Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Since opening the Gardens gates in 2005, Vallarta Botanical Gardens (VBG) has won international accolades as a not-to-be missed highlight of any trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In addition to the 20 acres of native tropical plants and the Vallarta Conservatory of Mexican Orchids and Native Plants, there are many upcoming events you won't want to miss! Here's the latest news from VBG Founder and Curator, Bob Price:

Curator's Corner

September, traditionally the quietest month for tourism in Puerto Vallarta, seems like a very appropriate time to discuss how to best improve our beloved city and the surrounding region to ensure the future success of Vallarta as a world-class vacation destination.

During a recent visit to Puerto Vallarta by Peter Tarlow, a respected international tourism security authority, we heard a confirmation of what we have long known to be true: those communities that invest in urban beautification and landscaping can bolster tourism and suppress the criminal element.

Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful city, but we can stand to prosper much more if we put a lid over our trash and make our blocks a little greener. Something as simple as the new bins the PV Garden Club has prototyped can contain unsightly trash piles and keep nasty odors at bay.

A combination of such simple acts and some carefully attended landscaping can be truly transformative. Collectively, between sponsoring such bins and sprucing up our streets with well-attended urban planters, we can turn this town towards a trajectory of becoming the number one tourist destination in the country.

Revolutionize your city by advancing and preserving beauty to create prosperity... the economy that you bolster may be your own! You may contact the Garden Club by writing to the club president, Bonnie Mott at bonmott(at)hotmail.com.

Vallarta Cacao & Chocolate Festival
October 17 & 18, 2015

Engage your taste buds, minds and imaginations for a chocoholic's dream weekend. Money may not grow on trees, but who needs that if you can grow your own chocolate? Event entry included in regular garden admission (adolescents and adults 80 pesos, children 20 pesos.)

10th Anniversary Celebration
November 14 & 15, 2015

Adding a second digit to one's age is a right of passage of sorts. For a privately initiated public institution such as the Vallarta Botanical Garden, it's evidence that the project has been truly embraced by its local community and destined to become a legacy for future generations. Ringing in such a milestone is a brilliant opportunity to not only celebrate with the local community, but to also welcome in supporters who have embraced this vision with us from near and afar.

All are invited to a magical weekend on November 14th and 15th to experience the Garden and learn from what others have to share when we will receive more of our professional colleagues with us than any other moment in our history. So far, plant researchers and botanical garden staff representing 12 different institutions have confirmed their participation. They will share their knowledge with the public through guided hikes, open house experiences, special exhibits, and captivating talks by dynamic guest speakers. After a time to learn, we welcome you to celebrate as each evening a series of great local live music acts will take the stage.