Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología (MUNA)

Housed in a striking neoclassical building that formerly served as the Civil Hospital (built 1745), the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA) is Tenerife's most important museum and one of the finest collections of pre-Hispanic Canarian culture in the world. The museum is divided into two major sections. The Archaeology floor showcases the extraordinary Guanche civilization — the Berber-origin indigenous people of the Canary Islands who lived in isolation for over 1,500 years before the Spanish conquest in 1496. The collection includes Guanche mummies (remarkably preserved through natural desiccation in volcanic caves), ceramic vessels, stone tools, skin clothing, jewelry made from shells and bone, and the famous 'Ídolos' — small anthropomorphic figurines of unknown ritual purpose. The star exhibit is one of the best-preserved Guanche mummies in existence, displayed in a climate-controlled case. The Natural Sciences floor covers the geology, volcanology, flora, and fauna of the Canary Islands, with excellent displays explaining the volcanic origins of the archipelago, fossil collections, and botanical specimens. Interactive multimedia stations and models help children engage with the exhibits. The museum also houses a significant collection of the giant lizard (Gallotia goliath) fossils and the extinct giant rat (Canariomys). Facilities include a library, gift shop, and a small café. The museum is wheelchair accessible throughout. Open Tuesday–Saturday 9 AM–7 PM, Sunday 10 AM–5 PM, closed Mondays. Tickets: €5 adults, €3.50 concessions, free on Sundays. Allow 2–3 hours. Combined ticket with TEA available. Located in central Santa Cruz, 5 minutes' walk from the tram stop. A must-visit for anyone interested in understanding the Canary Islands before European contact.