All the lovers of flowers, plants and trees will definitelly find their small paradise in Jardín Canario. The largest botanical garden of Spain covers an area of 10 hectares and surprisingly, the entrance is still for FREE. On the Canary islands you would find approximately 2000 kinds of plants, 500 of them are endemic. Jardín Canario displays to its visitors the samples of most of them.
A bit of historical facts: The garden was founded the year 1952 by a Sweedish botanist Eric Ragnor Sventenius who was in charge of its direction until the year 1973. The complete name of the garden is “Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo in honour of a local naturalist from the 18th century and a pioneer of nature sciences in the Canary islands.
The main purpose of the garden is the collection, cultivation, study and conservation of the unique Canarian flora. In one of its parts called the Garden of the Islands you would find endemic plants of all the Canary islands divided into sections according to its relevancy to represent all the 7 islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Apart of them, you can also appreciate plants from another Macaranesian islands such as Madeira, Azore Islands and Cape Verdes.
Possibly the most interesting part of the garden for you will be tha fascinating Cactus Garden. There is approximately 10 thousands of suculent plants in the world and in Jardín Canario, you would find a representation of 2000 of them. Most appreciated are for example those from Madagascar or a large selection of many different kinds of local Aloe Vera or agaves from Mexico and Caribian, that were imported to the Canarian islands in the 17th century and since then they complement the caracter of the local countryside.
Palms from all over the world can be admired in the Worlds Palm Grove that also host a very endangered kind brought from Hawaii, that was preserved from extinction for future generations only thanks to our botanical garden. More trees you would find in the Pine or Laurel forests.
Water Lily Square sometimes hosts different social events such as small concerts of classical music, folclore dances or special awards events. A romantic touch of your visit you will get by the water pond with birds and cascades.
Jardín Canario is situated approximately 7 kilometers far from the capital of Las Palmas and you would find it on the way to Santa Brígida. It is possible to visit it easily even without a car, by bus number 301 proceeding from Santa Catalina or San Telmo bus station. Opening hours are usually between 9:00-18:00 or 10:00-17:00.