A short taxi or bus ride from Garza Blanca’s Signature Residences will get you to one of Puerto Vallarta’s best kept secrets; the Vallarta Botanical Gardens is one of the best days out on Banderas Bay.
Your Life in Paradise Just Gets Better
As you make your way from Garza Blanca Signature Residences to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens on Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore, you’ll notice that the air becomes much cooler. This is because you’re actually going up into the mountains. There is only a small sign at the entrance so it’s fairly easy to miss, but you’ll be greeted by a member of staff at the entrance gate. There is a small fee to enter the park, but it’s entirely worth it! The Vallarta Botanical Gardens are a registered charity; all the money goes directly to their upkeep as well as research and education programs.
What to do when you get there
When you leave the parking area you can choose to go straight to the main building where you will be able to have a bite to eat in the restaurant, browse the gift shop (which sells local produce), see the orchid gallery and even stop by the day beds where you could simply meditate for the day. Alternatively you can follow one of the signposted trails which will take you on a mini-tour of the gardens.
From the main building you can pick up any of the gentle trails to discover many different kinds of tropical plants and flowers including vanilla, agave, cacti, coffee, tobacco and more. The Vallarta Botanical Gardens are home to a huge selection of plants from Western Mexico and boasts an extensive collection of orchids. Some of the jungle trails will offer you a wonderful insight into what it might feel like to be wandering in the deep dark depths of a lush, untouched tropical jungle without the fear of meeting any unwanted deadly creatures. One path in particular will take you by the river; where you can take a dip if you are feel brave enough to try the cool flowing water!
Aside from being a wonderful and stunning day trip from Garza Blanca Signature Residences, a visit to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens also gives you a unique chance to support the preservation of local wildlife and vegetation that can be found in and around Puerto Vallarta. The Gardens facilitate education programs, and programs which seek to support and protect Macaws and other Parrot breeds. If you visit at certain times of the year you might even be able to attend one of the festivals that take place in the Vallarta Botanical Gardens.
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens are open everyday from 9am to 6pm.