Vallarta Botanical Gardens AC

Las Pintadas, Jalisco, Mexico, Mexico

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The Vallarta Botanical Gardens AC is a non-profit botanical garden and nature preserve located in the tropical highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, at Km 24 of Highway 200 (Carretera Puerto Vallarta to Barra de Navidad), about 15 miles south of Puerto Vallarta near Las Juntas y Los Veranos in Cabo Corrientes. Founded in 2004 by Robert Price and opened to the public in 2005, the garden was created on what was formerly a large cattle ranch with overgrazed lands, which has since been reforested with pine, oak, and mahogany trees to restore the ecosystem. The 33-hectare (81-acre) preserve features one of Mexico's most extensive native orchid collections alongside fascinating displays of Mexican native cacti, chocolate plants, bromeliads, giant tree ferns, and carnivorous plants. Visitors can enjoy hiking nature trails, river swimming, bird watching, and daily guided tours while learning about plant conservation, horticulture, and environmental education. The garden operates Tuesday through Sunday from April to November (closed Mondays) and opens seven days a week during the winter peak season from December to March, with admission priced at 200 Mexican pesos per person and children under four entering free. The nonprofit is funded through donations, admissions, and proceeds from its Hacienda de Oro restaurant and store, serving as a pillar for sustainable development in the surrounding community while contributing to global botanical research.