The Guanches inhabited Tenerife from the 3rd century BCE until 1496, when Castilian conquest came to an end.
The term "Guanche" comes from "Guan Achinet," meaning "man of Tenerife." It strictly designates the indigenous inhabitants of this island, to be distinguished from populations of the other islands in the archipelago. Their origins are linked to Berber peoples of North Africa, with settlement estimated between the 1st millennium BCE and the beginning of our era, though this dating remains debated.
Guanche society was structured into nine kingdoms called menceyatos, each led by a mencey. Collective life was organized notably around tagoros, assemblies where decisions were made and justice administered. Their worldview rested on a marked spiritual dimension, with Achamán as the supreme deity, while Guayota embodied a malevolent force associated with Teide, called Echeyde in their cosmology.
The Guanches developed a way of life adapted to the island environment, founded mainly on the herding of goats and sheep, supplemented by rudimentary agriculture. They used local materials such as volcanic stone, notably obsidian, as well as bone to make their tools. Funeral practices held an important place, with cave burials and mummification techniques reserved for certain social categories.
Princess Dácil, daughter of the mencey of Taoro, remains a striking figure of this era: she symbolizes the first contacts between Guanches and Europeans during the conquest. In Candelaria, nine statues represent the menceyes of Tenerife, facing the ocean, a concrete way of visualizing how the island was divided before 1496. They offer a strong visual reference for understanding the organization of the island before the conquest.
Tenerife was the last Canary Island to fall under Castilian rule in 1496, after nearly a century of conquest begun in 1402 at Lanzarote. In 1494, the Guanches won a major victory in the first Battle of Acentejo under the leadership of mencey Bencomo. This confrontation gave rise to the current name "La Matanza de Acentejo," still visible on the island's map.
Guanche DNA remains present in current Canary Island populations. It manifests notably through certain maternal lineages, with presence varying by island and scientific studies, testifying to progressive interbreeding after the conquest.
The names Teide, Anaga, Adeje, Güímar, Tegueste, or Taoro come from Guanche and are used daily by Tinerife residents. Certain words have also crossed through time and remain rooted in local culture, like "guachinche," which designates a traditional establishment serving local wine, or "gofio," a roasted cereal flour emblematic of Canarian gastronomy.
MUNA (Museo de Naturaleza y Arqueología) in Santa Cruz is the essential reference for discovering Guanche culture through a rich collection including mummies, everyday objects, and reconstructions. Admission is free on Friday and Saturday after 4pm (not Sunday).
Cueva del Viento, located in Icod de los Vinos, is one of the world's largest volcanic cave networks. Some of its cavities were used by the Guanches. Visits are only with a guide and require advance reservation.