El Gran Canaria Botanical Garden «Viera and Clavijo», also known as Canary Garden, is the largest botanical garden in Spain. In their 27 hectares contain more than 500 endemic species of the Canary Islands, some exclusive to Gran Canaria such as the Giant Lizard and the Gran Canaria Dragon Tree.. Admission is free and we find it in the High Tafira / High Dragonal from the municipality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It has two entrances, but if you continue reading you will discover everything you need to know to plan your visit to this open-air museum.

About the Botanical Garden of Gran Canaria
El Viera y Clavijo Botanical Garden It is not only the largest garden in Spain, it is also a crucial institution for the conservation of the flora of the Canary Islands. Was founded in 1952 by Swedish botanist Eric Sventenius. The Canary Garden of Gran Canaria It is a biodiversity sanctuary, dedicated to research, conservation and education about the Canarian flora. As we mentioned before, it has 27 hectares where the native plant species, although they coexist with others brought from different continents. As we show you on the map below, it is divided into zones. One of the most impressive is its cactus and succulent garden with more than 2.000 specimens. Here you will see a clear protagonist, the Canary Cardon. In addition, there is a very nice corner to take photos.

El garden has public toilets and different special shaded rest areas, where the Tagoror and the Carob Tree.

Botany Gran Canaria
El Botanical Garden of Las Palmas Gran Canaria It is a must-see for nature lovers, as represents the different landscapes that the island of Gran Canaria offers. From the Maspalomas pond, where we can see some fish and turtles, to The Linden Trees of Moya where you will walk through a Laurisilva forest with birds chirping. There are also several areas that simulate the Canarian pine forest of our peaks y canarian palm groves (phoenix canariensis) what we find in ravines like The Tirajanas or Fataga. Finally, the area of cacti and cardones that you can clearly see in many arid areas of the island such as Tase you, Veneguera and Güigüi. Finally, be sure to visit the copy of the Gran Canaria dragon tree (dracaena tamaranae).

Canarian fauna
In this Canary Botanical Garden You will also be able to appreciate local fauna where a endemic species of the island. Is Giant lizard of Gran Canaria (Gallotia stehlini). It is the largest lizard in the Canary Islands and It can reach up to 80 centimeters. To see it, we recommend you try your luck in the Stone bridge (point no. 41 on the map that we share below). Of course, you I recommend walking silently and stealthily, since they hide from human presence. I was lucky enough to see one hiding between some rocks on the paths that lead to the access to the Canary Garden of Tafira (upper part).

Various birds also live there, such as the robin, canary blackbird, mountain canary, common finch and hoopoes, among others. To try to spot them, I recommend the Laurisilva area and the Canarian pine forest.
The Canary Garden: guided tours and schedules
El Viera y Clavijo Botanical Garden It is open to the public every day of the year, except December 24, 25, 31 and January 1. The Admission is free and duration of the visit is approximately 2 hours if you are going to tour all its facilities.
- Guided tour schedule: 10:00 and 12:30 hrs. every weekend and holidays. To book your guided tour, fill out this online form.
- General Hours: Monday to Friday excluding holidays 7:30 - 19:00 (summer time, from April to September) and from 7:30 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. (winter time, from October to March). Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. (throughout the year). The last access allowed is one hour before the closing of its facilities.

Canarian Botanical Garden Viera y Clavijo price
As we mentioned previously, the Canary Garden does not charge an entrance fee. It is totally free of charge. This makes it not only an essential place for nature lovers, but also one of the things to do with children in Gran Canaria for free. Next, we share the rules of the premises, since it must be taken into account that it is not a playground.
Rules for visiting the Canary Garden, Gran Canaria
To ensure the conservation of species and beauty of the garden, it is important to respect some basic rules during your visit.
- Do not collect plants or feed animals.
- Do not leave the authorized trails.
- Do not enter flowerbeds, ponds or wooded areas.
- Do not access with bicycles, scooters, chairs, tables, umbrellas, etc.
- Do not play ball or tennis, or do sports activities such as jogging.
- Do not introduce food or leave waste (not even organic). Use the trash cans or carry with you.
- Do not enter with animals, except guide dogs for blind people.
- Do not fly drones
- Maintain constant supervision of minors, as there may be complicated passage areas and even landslides.

How to get to the Canary Garden and map
Please note that the Canary Garden has two entrances. The The most comfortable one is the one in the lower part next to the road to Dragonal Alto, especially if you go with children. It is the one we mark with a star on the following map. Then you can also access by tafira (high part) with views of the entire area, but it will make you go down many steps, which you will then have to climb on the way back. Both entrances have ample parking.
We recommend that you ask for a map when you arrive at the entrance, as there are areas of the garden that are not well marked.

Important Recommendations
Below, we share some tips for your visit to the Canary Garden in Gran Canaria.
- Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, hat, sunscreen and enough water, especially during the summer months when temperatures can be quite high.
- Use bottom entry, next to the Dragonal Alto, otherwise you will have to go down/up a very steep slope and much of the garden is in the low area
- Wear warm clothing in the winter months, it is a humid and cool area.
- Eat before entering the premises, because no food should be introduced.

Visit Canarian Botanical Garden in Gran Canaria It is an opportunity to connect with nature and learn about the species of the Canary Islands. We hope this guide is helpful to you and, if you have any questions, let us know in the comments! By the way, If you are going to visit the capital this same day, don't miss our guide on what to see in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria Guides
For those who wish to delve even deeper into what to do in Gran Canaria, our digital guides offer detailed information with routes and itineraries per day. From tours of places that locals frequent, to tips for enjoying island cuisine. If you want to explore the most authentic side of Gran Canaria at your own pace and not waste your valuable time searching for information on the internet, we are your solution! All guides are available in Spanish and English and you can see all the packs by clicking on the following image.

Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
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