Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Tired of being stuck indoors? Visiting the Vallarta Botanical Garden is a great way for families to get out of the house and have some fun together. With 74 acres to explore you can keep your distance from others while enjoying the wonders of nature and breathing in some fresh air.
Vallarta Botanical Gardens offers visitors of all ages an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the vast diversity of Mexico’s plant species. Founder Robert Price and his dedicated staff have assembled botanical collections in a safe environment that includes viewing trails through the forest preserve.
These well-defined paths lead between the different gardens. Expect to see displays of Mexican wild flowers, large plantings of cacti, rhododendrons, agave, bromeliads, orchids, ficus, vanilla and other tropical plants.
The VBG also boasts four conservatories showcasing local and exotic flowers from all over the world, including the Vallarta Conservatory of Mexican Orchids and Native Plants, which houses the most-visited public collection of orchids in all of Mexico; plus vanilla, chocolate and coffee plantations; a museum; a rock collection; and a large population of hummingbirds, Military Macaws, and many other species of wild birds.
Just outside the conservatory you will find the restroom area that doubles as a small natural history museum with butterfly, insect and seashell collections. From the vantage point of the restroom steps, one can take into perspective the stunning mountain vistas that envelope the grounds of this lovely natural oasis. To the right of the rest rooms are nursery-grown blooming orchids and other exotic plants that can be purchased and taken home.
The centerpiece of the Botanical Gardens is the hacienda that serves as the visitors’ center and is also home to the Gardens’ gift shop and its celebrated restaurant, Hacienda de Oro. Created in the style of a tropical 18th century plantation manor, the Plantation House sits on a jungle ridge overlooking the river and surrounded by the majesty of the soaring Sierra Madres in all directions.
Offering incredible views of the gardens, the Hacienda de Oro Restaurant serves delicious Ranch Style Mexican food and makes homemade gourmet pizzas in a wood burning brick oven. Don’t leave without trying the homemade vanilla ice cream made with real Mexican beans splashed with Kahlua.
In short, there’s something wonderful for everyone to enjoy, and 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 74 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.
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