Vallarta Botanical Gardens AC

We visited the Vallarta Botanical Gardens today for the first time, and it was absolutely breathtaking. The drive itself, about 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, was already part of the adventure, winding through lush green hills, ocean views, and even a few little roadside waterfalls. 💪🌞🚙✨ The gardens are stunning. Every corner bursts with life from towering trees to endless varieties of cacti and tropical flowers and a turtle friend. 🌴🌵🐢 This weekend happened to be Mariposa Butterfly Weekend, and we were lucky to see dozens of colorful butterflies fluttering around like nature’s confetti. 🌺🪻🦋🐞 We also hiked down to the stream, where we dipped our feet in the cool water, refreshing and peaceful, the perfect nature recharge. 🩵💦 Highly recommended for anyone visiting Puerto Vallarta! 🌺 Just bring water, some mosquito repellent, and your sense of wonder.

Overall we had a nice time at the gardens. I love that this used to be just a patch of land with nothing on it and through sheer donations and work the owners and community made it a beautiful place. We booked the shuttle that leaves zona romantica and takes you straight to the gardens, and comes with admission. It costs 1,200 mxn per person which seems a bit expensive but we were at least happy not having to negotiate taxi prices and the driver was very friendly and a great driver. The route takes about 45 mins and is on Mexican roads so if you get car sick on bumpy roads I recommend bringing gravol just on case. Also want to mention there is a taxi that usually hangs at the entrance of the gardens in case you are worried about finding a way back home from the gardens... but not sure how much they charge. We came on a super hot day in September so by the end of the four hours we were pretty depleted and ready to go home. We were happy that our driver let us sit on the AC's van while we waited for the other passengers. The nice part of this garden is that lots of things were in full bloom. There were a ton of butterflies which were beautiful and lovely orchids that smelt lovely. There was nice areas with turtles and tortoises and a beautiful koi pond. ... One of our main downsides was that this also meant there were the most amount of giant spiders I've ever seen. I think we were illprepared for the amount of giant spider webs we would have to avoid while walking through the various areas and paths. We tried to walk down to the river and once we had to go past our third giant spider web we decided to abandon mission and go back to the main trails haha. But if you are braver come ready to swim. We also tried some of the smaller hike loops but felt more like we were rushing out so we don't get eaten by spiders. Maybe this is just us being scardy-cats but just being honest 😅 We did have a really nice time at the restaurant and wish we had stayed there longer. We saw some amazing birds and humming birds from our table that overlooks the jungle area! Also want to note. I got so many mosquitoe bites after,even when applying bugspray multiple times. So be prepared for that or spray yourself more !

We purchased the guided tour and lunch package. It was my birthday and I was very excited to visit the gardens. Our driver was great and our guide was amazing. He explained the history of the gardens on the way up and on the tour through the gardens was EXTREMELY knowledgeable. His ability to know all the plants and their multiple names left me dumbfounded. The restaurant was wonderful as well. The food and view were simply incredible. (the chicken enchiladas were to die for!) Our guide told the waiters it was my birthday and they sang Happy Birthday, complete with violin! After, we walked around the adorable giftshop and explored on our own for about an hour. We did not visit the river due to the recent rains. NOTE: make sure you have bug spray, Off was the spray that worked for us.

Great experience w the family. Very scenic drive to reach the Gardens. Everyone at the Garden is very friendly and helpful. The hikes vary in difficulty and terrain, and you can choose what fits you best The restaurant was AMAZING!! We are looking forward to coming back again soon Plenty of parking. You can pay admission upon arrival w Cash or Card

We had a lovely time on the trails before the seasonal rains found us (July). The view of the restaurant is fantastic. Attached to the restaurant, there is a mini-museum of nature (someone gifted their collection) as well as a beautiful giftshop. You can commemorate someone by purchasing a tile. And there is a memorial garden and church on the property to highlight moments of our lives. Best keep the covered areas for when the sun is too strong or when the rain returns.

This is a gorgeous place and a must visit if you are in the Puerto Vallarta area. Their restaurant food is delicious, I loved their enchiladas and flan. It was ver special because of the view and the musicians playing while we had Lunch. Make sure to visit the chapel which is gorgeous too. Their driveways are made of rocks so consider that if you are bringing a baby/stroller. Finally the staff and personal was very kind. Don’t forget your repellent for the mosquitos

A beautiful place. The restaurant is amazing food and lots of humming birds. Be sure to only view upper gardens. Lower trails were very unmarked and dangerous.. do not try hiking trails unless fit and bug spray.

The botanical gardens are a must if visiting Puerto Vallarta! It’s an easy drive on an excellent road and relatively inexpensive compared to other attractions. Self guided tours are the way to go. Check out everything, there is a lot. The restaurant is a bit pricey, but worth it. Best margaritas we had on our trip!