Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Since its opening in 2005, Vallarta Botanical Garden (VBG) has won numerous international awards, and now, for the second year in a row, it has placed on USA Today's 2019 '10 Best' list of public gardens and arboretums in North America.

Competing against 20 of the best gardens and arboretums on the continent, VBG was once again the only botanical garden in Mexico to be nominated for this prestigious award. A panel of experts, chosen based on their knowledge and experience of North America's botanical gardens, partnered with USA Today to pick the initial 20 nominees. The top 10 winners for 2019 were then determined by popular vote.

Historically, the '10 Best' list in this category has been dominated by gardens in the U.S., and this achievement by Vallarta Botanical Garden marks only the third time an international garden has placed on the list. (The second time was in 2018, when the VBG placed 4th.)

This year, Vallarta Botanical Garden, in fifth place, was topped only by Richmond, Virginia's Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden at #4; Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, in third place; the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis came in at #2; and this year's winner was the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minn.

Nashville's Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, San Diego Botanic Garden (in Encinitas, Calif.) and the Montreal Botanical Garden rounded out the top 10 winners determined by popular vote. Congratulations to all these winning gardens!

"It is truly an honor and privilege to be part of this distinction that could have only been possible with the support of our community," said Vallarta Botanical Garden founder and curator, Bob Price. "The VBG is young, but it has a great and growing impact that will not go unnoticed. The number of votes we received in this contest show people near and far that Puerto Vallarta is a world-class botanical and horticultural destination, and is worthy of your visit."

In addition to 64 acres of native tropical plants and flowering trees, fascinating botanical collections, impressive plant conservatories, and adventurous trails through the forest preserve, the VBG hosts a variety of family-friendly community events that aim to educate Puerto Vallarta residents and visitors on the importance of environmental stewardship and appreciation for our natural wonders. In short, there's always something new to discover at Vallarta Botanical Garden, so make plans to visit today!

Visit the internationally famous Vallarta Botanical Garden located just 30 minutes south of Old Town at Km. 24 on Highway 200 and easily accessible by public transportation and taxi. This 64 acre wildlife preserve and botanical garden have something fun for everyone. Over 200 species of birds have been observed on the Garden's grounds. Don't forget to bring your swimsuit for a refreshing dip in the jungle river. See plantings of vanilla, chocolate, and hundreds of other botanical delights! Authentic Mexican Cuisine is served in the Hacienda de Oro Restaurant from 10 am to 5 pm. The Garden is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm (closed Mondays from April 1 to December 1). Garden admission is just $200 pesos. For more information, call (322) 223-6182 or visit vbgardens.org.

Click HERE to learn more about Vallarta Botanical Gardens.