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

Arico’s abandoned leprosy settlement is the unusual centerpiece here: a cluster of about 40 late-Franco buildings with a church, hospital, school, crematorium, and former military quarters. Add Candelaria’s Black Madonna and Guanche chiefs, and you get a Tenerife day that looks well beyond the standard resort circuit.

I like the private format, since your guide can shape the day around your interests. I also like the chance to stop for simple local food, from Canarian potatoes to goat dishes, rather than being tied to a large group schedule. The main consideration is walking: the Arico section takes about three hours round trip, and some of the abandoned buildings are rough, open-air places rather than polished attractions.

Key points at a glance

• Arico’s abandoned leper village: See roughly 40 unfinished-looking buildings built during Spain’s Franco era, including a striking church and former medical facilities.
• Candelaria’s Black Madonna: Visit the Basilica and the sea-facing plaza lined with nine statues of Guanche chiefs.
• A private day for up to four: The price is $378.71 per group, making the cost about $94.68 per person when four people share it.
• Coastal walking near Arico: Follow a route past beaches and a lighthouse, with time to swim if you choose.
• Güímar option: Add the Pyramids of Güímar, its botanical garden, and ethnographic displays for an extra admission fee.
• Local food is flexible: Lunch is optional, and your guide can help you choose among restaurants serving meat, fish, pasta, and local wine.

Why this Tenerife day feels different

Many Tenerife outings point you toward the island’s biggest sights. This one takes a more curious route through the southeast, where white villages, old military-era buildings, small beaches, and religious landmarks tell a less tidy story.

The Arico stop gives the tour its unusual character. The settlement was planned as a leprosy center, but it was never used as a normal working village in the way you might expect. You walk among the remains of a church, hospital, school, accommodation blocks, recreational areas, a crematorium, and a military quarter. The architecture has a severe Spanish Fascist style, which makes the place feel stark and imposing.

I would not book this tour expecting a neatly restored historic site. Its appeal is the opposite. You see empty structures, weathered walls, and a place that raises questions about public health, politics, and Spain’s late-Franco period. Your guide provides the context, which matters here because the buildings alone cannot explain the full story.

The tour is private for your group, with a maximum of four people. That changes the pace in a useful way. You can spend longer taking photographs, ask questions without holding up a busload of people, and adjust the day around your energy and interests. Theo is the guide named in the experience details, and the tour is offered in English.

Candelaria and the Black Madonna

The day begins at 10 a.m. with pickup from your chosen location. The operator asks you to send that location by email, WhatsApp, or Telegram, so provide clear details before the morning of the tour.

Candelaria is a strong opening stop because it introduces two sides of Tenerife at once. The Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria is an important pilgrimage site, home to the Black Madonna, patron saint of the Canary Islands. You can visit the Basilica and the nearby Cave Chapel of San Blas, or simply use the time to look around the old town.

The main square, Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias, faces the sea. Along its edge are nine large statues representing Guanche chiefs, the Indigenous leaders of the Canary Islands before the Spanish conquest. The statues give the waterfront a powerful sense of place, and they also make clear that Candelaria is not only a religious stop.

Allow about 90 minutes here. You can walk the seafront, look at the small harbor, browse shops, or stop for coffee. The old town has typical Canarian wooden balconies, which provide a pleasant change from the modern hotel districts elsewhere on the island.

The Basilica may be the main reason some people want this stop, but I would make time for the plaza and promenade too. The setting beside the Atlantic gives the visit breathing room. This is also a good place to begin if you want a gentler start before the longer walk at Arico.

Arico’s abandoned leprosy settlement

The most distinctive part of the day takes place near a white coastal hamlet and a golden-sand beach in the Arico area. From there, you walk toward the abandoned settlement, with the full route described as an easy walk of about three hours round trip.

The phrase easy walk should not be confused with no walking. You will be outdoors for a substantial part of the day, and the site itself is not presented as a restored museum. Wear practical shoes and bring sun protection. Bottled water is included, but you should still be ready for a warm, exposed walk.

The settlement contains around 40 buildings. The group includes a church often called the Cathedral of Lepers, along with a school, hospital, crematorium, recreational spaces, and accommodation blocks. The church is the visual focal point, but the wider complex is what makes the visit worthwhile. Walking from building to building helps you understand the scale of the project.

The architecture is described as Spanish Fascist style from the late Franco period. That detail gives the site a political edge. It is not simply an abandoned village with an eerie look. The buildings were designed for a serious public-health purpose during a difficult period in Spain, and the empty spaces invite questions about how people affected by leprosy were treated and separated from wider society.

This is a place for photographs, but I would avoid treating it as only a dramatic photo backdrop. The best part of the stop is the explanation from your guide. Theo, who led several of the published outings, is described as tailoring the route to the group and explaining the history along the way. That kind of private guiding is particularly helpful at a site with no ordinary town life to explain what you are seeing.

You also get views toward the Atlantic and the nearby mountains. The combination is striking: white villages and beaches on one side, severe empty buildings on the other. It is one of those stops that may stay with you longer than a more famous viewpoint because it feels unexpected.

