XIX Puertito de Güímar

Puertito de Güímar offers open Atlantic swimming in remarkably calm ocean water. The XIX Puertito de Güímar is an open water swimming race held in the Atlantic Ocean along the coastline of Güímar in the Canary Islands.

The 2,000-metre course across Puertito de Güímar

The race layout takes swimmers directly into the Atlantic Ocean beside the town pier. From an in-water start, the course runs out across the harbor toward the Club Náutico before sweeping around the final beach breakwater to turn back toward the arrival area. Swimmers navigate the 2,000-metre loop with the open ocean swell kept in check by the protective stone walls lining the shore. Organized by the Concejalía de Deportes Ayuntamiento de Güímar, the crossing forms part of the regional open water circuit, the Copa Canaria de Aguas Abiertas. The event caps registration at 300 participants and welcomes swimmers aged 14 and over. After clearing the finish line, the atmosphere on the quay turns into an open celebration. In past editions, organizers and local supporters have welcomed finishers and spectators back on dry land with a massive communal paella.

Malpaís de Güímar: lava fields and sea caves

The geological theater surrounding the swim was shaped by colossal movements of the earth. The Güímar Valley, located roughly nine kilometres from the bay, formed when a massive volcanic landslide sheared away and plummeted into the ocean depths, plunging down two thousand meters below sea level. This colossal collapse left a broad natural amphitheater bordered by steep inland walls that drop down toward a low, rocky coast. About two kilometres away lies the Reserva natural especial del Malpaís de Güímar. Here, a prominent volcanic cone anchors a basaltic lava field that fanned out into the sea less than 5,000 years ago. The shoreline facing the water is extraordinarily jagged, eroded where ocean breakers crash against hardened lava flows to shape pocket coves filled with dark organic sand and basalt pebbles.

Beneath this rugged crust, volcanic activity created an intricate subterranean world. The terrain contains basaltic lava tubes and sunken jameos—underground conduits whose ceilings collapsed over time. Among these formations is Cueva Honda, a cavern hollowed out by the explosion of an expanding gas bubble trapped inside a molten lava tube before the basalt solidified.

The Guanche coast: Chimisay and ancient cave sanctuaries

Ancient transhumance trails used by the indigenous Guanche border the badlands of the Malpaís de Güímar, about three kilometres away. Just north of the lava field, about four kilometres from the race course, lies Playa de Chimisay. Today, the Chimisay shore retains its quiet character as a dark volcanic pebble and black sand cove, partially protected since the late 1970s by a rock barrier that helps retain sand. About eight kilometres away, the rugged gorge of Barranco de Herques cuts through layers of basalt and pumice. In 1770, explorers uncovered a Guanche burial necropolis containing hundreds of mummies hidden high inside its natural cliffside caves. A century later, archaeologists recovered the Guatimac idol from the same ravine, a distinctive prehistoric clay figurine crafted by the island's earliest inhabitants.

Barranco del Agua: from the dorsal heights to the shore

Annual rainfall at sea level averages only 161 mm, and comfortable average temperatures of around 19.5 °C (67 °F) are steadily moderated by the incoming northeast trade winds. The Barranco del Agua, descending from the island's dorsal heights, finally meets the sea directly at Playa del Cabezo on the edge of Puertito de Güímar.

The Puertito waterfront: stone breakwaters and fishing traditions

Puertito de Güímar, translating literally to the 'little port of Güímar', centers on a remarkably placid coastal basin. While the open Atlantic can bring substantial swell to unprotected shores, the beaches here are fortified by curved stone breakwaters. These rocky barriers absorb wave energy and maintain smooth, glassy surface conditions across the dark sand and volcanic gravel bathing areas. Swimmers and snorkelers benefit from well-kept seaside infrastructure throughout the village. The central stone pier offers an easy jumping-off point directly into deep water as well as space for sunbathing between morning practice sessions. Along the pedestrian waterfront, dedicated wooden decks and sturdy metal handrails lead straight into the sea, allowing effortless entries and exits without slipping on wet basalt rocks.

The local marina and yacht club serve as an active center. Despite modern amenities, the town retains the feel of an authentic Canarian fishing quarter. Colorful painted houses line the promenade near the breakwater, while traditional wooden fishing skiffs rest pulled up on the black sand. Waterfront cafes and small seafood taverns sit steps from the water, where visitors can sit down to plates of fresh local fish.