Cactus Níjar is a private botanical garden specialized in cacti and succulents, installed in the urban environment of Níjar, in the region of Campo de Níjar, in a very dry landscape with strong Mediterranean light. It is not a natural formation in the strict sense, but a space created and maintained as a living collection, with species of different origins adapted to the scarcity of water and the poor soils of the area. The visit is interesting because of the contrast between the plant architecture of the cacti, the thorny textures and the occasional blooms, and the arid environment of the Nijareño surroundings. It is usually described as a large place, with a free route and exhibition and sales areas, closer to a small collection garden than to a conventional nursery. In local and travelers' publications it appears linked to the plant culture of Níjar and the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, although it is not part of a protected natural area as such. Its attractiveness depends a lot on the light: the best hours are usually the morning and late afternoon, when the sun highlights volumes and shadows without being so hard. Spring and early summer are good times, both for the flowering of some succulents and for more bearable temperatures. There is no reliable record in the sources consulted of exact measurements, slopes or figures of protection; therefore, these data should not be taken for granted.
