Jardín Botanico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín

A beautifully curated window into endemic wildlife, as well as the historical practices of the Maya who occupied this land pre-colonization. Can’t believe this isn’t a more popular spot. Any less than stellar reviews are from those who don’t fully appreciate this sort of environment. Stunning trail (with lookout) in addition to the meticulously maintained botanical collections. Great place to learn some local history / botany, but if that’s not your thing, the beautiful scenery is more than enough to justify a trip. Bring bug spray.

Good place to visit if you are interested in various trees and Maya culture. We came at round 8:15 in the morning and been there for few hours. Seen few monkeys, hummingbird, butterflies and other. We have been on 2 climbing towers. One steel and one wooden one. The hanging bridge was closed. Lots of mosquitoes, be prepared! They have few washrooms with soap and running water. As of Nov 4,2025 the admission fee was 220 per person. Perhaps that’s why there are hardly any visitors around and why I put 4 stars. The staff was friendly

Beautiful nature preserve amidst Mayan ruins. In the jungle (use mosquito repellent) and next to the mangroves. Great hike great trail, great viewing platform. And education and conservation minded as well. We loved this experience.

If you are looking for an easy nature hike with a bit of local plant information sprinkled in then you’ll enjoy visiting. I got there around 9am and ended up seeing one monkey and a big group of coatis. Definitely wear runners and cover yourself in bug spray. It took me about an hour to stroll through all the areas. It’s not neatly manicured, but it’s very calming walking along the trails.

This was a great place to visit. No it's not like your average Botanical Garden you'd see in other parts of North America, but it was beautiful just the same. Highly recommend.

It's a walk through the jungle with some spots which used to be nice. However, there has not been any maintenance in a long time and even the new view tower is already grown over by trees from three sides. Lots of mosquitoes but none of the other animals that were advertised. Not worth it.

I came on 5 November 2025 and had a brilliant time, I'd highly recommend a visit. I personally felt the entry fee of 220 pesos was very reasonable. I was desperate to see the monkeys and after reading others' reviews, I got to the park around 10:20am. I didn't see the monkeys on my first full walk round the park but then I found them in several different places, and there were loads! I saw the most, and found them to be the most active, at 12:45, so I think it's really just your luck and being in the right place at the right time. My tips for keeping an eye out for them: if you see a human, staring up at a tree and smiling, I bet they've seen some monkeys. Otherwise, listen for rustling in the tops of trees, and keep an eye out for falling bits of fruit / nut shells - this could be the monkeys dropping them as they eat, which was a good indicator for me as to when they were about. I even saw a baby monkey before I left. I also saw an iguana, a capybara, and loads of birds and butterflies. The route is easy enough to follow - it's marked out on trees and along little stones on the ground, plus the reception staff will give you a map to use and return if you want. I took one and it was handy. The route round is about 2km. It is mostly a path but be prepared that it's not a 'walking' path but rather a trail cleared through the trees to follow, at least for the longer biodiverse section. It's full of tree roots and steps, so unfortunately not for those who struggle with mobility and I'd recommend sturdy, comfortable shoes. There's lots of information plaques, in Spanish, English and Mayan (I think), which talk about the plants, Mayan tradition, and the animals. Very informative. I'll echo what everyone else says about mosquito repellant - come prepared and doused in repellant as they are everywhere. The easiest way to get here is to drive but I got an Uber in each direction from the city centre and although it added to the price, it was convenient and I didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes for a ride home when I was leaving, even though the park is quite far out of the city. There's parking available for those who do drive.

Loved it. It is more like a walk in the jungle and seeing the native plants and animals. Not really a botanical garden we are used to in Canada. So this was a great surprise and we loved our 2.5 hour stroll.

Like, if you are wanting a UK Kew Gardens experience, it aint here. The mosquitos are bloodthirsty and plentiful. Bug spray is a must. The plants are labeled and the discussion of the Mayen society is enlightening.

Great morning adventure. Spent the morning walking the 2km loop around the jungle. Spotted plenty of iguanas and 4 spider monkeys in the trees. The look out spots were great to see the monkeys in the trees. Make sure to wear insect repellent as there are a lot of mosquitoes.

This was a lovely afternoon adventure! Nearly empty, we only saw two other people the entire time. And three spider monkeys up in the trees! Beautiful natural paths lined with jungle plants, palms, cacti, flowers, medicinal gardens, natural caves, marshland. Small Mayan ruins and a recreation of a primitive village. Quiet, peaceful... you feel as if you're stepping back in time. Rope bridge was under repair but we did get to climb one of the lookout towers - fantastic view! If you're visiting the area and looking for a non-touristy spot, this is the place. NOTE: bug spray is highly recommended.

I'm really glad this place exists to protect the plants and the ruins inside of it. It is wonderful and the crew is great. Free ID guides are on loan at check in. TAKE BUG SPRAY. Being a botany nerd, I really appreciated all of the ID and work that went into it. The ruins are not excavated and not showy, but nonetheless very interesting. The plants are pretty great. Definitely worth stopping into.

I visited this amazing Botanical garden in the late summer of 2018. It's s place lovingly taken care of, not a touristy, just beautiful rich learning ground for nature enthusiasts and for families.

My visit was late May, so very hot & humid and almost no other visitors. Trails are very rough, sometimes extremely rough. Maybe 1/5 of the path is 'paved', still rough but a wheelchair could do this section. I saw monkeys, lots. But you have to arrive early or late as they sleep through the heat of midday. I saw them 10-10:30am. Park opens at 9 though, it would be cooler. In May, very little was blooming. The various gardens were organized, but not particularly well cared for, nothing special about the gardens themselves. If you're a fan of botanical gardens you will find them disappointing. But - the monkeys made it worth the $10! Also, there are iguanas just everywhere. They did have some great and exotic trees and palms. Very peaceful place to spend a day, I will go back and bring a book for lounging in the reading room. The reading room by the fern garden is a shaded, screened shack with hammocks (sometimes) and hammock-chairs- great space to take a nap! Use the restroom by the parking lot before you start on the path because once you start down the path there's only one other restroom, and it is towards the beginning. Oh, and it is an outhouse (see picture). A nice outhouse - but still. Unless you hurray through the gardens you'll probably find yourself squatting at some point. Most of the "paths" are shaded by the lush jungle you are wandering through, but sections here and there are not (including the lookout towers). There are no amenities (food, water, etc) to purchase. Be sure to bring: hat, insect repellant (lots), snacks, good walking shoes, water