking Details and Cancellation

Pickup is offered, and you should send your location by email, WhatsApp, or Telegram. The stated start time is 10 a.m., and confirmation normally arrives at booking. If you book within one day of departure, confirmation is sent as soon as possible, subject to availability.

Most people can take part, and this is a private activity for your group only. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Final Take: A Good Choice for Curious Explorers

Book this tour if you want Tenerife to feel less predictable. Candelaria’s basilica and Guanche statues give you culture, while Arico’s abandoned leprosy village supplies the unusual edge that makes the day memorable.

The value is strongest for up to four people who appreciate a private guide and flexible plans. Go prepared for several hours of walking, separate costs for lunch and the pyramids, and a busy schedule. If those conditions suit you, this is a thoughtful way to see eastern Tenerife through its villages, coast, faith, food, and difficult past.

FAQ

How long does the Tenerife Alternative Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours, starting at 10 a.m.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and you should send your pickup location by email, WhatsApp, or Telegram.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to four people.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is optional and is not included in the tour price. Restaurants in the area serve dishes such as chicken, pork, rabbit, fish, pasta, and local wine.

Is admission to the Pyramids of Güímar included?

No. The Pyramids of Güímar are optional, and admission costs extra.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.