Vallarta Botanical Gardens
Encyclopedia
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a 20 acre (8 ha) botanical garden at 1,300 ft (400 m) above sea level in Cabo Corrientes
, Jalisco
, Mexico
(14 mi [24 km] south of Puerto Vallarta
). 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, in which the gardens are located, as well as exotics from around the world. Orchid conservation and propagation is a major focus of the garden's mission. These can be found on trees throughout the grounds and in the Holstein Orchid and Vanilla House. Other notable collections include bromeliads, agaves, and wild palms. The Vallarta Botanical Gardens actively participates in public environmental education through tours and classes.
The gardens feature miles of 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 borders the property. Bird watchers will find the most birding activity early in the morning or latter in the day.
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens are members of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International
, Asociación Mexicana de Orquideología, and the American Public Gardens Association
. The gardens are registered in Mexico as an Asociación Civil and in the United States as a 501(c)3 non-profit through "Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens, A.C."
Cabo Corrientes
Cabo Corrientes is a cape on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Jalisco. It marks the southernmost point of the Bahía de Banderas, upon which the port and resort city of Puerto Vallarta stands. The municipality in which the cape lies is also called Cabo Corrientes.Cabo Corrientes is a...
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(14 mi [24 km] south of Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
). 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, in which the gardens are located, as well as exotics from around the world. Orchid conservation and propagation is a major focus of the garden's mission. These can be found on trees throughout the grounds and in the Holstein Orchid and Vanilla House. Other notable collections include bromeliads, agaves, and wild palms. The Vallarta Botanical Gardens actively participates in public environmental education through tours and classes.
The gardens feature miles of 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 borders the property. Bird watchers will find the most birding activity early in the morning or latter in the day.
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens are members of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International is a plant conservation charity based in London, England. It is a membership organisation, working with 800 botanic gardens in 118 countries, whose combined work forms the world's largest plant conservation network.Founded in 1987, BGCI is a registered...
, Asociación Mexicana de Orquideología, and the American Public Gardens Association
American Public Gardens Association
The American Public Gardens Association is an association of public-garden institutions and professionals primarily in the United States and Canada....
. The gardens are registered in Mexico as an Asociación Civil and in the United States as a 501(c)3 non-profit through "Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens, A.C."
Garden events
- Flower and Garden Festival (last week of February) - A week of tours, classes, and workshops at the Gardens. Dozens of plant, garden, flower, and local craft vendors feature their products and knowledge.
- Día de Muertos - Day of the DeadDay of the DeadDay of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in many cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality...
(November 2nd) - A day of honoring the dead in full Mexican Tradition. Workshops on making catrina skeleton dolls and cempasúchil (Tagetes erectaTagetes erectaTagetes erecta, the Mexican marigold, also called Aztec marigold, is a species of the genus Tagetes native to Mexico and Central America. Despite its being native to the Americas, it is often called African marigold. In Mexico, this plant is found in the wild in the states of San Luis Potosí,...
) flower arrangements are followed by celebrations in the Garden of Memories and a bonfire dance. - Los Posadas (December 20th) - An evening of candlelight caroling & processions to handmade nativities at the Gardens. Poinsettias and native Mexican pines are also featured during the celebrations.