It is situated in the village of Guatiza, in a former quarry where volcanic sand lapilli (volcanic pyroclast, locally called "picón" or "rofe") was extracted to spread on cultivated areas to retain moisture.

Prickly pears are grown in the area for the production of cochineal, an insect from which the natural dye carmine is derived.

The botanist Estanislao González Ferrer was responsible for the selection and planting of the specimens.

The garden now has 4,500 examples of 450 species of cactus and succulents from North and South America, Madagascar, and other desert and arid areas.

Media related to Jardin de Cactus at Wikimedia Commons