Hijuela del Botanico, La Orotava

Hijuela del Botánico is a small, quiet garden tucked right behind the town hall in La Orotava, Tenerife. Covering roughly 3,390 square metres, it has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest) since 2008. It's the kind of spot easy to walk past while rushing between the town's main sights, yet worth a detour for its shade and stillness alone.

What exactly is this place

The name "Hijuela" translates loosely as "offshoot" or "branch," and it describes exactly what this garden was set up to be: a satellite of the Acclimatization Garden in Puerto de la Cruz, the neighbouring municipality. That larger garden was founded on the initiative of King Charles III in the 18th century as a place to acclimatise tropical plants brought back from overseas voyages before they were distributed further into Europe. The Hijuela in La Orotava was created to serve as a nursery and support site for that project, and the link between the two gardens is still reflected in how the site is managed today.

A site with a longer history than the garden itself

The ground the garden now occupies has a history that predates its botanical use by centuries. It was previously home to the Convent of San José, inhabited by Poor Clare nuns from 1601 until the building was demolished in 1868. The garden in its current form dates to 1788, established on the initiative of the 6th Marquis of Villanueva del Prado, Alonso de Nava y Grimón, a figure central to the development of natural sciences in the Canary Islands at the time. He was the driving force behind the network of acclimatisation gardens that this small plot belongs to.

What grows here

The Hijuela has a romantic, intimate character — closer to a shaded corner for a slow walk than to a large botanical collection. Species growing in the garden include horse chestnut trees, royal poinciana (flame trees), sapote trees, and bunya pines native to Australia. The undisputed centrepiece, and the tree most visitors stop to look at, is a mature Canary Islands dragon tree (Dracaena draco) — a species emblematic of the whole archipelago and the natural focal point of the garden's layout.

Why it's worth a stop

The garden sits just steps from La Orotava's main square and town hall, making it an easy addition to a walk through the historic centre, known for its colourful facades and traditional Canarian balconies. It's rarely crowded and offers welcome shade on hot days, which are common in the valley during the summer months.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the garden free? Yes, admission to Hijuela del Botánico is free of charge.

What are the opening hours? The garden is generally open from 9am to 2pm.

Is this the same place as the Jardín Botánico in Puerto de la Cruz? No, they are separate sites, though historically and administratively linked — the Hijuela was created as a nursery and offshoot of the larger acclimatisation garden in Puerto de la Cruz.

How long does a visit take? Given its small size, a walk around the garden typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.

What should visitors look out for first? The standout feature is the old Canary Islands dragon tree, along with the horse chestnuts and bunya pines, which are unusual for this part of the island.