The Jardin de Cactus or how to create a paradise from scratch.

Are you familiar with the name Cesar Manrique?

If you’ve ever visited Lanzarote, then you’ve surely heard of him. However, if this is your first time on the island, pay attention because he’s the island’s most important personality, and the Jardín de Cactus was the artist’s last work on the island where he was born.

And, of course, he pulled out all the stops.

Don’t get distracted by the terminology; we’ll explain it here in detail. But first, pay attention:

Where there had once been stood only old volcanic ash quarry, Cesar was able to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings. He created an authentic paradise that is home to some 4,500 plants from 450 different species of cactus.

In a nutshell, Cesar Manrique was a magician who was able to turn wasted spaces into authentic works of art.

Would you like to know more about the Jardin de Cactus?

Continue reading so you don’t miss out on a thing about this impressive space during your next visit to Lanzarote.

Where is the Jardin de Cactus located?

The Jardin de Cactus is located on the outskirts of Guatiza, in the middle of a prickly pear plantation.

It used to be an old volcanic sand deposit, a quarry used for extracting volcanic sand, also known as volcanic coal or ash.

This area was famous for breeding cochineals, which were used to dye garments and obtain pigments for colouring works of art.

As water on the island was scarce, farmers used volcanic ash to cover the ground as a way to preserve the moisture in the environment with the aim of supporting plant development.

When Cesar Manrique discovered this abandoned volcanic ash quarry, he was able to perceive its hidden beauty and he wanted to show it to the entire world.

If you’d like to discover what was done by Manrique, just head over to the Jardin de Cactus.

What to see and do at the Jardin de Cactus?

If you’d think that the reason for coming here is only to see some cactus plants; nothing could be further from reality.

Visiting the Jardin de Cactus is like stepping into a new dimension where art and nature make a perfect couple.

This is a distinctive imprint left by the artist in each of his interventions in this space. It’s hard to believe that this area had once ended up abandoned or unused. Now it’s a lush garden with terraces and paths that invite us to escape while we rest our eyes on the variety of plants that grow there.

Those lucky enough to visit it in spring will see an explosion of colours coming from the flowers of succulents. Nevertheless, we can assure you that it’s worth a visit any time of year.

Among the more than 450 different plant species there, you’ll find yourself looking for unbelievable shapes and being amazed by the length of some of the cactus.

The gift shop is a must-see because it’s full of interesting novelties.

There is an on-site restaurant where you can take a break and sample some of the delicacies made with prickly pears and cactuses. Don’t leave without trying their creamy cactus croquettes; you’ll be impressed.

However, not everything here is about modernity and fusion.

At the top of the garden you will find an antique corn mill used for grinding “millo” (corn kernels) to create this delicious Canary Islands dish.

Even though the mill isn’t currently used for grinding cereal, it is being used as an interpretation centre, so you can visit it, inside and out, and discover how well it has been preserved.

Opening Hours and Tickets.

The Jardin de Cactus is open every day from 10am to 5pm; the last tour is at 4.30pm.

Note that it may be closed during public holidays, such as on New Year’s Day or Christmas, so this is something to keep in mind if you travel during that time.

Tickets and vouchers can be purchased directly at the ticket office or on the website. Prices:

  • Adults: €6.50

  • Children (7-12): €3.25

  • Children (0-6): Free

Recommendations:

We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes when visiting the Jardin de Cactus because, if you come with enough time to spare, the tour can become quite lengthy.

On sunny days it is best to wear a hat and sunscreen. This is applicable to any trip on the island.

And of course, bring along your photo camera. The Jardin de Cactus is such a singular space that you’ll be tempted to take photos of everything you see. To give you some guidance so that you won’t miss out on anything important, these are some photo recommendations made by the garden itself:

  • The 8-metre cactus at the entrance. Moreover, if you tell someone who has never seen it that it’s real, they will go over to it to check it out. It’s a little joke to start of the visit in a nice way.

  • Panoramic view of the garden from the entrance.

  • There is a cactus called the “mother-in-law’s seat”; check it out and take a picture of it, but don’t try sitting on it!

  • A unique fountain is located in the centre of the garden.

  • Manrique’s works placed at the entrance to the toilets.

  • The mural at the coffee shop.

  • And the mill of Guatiza.

We hope that you’ll take a lot of photos and enjoy your visit to this beautiful space in Lanzarote.

 

This article has been written with all the love we feel for Lanzarote. We hope that you would enjoy your visit to the Jardin de Cactus as much as we have enjoyed writing this article.

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