Last March 23, Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway visited the Ethnographic Park and Botanical Garden Pyramids of Güímar, located on the island of Tenerife. This visit, carried out privately and discreetly for security reasons, allowed them to closely experience this cultural enclave. Accompanied by Jacqueline Heyerdahl, widow of the legendary explorer Thor Heyerdahl, and the Park’s director, Alicia Barroso Martín, the distinguished visitors experienced an emotional reunion filled with affection and memories.
During more than two hours of guided tour, the Royals showed great interest in the work carried out by the Heyerdahl couple in Tenerife. In particular, they highlighted the protection and study of the six Güímar pyramids, oriented towards the sun on key astronomical dates. “The admiration Their Majesties have for Heyerdahl was evident, another show of Norwegian pride towards who was their most important ambassador,” said Alicia Barroso at the end of the visit.
A particularly emotional moment occurred when Queen Sonja and Jacqueline Heyerdahl placed a wreath next to the explorer’s bust in the Laurel Courtyard, located next to the Park auditorium. Before leaving, the Royals signed the guestbook and received several gifts: a book-catalog of the Park, a miniature replica of the Ra II boat (made by the Aymara in Lake Titicaca), and Canarian ceramic pieces created by potter Pedro Benítez.
At the end of the visit, Their Majesties expressed their deep gratitude for having been able to learn more about Thor Heyerdahl‘s work in Tenerife, emphasizing their commitment to the conservation of the archaeological legacy represented by the Ethnographic Park of Güímar.
The Kings of Norway in Tenerife / E. D.
History
Thor Heyerdahl’s interest in the stepped pyramids of Güímar arose in 1990 when he discovered their existence through local news. This discovery became a personal mission, driven alongside his friend Fred Olsen, to protect these structures threatened by an urban development plan. This is how the current Park was born, inaugurated with the support of his wife Jacqueline Heyerdahl, whom he met in Tenerife in 1991 and married in 1994. In 2001, the city of Güímar awarded Thor Heyerdahl the title of adopted son.
Throughout his life, Heyerdahl was a staunch defender of cultural and natural heritage. His legacy transcends the borders of Tenerife, with expeditions like the Kon-Tiki (1947) that demonstrated the possible transoceanic connection between South America and Polynesia, supported by DNA studies in 2020. He also undertook voyages in reed boats like the Ra, the Ra II, and the Tigris, and organized explorations in the Galápagos Islands, Easter Island, Maldives, and Túcume. In recognition of his career, the Ethnographic Park Pyramids of Güímar has been nominated twice for the European Museum of the Year award and was declared the official Botanical Garden of the Canary Islands in 2017.
Thor Heyerdahl died in 2002 in Colla Micheri (Italy), but his wife Jacqueline continues to promote his legacy and the defense of the environment. Thanks to her work, the Ethnographic Park and Botanical Garden Pyramids of Güímar remains an essential cultural and natural reference both for visitors and the Canarian community.
