Palmetum (Botanical Garden), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (must see)

Located on an artificial hill of the city, the Palmetum is an botanical garden dedicated to palm trees-from classic Canarian date palms to rare island species from Madagascar, the Caribbean, Oceania, Asia, Africa and beyond. What once served as the city's landfill, closed in 1983, has been transformed through a remarkable ecological restoration project initiated in 1995-now flourishing with over 500 palm species.

Visitors can wander through lush, biogeographically themed sections that mimic their native habitats, complete with streams, ponds, waterfalls, and scenic lookouts overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and city skyline. The centrepiece is the “Octagon” a subterranean shade house, designed to nurture the most moisture-dependent species with a maze of jungle-like trails, bridges, and cascades.

Alongside its visual splendor, the Palmetum serves as a vital conservation and educational location. It operates a museum focused on palm ethnobotany, engages in ex situ propagation of endangered species, and functions as a research centre. Irrigation relies solely on recycled water, chemical use is prohibited, and native birds such as herons and hoopoes have flourished within its verdant grounds.