Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava

Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava is a historic botanical garden in Puerto de la Cruz, on the island of Tenerife, and one of the oldest institutions of its kind in Spain. It was created on the orders of King Charles III, who in 1788 issued a royal decree establishing a site in the Canary Islands where tropical plants could be acclimatized before being shipped onward to the royal gardens of Aranjuez, near Madrid. The task of organizing the garden was entrusted to Alonso de Nava Grimón y Benítez de Lugo, sixth Marquis of Villanueva del Prado, who oversaw its construction and early plant collection.

How was the garden built?

The layout was designed by architect Diego Nicolás Eduardo, with work on its strict geometric plan beginning in 1790. Construction was completed the following year, in 1791, and the first plantings and sowings took place in 1792, comprising 35 species. The garden followed a formal, symmetrical design typical of scientific gardens of the Enlightenment era, intended to make systematic observation and care of imported specimens easier for the botanists working there.

Why is this garden significant?

The Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava is the second-oldest existing botanical garden in Spain, surpassed only by the Real Jardín Botánico in Madrid. Since 1994 it has held protected cultural heritage status as a historic garden, recognizing its importance to the country's scientific and natural heritage. For more than two centuries, the garden functioned as a way station: a place where plants shipped from South America, Africa, and Asia could adjust to a milder climate before being sent onward to mainland Spain.

Where does the name come from?

The garden's name refers to the town of La Orotava, because at the time of its founding, Puerto de la Cruz was administratively part of the municipality of La Orotava and was known as Puerto de La Orotava. The two towns later separated administratively, but the garden's historic name has remained unchanged, a reminder of its roots at the end of the 18th century.

Where is the garden located?

The site lies within the city of Puerto de la Cruz, on the northern coast of Tenerife, in a region with a mild, humid microclimate favorable to growing subtropical and tropical plants — conditions that determined the choice of this location back in the 18th century.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava founded? The garden was established by order of King Charles III in 1788, construction finished in 1791, and the first plantings took place in 1792.

Is it the oldest botanical garden in Spain? No, it is the second oldest — only the Real Jardín Botánico in Madrid predates it.

What was its original purpose? It was meant to acclimatize tropical and subtropical plants brought from overseas territories before they were sent to the royal gardens of Aranjuez.

Is the garden legally protected? Yes, since 1994 it has held the status of a historic garden as a protected cultural heritage site.