You’ve Got to Visit Vallarta Botanical Gardens!
A little bit of Heaven in the middle of Paradise
It takes about 40 minutes from Old Town or Zona Romantica in Puerto Vallarta and fewer than fifteen minutes if you’re staying near Mismaloya to get to this spectacular place. These lush and beautiful gardens weren’t even on the map until about 16 years ago, but they quickly rose to one of the top botanical gardens in North America. These incredible gardens look like they’ve been there for a hundred years and owe much of their success to Mother Nature and how southern Jalisco’s climate invites plants to grow. But beyond the ideal growing conditions, a band of passionate volunteers tends to this flora and fauna wonderland.
You will also witness exotic wildlife on these grounds. The VBG hosts annual hummingbird and butterfly festivals and features other fascinating creatures throughout the year. Other highlights include a beautiful pet cemetery. Pet owners contribute to the gardens to reserve a final resting place for their fur babies. Many people make a whole day out of the garden and go swimming in the river on the premises.
They also house a spectacular restaurant. This restaurant isn’t a place where you grab a hotdog or taco. They serve some of the best wood-fired pizzas on this continent and an array of fresh and original dishes and Mexican favorites. You may even want to enjoy a Mexican beer or a handcrafted cocktail like a vanilla bean mojito.
And if you’re worried about scorching sunburn or deadly bug bites as you make your way through the garden paths, relax. Even natural bug repellents like Fight the Bite go a long way to protect against mosquitoes. Make certain to bring sunscreen and wear tennis shoes or sturdy walking sandals and you’ll do just fine.
It’s a relatively easy trip by bus to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. The bus runs approximately every half hour (and I do mean approximately) in the Romantic Zone at Carranza and Aguacate. But I will confess; I usually take a cab to the gardens and bus it home. A taxi costs only about 500 pesos with the tip (about $25), and if you’re with a couple of friends, the cab becomes a bargain. The bus stop provides shelter and a place to sit on the way back, so it’s much more comfortable.
I would strongly recommend not spending money on a tour of the gardens. They do conduct one free tour every morning. Additionally, all the plants are labeled, and they provide detailed maps. And, if you’re looking for original souvenirs, the VBG does offer an excellent gift shop with some very cool stuff. If you’re lucky enough to live in PV, they also offer a terrific garden store for to brighten your casa with some greenery.
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Marcia Gage currently resides with her husband in downtown Minneapolis. She has four adult sons and five grandchildren. Marcia is an AWAI Certified Copywriter and a member of International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA). She specializes in travel, wine, CBD and alternative health, psychology, and self-help.
Her background is in Education and Development. She holds an MS in Psychology. In addition to writing, she loves reading, music, gardening, and baseball. Follow her on Facebook here.
