The Cactus Garden (Jardín de Cactus) is located at the northern end of Guatiza, on the eastern side of the LZ-1 road that leads to Mala – not to be confused with the new by-pass that goes around both towns.

The garden was designed by César Manrique and opened in 1990 (according to the official Spanish guidebook. Many sources quote 1991) and as such was the last of Manrique’s “centres” to open.  Inside there are over 1,000 different species of cacti.  Some of them are indigenous to the island, but many come from as far away as South America.

Once inside the main entrance, (more…)

Located towards the North-East corner of the island, the Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes are two of the oldest „attractions“ on the island, having been opened to the public in 1966 and 1963 respectively.

The word “Jameos” means the hole created when a lava tunnel caves in, and both locations are situated in the same lava tunnel, on opposite sides of the LZ-1 road. The tunnel was not created during the 1730-1736 eruptions, but between 3000 and 5000 years earlier by lava from the volcano “de la Corona”.

At Jameos del Agua, water has filtered through the rock and created a unique underground lake where small white crabs live. Visitors walk down steps in the rock to enter the tunnel, before coming back up on the other side. At a second level, there is a pool of blue water in a white surrounding, know as the “King of Spain’s private pool”.  Behind this is a concert hall, opened in 1977, and with seating for 600 people. (more…)