Discover the Viera y Clavijo Botanical Garden. Explore its biodiversity and history. Plan your visit and enjoy a unique experience of nature and wellbeing.
Just 15 minutes from the centre of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, on the edge of one of the island’s most striking ravines — the Barranco del Guiniguada — lies a place where nature takes centre stage.
The Canary Islands Botanical Garden “Viera y Clavijo” is far more than a green oasis; it is a sanctuary of emotion and biodiversity that invites visitors to discover Gran Canaria through its rich variety of flora, its history and its quiet magic.
Today, we open the gates of the Canarian Garden for you, wherever you are — enveloping you in its unique atmosphere and bringing you closer to every corner and every experience.
A green world at your feet
Imagine strolling through the largest botanical garden in Spain, surrounded by the fragrance of thousands of plant species native to Gran Canaria.
The Canary Islands Botanical Garden “Viera y Clavijo” — affectionately known as the Canarian Garden — spans 27 hectares that descend gracefully into the Guiniguada Ravine.
Founded in 1952 by the Swedish naturalist Erik Ragnar Svensson (Sweden, 1920 – Gran Canaria, 1973), the Garden was created to preserve the island’s botanical wealth, particularly its endemic flora.
Svensson succeeded in recreating the perfect environment for each plant to feel as comfortable as in its place of origin. He devoted much of his life to designing and building the Garden, carefully considering not only the present but also how each species would adapt and flourish over time.
Tragically, on 23 June 1973, Erik Sventenius lost his life in a car accident outside the Garden. His resting place now lies beneath the shade of the Laurisilva Forest, where each year the Garden’s staff pay tribute to his memory.
Connecting with the history and beauty of the Canarian Garden
The Canarian Garden is a sanctuary of island flora — a living testimony to centuries of natural history and to the visionary legacy of José Viera y Clavijo, the pioneering Canarian naturalist whose name it bears.
Every corner resonates with its mission to protect, research and share the botanical heritage of the Canary Islands and Macaronesia. Here, science meets emotion: interpretation centres, laboratories and environmental education programmes transform each visit into a hands-on learning experience for all ages.
Would you like to take a walk through the Garden’s most remarkable areas? Let’s begin.
Macaronesian Ornamental Garden
Entering the Garden from the Dragonal Road (GC-310), you arrive directly at the Macaronesian Ornamental Garden, where a variety of endemic plants from the Canary Islands and other Macaronesian archipelagos are grouped together.
Thermophilous woodland
If you enter via Tafira (GC-110), you’ll find a representation of the thermophilous woodland, which descends down the slope along several stone paths until it reaches the lower part of the ravine.
This formation represents the vegetation that grows beneath the pine forests and on the southern slopes, as well as the laurel forest (laurisilva) on the northern sides of the islands that are not directly affected by the sea of clouds.
The palm square
The Garden’s most iconic plaza, dedicated to the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis), an endemic and emblematic species found across all seven islands of the archipelago.
Coastal halophilous vegetation
Just a few metres from the Palm Square, you can explore a wide range of salt-tolerant plant communities native to the Canary Islands. These form a natural belt along the coastline, adapted to the high salinity levels caused by sea spray.
Tabaibal–cardonal zone
This area represents the island’s lowlands — semi-arid and arid environments populated by shrubs, succulents and spiny or leafless species characteristic of the Canary landscape.
Pine forest
This is the main area of the Garden, located on both sides of the ravine, close to the famous wooden bridge. On the left-hand bank, near the Tagoror area, you can see a pine trunk discovered in 1969 in the Cañada de las Arenas, which had remained buried beneath volcanic sands since ancient times.
Rupicolous vegetation
The Canary Islands are defined by their dramatic relief and vertical landscapes — cliffs, escarpments and steep slopes, faithfully represented within the Garden.
The geological origins of the islands and the pioneering role of vegetation in their colonisation highlight the vital importance of these plant communities.
The garden of the islands
This section, marked by a central lawn, features a collection of endemic plants from the Macaronesian archipelagos. The species are grouped and arranged according to their island of origin.
The hidden garden
A small greenhouse designed to reproduce tropical species that require high humidity levels to survive. Among them are reeds, papyrus, bamboo and a variety of ferns.
The Laurisilva Forest
Perhaps the most emblematic area of the Garden, located on both sides of the ravine at the foot of the slope — near the Exhibition Centre building and the Fountain of the Wise — it brings together a wide range of species that make up the laurel forest (laurisilva).
This ancient forest cover was widespread across several islands during the Tertiary period. Today, only a few remnants remain on Gran Canaria, such as the Tilos de Moya.
The Fountain of the Wise
This monument, which is the heart of the garden, pays tribute to the many naturalists who contributed to the study and preservation of Canarian flora — including Pitard, Bolle, Webb and Berthelot.
Palmetum
On the left-hand side of the ravine, opposite the Tagoror, you’ll find a collection of palm species from around the world — including the Royal Palm (Roystonea regia), Fish-tail Palm (Caryota urens) and the Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana).
The Garden of the World
Inaugurated in 2002 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Viera y Clavijo Botanical Garden, this area features five sections representing the five continents of the world.
How to get to the Viera y Clavijo Botanical Garden
Reaching the Botanical Garden is simple if you’re travelling by car. From the centre of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, take the GC-23 towards the 7 Palmas Shopping and Leisure Centre, then the GC-210 — in just 15 minutes you’ll arrive at this peaceful haven of greenery.
If you’re travelling from your family or couples’ hotel, take the GC-1 towards the El Mirador Shopping Centre, then follow the GC-3, taking the GC-110 exit from the GC-4, and finally continue on the GC-310 to the Garden.
For those using public transport, Guaguas Global operates lines 301, 303 and 323:
Line 301: departs from Santa Catalina Station and reaches the Garden via the University Campus.
Line 303: runs from San Telmo Station directly to the Garden.
Line 323: departs from Santa Catalina and stops at the Garden after passing through the Campus.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays):
- Summer (April to September): 07:30 – 19:00
- Winter (October to March): 07:30 – 18:00
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays:
- 10:00 – 18:00 (all year round)
- Last admission is always one hour before closing.
- The Garden remains closed on 24, 25 and 31 December, and 1 January.
Experience the Canarian Garden wherever you are – with Dunas Hotels & Resorts
You don’t have to travel far to immerse yourself in the magic of Gran Canaria’s botanical garden.
At Dunas Hotels & Resorts, we invite you to wander its paths, uncover the stories behind its endemic species, and book your guided visit.
Add this experience to your holiday itinerary, stroll among dragon trees, palms and waterfalls, and share the wonder with your loved ones.
The Canarian Garden awaits — ready to reconnect your senses with nature and the history of the Canary Islands.
Plan your visit during your stay at our hotels and enjoy a unique experience of nature and wellbeing.
