Palmetum is a botanical garden in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where palms from different parts of the world grow among lakes, waterfalls and tropical plants. The garden sits on a coastal hill, with views across the Atlantic Ocean and the city from several points.
The 12-hectare garden is particularly appealing to anyone interested in plants and gardening, but it also makes a lovely outing if you fancy a walk among the greenery. We particularly enjoyed Octógono, one of the garden’s lusher areas.
It is hard to imagine that the hill was still being used as a rubbish dump in 1983. Its transformation from a mountain of waste into a botanical garden is an important part of Palmetum’s story.
Palms, lakes and waterfalls
Palms take centre stage at Palmetum, and the park shows just how varied they can be. As you walk around, notice the differences in their trunks, leaves and the way they grow. Some have large, fan-shaped leaves, while others have long, feathery fronds.
The plants are grouped by their geographical origin. Along the way, you’ll pass areas with plants from Madagascar, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands, among others. This creates variety throughout the garden, with open, sunny spaces alternating with denser planting and shadier spots.
Lakes, streams and waterfalls form part of the garden’s design, along with large volcanic rocks. From the viewpoints, you can look out over the Atlantic Ocean and Santa Cruz. Allow time to stop along the way and take in the views.
Our favourite spot is Octógono. This partly enclosed area takes its name from its octagonal shape and is laid out on two levels, with lush planting, rocks, small streams and waterfalls. It provides shelter and shade for plants that need a more sheltered setting, and is well worth making time for on your walk.
There are also opportunities to see birds. A bird hide by the Papúa Nueva Guinea area gives you a place to watch them. Which birds you see depends partly on the time of year.
From rubbish dump to botanical garden
Palmetum stands on an artificial hill built up from Santa Cruz’s waste. When the rubbish dump closed, the city was left with a mountain of waste around 40 metres high.
Work to turn the site into a botanical garden began in 1996. It involved far more than soil and plants: the waste had to be covered, and a system was installed to manage the gases it produced. Paths were laid and a plant collection was built up in collaboration with botanical institutions from around the world.
After many years of work, Palmetum opened to the public on 28 January 2014. Today, alongside welcoming visitors, the garden helps conserve threatened plant species and teaches people about plants.
Planning your visit to Palmetum
We recommend allowing an hour and a half to two hours for your visit, and a little longer if you’d like to stop for a break. On hot days, the morning is a good time to visit. There are shady areas, but also open stretches with plenty of sun, so bring sun protection and wear comfortable shoes.
On our most recent visit, we stopped at the park’s food truck, which stands in a small open space surrounded by greenery. It was lovely to sit down and enjoy a cold drink in the beautiful surroundings. The food truck sells coffee, cold drinks and light meals.
Palmetum is green and lush all year round and can be visited in any season. In autumn especially, many of the tropical plants have colourful flowers or fruit.
Palmetum on the map
Palmetum is on Avenida de la Constitución in the southern part of Santa Cruz, close to the Parque Marítimo César Manrique swimming pool complex and the distinctive Auditorio de Tenerife. You can combine a visit to the garden with a walk along the seafront or further into the city.
