Route through the most unique palm trees in Elche

The route through the most unique palm trees, in the Elche Palm Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a wonderful way to explore this green landscape. Among the thousands of palms you’ll come across, we recommend stopping to admire some truly remarkable specimens. Keep this guide handy and your visit will be all the more rewarding.

What exactly is the Elche Palm Grove and why is it so important?

First, a bit of context. The Elche Palm Grove, a collection of date palm orchards protected by UNESCO, began to take shape in Iberian times. With the arrival of Muslim culture, it expanded remarkably, largely thanks to advanced irrigation systems. Today, it’s one of the must-see sights in the Region of Valencia.

How many palm trees are there in Elche?

It’s estimated that the Elche Palm Grove is home to around 200,000 palm trees. Along the route of the most unique palm trees in Elche, you’ll discover a selection of the most iconic specimens.

Elche’s most unique palm trees route: step-by-step guide

This 7 km route introduces you to some of the standout palm trees in the Elche Palm Grove—although there are over a hundred noted for their unusual shapes or fascinating histories. Here are the highlights included in this itinerary:

1. El Tridente: the Trident, a three-branched palm.

2. El Candelabro: the Candelabra, a five-branched palm.

3. Don Diego’s Palm: a four-branched palm.

4. The Font Palm: a cluster with eight branches.

5. La Centinela: the Sentinel, the tallest palm in the grove, over 200 years old. 

6. El Tirachinas: the Slingshot, a palm with a split trunk.

7. La Bonica: exceptionally lush with a beautifully balanced shape.

8. La Pipa de San Plácido: a fallen palm.

9. La Cobra: another fallen palm with a striking form.

10. The Imperial Palm: a unique specimen admired by Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria.

11. El Tornillo: a palm that has grown in a spiral.

12. El Araceli: shaped like one of the aerial elements from the Misteri d’Elx.

13. La Pipa Real: a fallen palm.

14. La Tombà del Mur: a palm leaning against a wall.

15. La Palmera del Forat: notable for a curious hole in its trunk.

16. La Palmera Taleb Rifai: a seven-branched palm.

17. La Pipa de Travalón Bajo: a fallen palm resting over a lake.

What else can you do in and around the Elche Palm Grove in a day?

Alongside this route, you can explore the city with a complementary itinerary and set aside time to visit the Museo Escolar de Pusol. Don’t miss the chance to try local dates or a traditional arroz con costra, and discover Elche’s heritage in footwear craftsmanship and white palm weaving.

Start planning your escape and experience the route of the most unique palm trees in the Elche Palm Grove.