Located in Guatiza, El Jardín de Cactus is the last great work of César Manrique in Lanzarote, a fascinating creation that houses about 500 different species of cactus from five continents.
Manrique chose an old deposit in an agricultural area of extensive cactus plantations dedicated to the cultivation of cochineal for this project, turning a place of neglect into a heaven for cactus fans.
After 20 years of creation, the garden is full of decorative and sculptural elements that integrate with the environment, further enhancing its natural beauty. Volcanic stones and basaltic monoliths, resulting from the time when earth was extracted, were turned into sculptures, but the main attraction is of course the incredible variety of cactus.
El Jardín de Cactus is internationally awarded and considered one of the most important cactus gardens in the world. I felt lucky to have visited this impressive garden with all its lovely plants, and the remarkable architecture of Manrique gives them the perfect frame. Even the toilets are a sight to be seen! 😉
The weather is great for a change, so we will head straight to the next site, of course designed by Manrique. Maybe they should consider renaming the island after him? More next!