The Lanzarote Cactus Garden is one of the island’s main attractions.
César Manrique transformed an old quarry into a beautiful botanical garden full of cacti: the “Jardín de Cactus”.
Here’s our guide to help you plan your visit, with photos, map and tips.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Our favorite car rental platform: DiscoverCars
Why visit the Lanzarote cactus garden?
Is the Cactus Garden worth it?
Yes. We loved our visit to the Cactus Garden.
The variety of species is impressive, and the setting in the old picon quarry is superb, with the mill overlooking it. We had a great time there.
One of Lanzarote’s must-see attractions!
History of the garden
Created in 1991, the Cactus Garden was César Manrique‘s last project, and is one of our favorite Lanzarote attractions. Its Spanish name is Jardín de Cactus.
Manrique had the idea of transforming an old quarry, from which picon (volcanic sand/gravel) was extracted. As always, he liked to integrate his work with the natural environment.
There are now 450 different species of cacti and succulents from all over the world, for a total of around 4,500 plants (official Garden figures).
The contrast of the green against the dark ground and blue sky is breathtaking:
Set in a former quarry, this botanical garden resembles an amphitheatre, with terraces on either side. The advantage is that it protects the plants (and you) from the wind, which can sometimes be very strong.
And to make it even more photogenic, there’s a restored old windmill above the garden! It’s truly a photographer’s delight.
More pictures after the practical advice.
Tips + map – Cactus Garden, Lanzarote
Where to find the cactus garden in Lanzarote – map
- Located in the village of Guatiza
- On the northeast coast of Lanzarote
- Just a short drive from the main LZ-1 road
- Costa Teguise to Cactus Garden = 15min drive
- Puerto del Carmen to Cactus Garden = 30min drive
- Playa Blanca to Cactus Garden = 50min drive
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
How do I get to the cactus garden?
- Very easy to reach by car
- Ample parking near the entrance
- Very well signposted from the main road
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
Cactus Garden Lanzarote – excursion
However, if you don’t want to rent a car, there are bus excursions from all the resorts that include a visit to the Cactus Garden and many other wonderful César Manrique attractions.
View program, availability and book
Admission, prices and accessibility
- Garden opening hours: at least 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (July to September open from 9 a.m.)
- Price: 8 euros admission, or included in a multi-attraction ticket
- There are stairs to visit the Garden, and the ground is uneven in some places, so wear comfortable shoes.
- Souvenir store inside the garden, on the right.
- Don’t miss the toilet entrances. They’re fun!
- You can’t see much from the outside, but there’s a large metal door in the shape of a cactus.
- See the latest news on the official website here
How long
Allow at least 1 hour to walk around – but if you want to look at the different cacti in detail, allow 2 hours.
Restaurant
The snack bar/cafeteria is set in the shade under the windmill. It offers a fantastic view of the garden. We really enjoyed having a drink in these surroundings
CHOOSING A HOTEL IN Lanzarote
Choosing where to stay:
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A revisited picon quarry
You enter the cactus garden opposite the windmill, so you have an unobstructed view of the entire cactus-filled amphitheater.
It’s not a very good photo because the position of the sun wasn’t practical, but it gives you a general idea of what it looks like when you walk in:
Take a stroll and discover the many species of cactus. You can either walk around the first floor, or climb up onto the terraces on either side.
And between the cacti, there are large monoliths of volcanic ash that make it even more fascinating. But we are biased, we love cacti!!!!
In the photo below, you can see the wide variety of cacti, from the small round cactus, to the large saguaro and others that look more like trees and bushes:
In the following image, you can see the terraces on the side of the quarry. You’ll see smaller varieties of cactus with many shapes and colors.
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The mill and the view
At the other end of the botanical garden is the windmill and, below it, the restaurant. You can climb to different levels and use the indoor or outdoor staircase.
From the heights of the garden, you can enjoy beautiful views.
From this angle, you don’t have the windmill in view, but you can see the town of Guazita and its white houses in the background.
And behind 2 volcanoes: Montana de Guenia on the right (360m), and Montana Tinamala on the left (323m).
You can even climb inside the mill and see the mechanism. They were used to produce gofio, which is flour made from roasted grains. It has long been an essential ingredient in Canarian cuisine.
Cactus species in the Lanzarote botanical garden
Given the number of plants in the garden, it’s difficult to photograph them all. Here’s our selection, our favorites and some of the funniest.
The one below looks like earthworms. It’s very disturbing. But the pretty pink was beautiful to look at.
Since its creation 20 years ago, some of them have grown a lot. And they have some impressive specimens to admire.
Below is a fascinating one with its many arms and beautiful large white flowers. We were lucky that some cacti had flowers. But we don’t know if there’s a good time to see lots of flowers. We’re sorry.
And below is our favorite, the Lamerel Pachypodium. It comes from Madagascar (a country high on our travel wish list!).
Lanzarote Cactus Garden – more photos
And a few more photos of the cactus garden for your enjoyment…
Virtual tour – Video
Before I show you lots more photos and tell you how to get there, here’s a short video to give you an idea of what it’s like to visit the Cactus Garden on Lanzarote:
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful villages
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
Most beautiful hikes
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