White villages, beaches, and the coastal return

After the leprosy settlement, the route goes down to another village, Arico el Nuevo, where you can stop for coffee and a sandwich. This break is useful, not decorative. The day includes a serious walk, and a short pause gives you time to rest before the return route.

The second part follows a different, somewhat longer path back toward the starting point. Along the way, you visit several nearby beaches and a picturesque lighthouse. The exact feel of this section depends on the pace of your group and the conditions on the day, but the point is variety. You are not simply retracing your steps.

You can also go into the ocean if you want to swim. Swimming is optional, so you do not need to plan the day around it, but bring suitable clothing if you would like the chance. The tour combines a historical walk with a coastal outing, which helps keep the day from feeling too heavy.

I like this return route because it gives Arico more than one mood. The abandoned settlement is solemn and curious. The beaches, village streets, lighthouse, and sea bring the day back to ordinary island life. You get a better sense of the area than you would from a quick drive past it.

Adding the Pyramids of Güímar

The Pyramids of Güímar are optional and carry a separate admission charge. If you add them, plan on about an hour at the Ethnographic Park and Botanical Garden.

The site contains six stepped pyramids made from volcanic rock. Their purpose has been debated. They may relate to farming, astronomy, or other theories connected with earlier cultures. The attraction presents these questions alongside displays about Thor Heyerdahl, the explorer associated with ideas about ancient sea crossings.

You should approach this stop with an open but sensible mind. The pyramids are interesting because they combine archaeology, interpretation, and natural history, but the information provided does not establish one agreed explanation for their origin. That makes it better suited to curious visitors than to anyone looking for a single definitive answer.

The botanical garden adds a calmer side to the visit. You can walk among plant life from different parts of the world and see how the park connects Tenerife with wider ecological themes. The ethnographic collections provide another layer, showing human ingenuity across different periods.

I would add Güímar if you enjoy museums, gardens, and historical puzzles. If your priority is the coast, the Arico walk, and a relaxed meal, you may prefer to skip it. Since it is optional, the private format lets you make that choice rather than committing every member of a large group to the same plan.

A flexible lunch with Canarian flavors

Lunch is not included, and the timing is optional. There are several restaurants in the area, with food options that include chicken, pork, rabbit, fish, pasta, and local wine.

The best reason to keep lunch flexible is that this is a private outing. You can ask your guide to suggest a place rather than being sent to a fixed restaurant. Theo helped one group choose tapas that included chickpea and pork stew, several types of goat cheese with sauces, roast goat, and Canarian potatoes. Those are the sorts of dishes that make a meal feel connected to the island rather than simply convenient.

Do not assume lunch is covered in the tour price. Bring a separate budget for food, drinks, and the Pyramids of Güímar if you choose that option. The meal stop can last about 90 minutes, so it is also your chance to sit down properly after the Arico walk.

What the $378.71 price really buys

The price is $378.71 per group of up to four people. For four people, that works out to about $94.68 each. For two people, the effective cost is about $189.36 per person, so the value improves sharply when you fill the vehicle.

You are paying for a private, air-conditioned vehicle, pickup, bottled water, and a photo session, as well as the guide’s time for a roughly seven to eight-hour day. Lunch and admission to the Pyramids of Güímar cost extra.

For a group of four, I consider the price reasonable if you want a full day with a private guide and do not want to organize transport between several southeast Tenerife stops. It is less compelling for solo visitors or couples focused only on Candelaria, since those parts can be visited without committing to a long private excursion.

The private format is also useful for a cruise shore excursion. One group of four used the guide to decide how best to spend limited time on Tenerife, and the guide gave clear meeting directions and arrived on time. Pickup details still need to be arranged in advance, so do not leave that message until the last minute.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this experience if you want Tenerife beyond the most familiar tourist stops. It suits people who enjoy unusual historical sites, local villages, coastal walks, photography, and flexible meals.

It is especially good for a small group of friends or family members who can share the fixed price. It also works well for a shore visit when you want a guide to handle the route and keep the day moving.

You may want another tour if you dislike walking, want fully restored attractions, or need every cost included from the start. The Arico section is the heart of the experience, and you should be comfortable spending several hours outdoors near an abandoned complex.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted for a refund. Most people can participate, but the stated walking time is worth taking seriously.

Final verdict: choose the strange route

Book this tour if the idea of visiting an abandoned leprosy settlement sounds more appealing than another standard island viewpoint. The combination of Arico’s stark buildings, Candelaria’s religious and Indigenous symbols, small coastal villages, and optional Güímar gives you a broad day with plenty to talk about afterward.

The best value comes when four people share the price and you want private transport. Keep lunch flexible, decide about the pyramids on the day, and wear shoes suited to a three-hour coastal walk. If you do that, this is a thoughtful way to see a quieter, more unusual side of Tenerife.

FAQ

How long does the Tenerife Alternative Tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours, beginning at 10 a.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is offered, and the operator asks you to send your location by email, WhatsApp, or Telegram.

How many people can join the private tour?

The tour is private for your group, with a maximum of four people.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is optional and must be paid for separately. Restaurants in the area serve 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 is not included in the tour price.

Is swimming available during the tour?

You can swim at the beach during the Arico section if you wish. Swimming is optional.

What does the tour include?

The tour includes bottled water, a photo session, and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.