A palm garden on a former landfill
Palmetum
The largest palm garden in Europe, grown on a former rubbish hill.
One of the island’s finest transformations: where the rubbish used to lie in Santa Cruz, the Palmetum grows today, a 12-hectare botanical garden with palms from around the world, laid out as a hill overlooking the harbour.
Palms from all over the world
Hundreds of palm species from the Canaries, the Caribbean, Madagascar and Asia grow here between watercourses and viewing terraces. Paths wind up the hill, and again and again the view opens onto the sea. A quiet, shady contrast to the bustle of the city, and an instructive piece of restoration.
Easy to combine
The Palmetum lies right next to the Auditorio and is therefore ideal for a relaxed city day in Santa Cruz. Take your time for the upper terraces, the panoramic view rewards the climb.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Palmetum really built on a rubbish dump?
Yes. The hill was the Santa Cruz city landfill for decades and was elaborately restored, today it is the largest palm garden in Europe.
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Your base camp for all of it
The house sits centrally in the sunny south-west — most destinations are less than an hour away.