The Palmetum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has become a popular destination in the city and a must-see for the thousands of visitors who enjoy a botanical paradise that boasts the largest palm tree collection in Europe. This July, as it celebrates its tenth anniversary, the Palmetum welcomed its 500,000th visitor, a remarkable milestone considering the garden opened its doors in 2014.
To mark this occasion, a couple from Switzerland, who selected Tenerife as their holiday destination and included the Palmetum in their itinerary, were honoured as the celebratory guests. They strolled through the impressive array of palm trees in Europe and received a selection of souvenirs from the gift shop as a token of their visit.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez expressed gratitude, stating, “We have achieved a significant milestone that underscores the exceptional work carried out in the botanical garden. I commend the dedicated staff at the Palmetum for their efforts in preserving this site and providing visitors with top-notch service.”
Accolades
The mayor highlighted, “Over the past decade, this establishment has garnered various accolades, including the Dubai International Award for best practices, the Traveler’s Choice 2023 for the eighth consecutive year, and the Sicted certificate for tourism quality at the destination.”
Emphasising the significance of the Palmetum to Santa Cruz, the mayor pledged, “We are committed to ensuring that residents of the Canary Islands recognise, appreciate, and enjoy this unparalleled gem in the city.”
Council Member in charge of the Maritime Park and Palmetum, Javier Rivero, noted, “We welcome an average of more than 230 visitors daily, with peak days seeing over 500 visitors. According to Tripadvisor, it ranks among the top five activities to do in Santa Cruz, solidifying its status as a premier tourist attraction in the city.” Rivero also highlighted the exceptional visitor numbers of 86,429 in 2023, marking the highest annual attendance since the garden’s inception.
“We have exciting plans to expand the botanical and exhibition collection in the coming years, including projects like a bird-watching hide, nurseries, a scientific classroom, and an interpretation centre,” he revealed.
