Mother Nature awaits us!
The Palmetum, a botanical garden located in the capital of Tenerife , is an innovative project that is committed to sustainability.
Considered unique in the world, It is hard to believe that an old landfill is buried under the artificial mountain on which this twelve-hectare green space rests. And it is that tens of meters under the organic and fertile soil, lie meters of rubble and remains, as well as unclassified waste.
In this natural environment, fully ecological since 2007 and accessible to people with reduced mobility, palm trees take center stage. However, other unusual trees can also be discovered in European territory, such as the baobabs.
As if this were not enough, the paths throughout the garden have viewpoints with views of the Atlantic and the spectacular Anaga mountain range. And of course, the delicious slightly salty breeze that accompanies you along the walk and that announces, although at times it is not seen, that the sea is near.
A botanical garden specializing in the palm family
In 1983, when the landfill was officially closed, the area on which this garden is located was a mountain of more than forty meters high of garbage.
Rehabilitation work began in the mid-1990s, following the initial idea of the agronomist Manuel Caballero, who proposed a botanical garden for the area, a concept supported by the celebrated Canarian artist César Manrique. More than four million euros were invested in the initial phase, most of which came from European funds.
Currently this green oasis, open to the public since 2014, houses an important collection of palm trees, the most extensive in Europe. In charge of the botanical collection was the biologist Carlo Morici, and many of the palm trees that can be seen in the garden germinated in a greenhouse where they grew from seeds imported from other countries.
a nice hoopoe
For the route along the Palmetum, whose oceanic climate favors the cultivation of a great diversity of species, it is advisable to book a minimum of two hours. There you can enjoy more than 3000 species of plants from tropical and subtropical climates around the world.
landscapes have waterfalls, lakes and spaces that allow their flooding –suitable for the cultivation of certain palm trees–, as well as natural rocks and gentle hills that surprise with different environments. The garden is divided into sections that illustrate the flora of the various geographical points represented, from Madagascar to Australia, passing through the Caribbean, Hawaii or South America among others.
The main attraction are the Arecaceae, the palm trees, that with more than 600 species –dispersed in the garden depending on their area of origin– are the main protagonists. But, in addition, in the garden they work with **more than seventy species in danger of extinction, more than a dozen of them in a critical situation. **
More than 3,000 species of plants from tropical and subtropical climates around the world
During my visit, one of the palm trees that seemed most striking to me was the so-called pot-bellied palm trees, abundant in Cuba, whose trunk is covered by thorns, as well as its leaves.
There are also many unusual fruit trees, such as the so-called bread tree, the cocoa tree or the water apple. Also, during the visit to the Palmetum you can also enjoy the fauna, from stopping to listen to the Canarian chiffchaffs, to trying to spot the striking hoopoe.
The monkey puzzle tree forest of New Caledonia, rising from the sea, is one of the most poetic landscapes in the garden. These trees can reach fifty meters in height and are abundant in coastal areas exposed to the wind.
A green oasis in Tenerife
Of course, native species have their own space. Conceived as a reproduction of a Canarian thermophilic forest, in the area dedicated to the islands, Canary palm, Phoenix Canariensis, shares space with other native species of the archipelago, such as the canary dragon
This garden is very wide, even in the sections of enabled trails, which are wide streets, it is very easy to keep the social distance. During the tour you can also enjoy views of the city, including the Tenerife Adán Martín Auditorium, an iconic building designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and that has become a symbol of the city.
The Palmetum is a relatively unknown green space in Tenerife, and without a doubt, it is a sin to miss it.
Let's explore!
Address: Av la Constitución, 5, 38005 Santa Cruz de Tenerife See map
Schedule: Open every day from 10am to 6pm
Half price: Price per adult: €6