Vallarta Botanical Garden

Jardín Botánico de Vallarta
Map
TypeBotanical
Locationkm 24 Highway 200, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Nearest cityPuerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico
Coordinates20°27′53.7″N 105°17′29.4″W / 20.464917°N 105.291500°W / 20.464917; -105.291500
Area79 acres (32 ha)
Opened2005 (2005)
FounderBob Price
Visitors35,000 (2022 Projected)
StatusOpen year-round, closed Mondays April 1 - Oct 31, and Christmas and New Year's Days
Awards2022 APGA's Garden of Excellence Award
See Awards section for a complete list
Collectionsmagnolias, rhododendrons, orchids, oaks, bromeliads, agaves, cactus, and wild palms.
Websitewww.vbgardens.org

The Vallarta Botanical Garden is a 79 acres (32 ha) botanical garden at 1,300 ft (400 m) above sea level, near Puerto Vallarta Mexico, of which 73 acres (30 ha) are dedicated to a reserve.[1]

The garden was founded in 2004 and has been open to the public since 2005. The collections showcase plants of the Tropical Dry Forest Biome, native to the region around Puerto Vallarta and in which the gardens are located, as well as exotics from around the world.[2] Orchid conservation and propagation is a focus of the garden's mission.[3] These can be found on trees throughout the grounds and in the Holstein Orchid and Vanilla House. Other notable collections include oaks, bromeliads, agaves, cactus, rhododendrons and wild palms.[4] The Vallarta Botanical Gardens actively participates in public environmental education through tours and classes.

The gardens feature hiking trails both through the native forest and the manicured garden grounds. Visitors are also welcome to swim in the Rio Horcones, the tropical river that runs through the property. Bird watchers will find the most birding activity early in the morning or later in the day.

The Vallarta Botanical Garden receives no government funding and there is a small admission charge. Vallarta Botanical Garden is a membership organization.

  1. ^ "Expanding the Vallarta Botanical Garden's Forest Preserve". El Papelillo. 2020. pp. 38–42.
  2. ^ Montes, F. (R. Moore, Ed.) "Cryosophila: a True Survivor." Palms, 2006. p. 5-6.
  3. ^ Price, Bob. "A gift to Mexico," Orchids (The Bulletin of the American Orchid Society), Sept. 2008. p. 678-681.
  4. ^ Noble, John. et al. Lonely Planet. 2010. p. 456