National Botanical Garden Dr. Rafael María Moscoso

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.

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 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.

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.

Beautiful gardens, best to ride the train to Japanese garden then make your way back by foot. Lots to explore, be respectful and don't leave trash. Unfortunately there was so much trash I'm the water stream on the train ride to Japanese gardens.

Amazing experience! A natural jewel, well taken care of. There is a great diversity of species. You will feel like you are in the jungle at times.

The Botanical Garden is a green oasis in the heart of the city and well worth a visit. Nature photography enthusiasts will find a rich variety of plants, flowers, birds, and insects to capture. The garden can get a bit crowded on weekends, so for the best photo opportunities, it’s recommended to arrive early, ideally right when it opens.