National Botanical Garden Dr. Rafael María Moscoso

The National Botanical Garden Dr. Rafael María Moscoso is an absolute must-visit! It was a beautiful walk on a beautiful day. While it’s definitely a photogenic spot, it’s best to experience it by just taking all the green in and being present in the moment—it’s about so much more than just the photos. The butterfly garden was so cute and a lovely highlight of the stroll. If you’re looking for a peaceful escape to enjoy nature, this is the perfect place to do it. Truly a breath of fresh air!

Loved spending time here. It’s such a peaceful, green escape right in the city with so much beautiful plant life, themed areas like the Japanese Garden, and spots perfect for a walk or picnic. The gardens are huge and well cared for, and it’s a great place to slow down, enjoy nature, and even see birds and unique plants. Definitely one of my favorite outdoor spots to recommend.

One of the most beautiful botanical garden I’ve been to, was actually not expecting it. Very expansive. Lush plant live and ancient trees that took your breath away. I did find navigating the park a little confusing and got lost a few times, but enjoyed the adventure. Only thing I wish was different would be is a better map and some more signage.

We loved our visit here, it's a beautiful spot in a very nice section of the city. We came on Corpus Cristi Day but it wasn't too crowded. It's a reasonable price to get in, something like $5 for two of us, which included the train and the museum. The little train leaves every half hour and takes you around the gardens, stopping in the Japanese Gardens for 15 min. It's fun and comfortable. In the gardens there is a cafe which has plenty of seating and serves drinks and basics. There is a butterfly garden which isn't big but it's lovely and then there is a replica of an indigenous village. There are nice paths throughout the gardens and we really enjoyed our time there. It's nice for picnics. The museum wasn't huge, it has dioramas of the various climates around the island with examples of animals. The guide who took us through wasn't very friendly and seemed impatient. I'm not sure if you have to have a guide or if you can go by yourself. The entrance isn't easy to find.

I read that the entrance which included riding the train cost about $5 USD. I paid 150 pesos, about $2.50 USD, which was only for admission. There appeared to be 3 different bracelets but today they only sold basic admission. I really wanted to love this botanical garden. In many respects it is in fact nice. I like how large it is and also that at one time someone very creative designed it. But now it is becoming clear that lack of maintenance and possibly fewer people care abput it, is evident. I may have misunderstood about the trains. They said that they didn't run "today". But almost every bus train I passed was missing tires, engines, or appeared to have been in an accident (broken bodies). And while all the trees looked great, as well as the Butterfly exhibit, which had a store and interactive center which looked fairly new, very little else was flourishing.

We had a wonderful time and went twice during our stay. Beautiful backdrop for photos but also just a nice place to have a picnic. Hop on the free train for a free ride to the Japanese Garden. 10/10

Very well located in Santo Domingo. With free parking and a small entrance free. DOP 150 (around USD 2,50). Amazing place, very well maintained and organized. I went on Sunday afternoon and could only see part of the area, it is huge. I payed special attention to the Japanese Garden. Have to return to see lots of other spots.

I love visiting this botanical garden. It's great for kids but also for adults. Whether you just want to have a nice walk among beautiful plants or ride their little train or just go jogging through their paths, there is so much to do there. There is a nice cafe with breakfast and lunch cooked meals, as well as fruit smoothies. I absolutely loved that they were all about sustainability. The to-go cups were paper cups with compostable straws, the napkins were recycled, and the plates and cups to dine in were ceramic and glass with a metal straw. They recycle and compost as well. Very impressed. They have a butterfly enclosure where you can delight in seeing the process butterflies go through as well as listening to the calming sounds of the water coming from the pond that is inside. There are multiple pavilions, so I highly encourage you to take a day to ride the train and then walk to each pavilion. The fernery is absolutely gorgeous, the orchid pavilion is great!, some of the other pavilions need a little more upkeep, though like the Bromeliad one and the Wetlands one. Long story short, definitely visit and spend the day! Bring bug spray and wear light clothes that have long sleeves.