1/2 Day Puerto Vallarta Botanical Garden tour

This half-day tour takes you to the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Garden with a university-educated guide who mixes science, Mexican history and Mexican mythology. The idea is not to wander the garden aimlessly but to have someone explain what you are seeing. The activity is listed at 240 minutes.

The route to the gardens is part of the experience. Along the way the guide points out and discusses features such as the OXXO with what is called the world’s best view, Boca de Tomatlán, the ranches of Las Juntas and Los Veranos, and the filming sites of the Hollywood movies Night of the Iguana and Predator. There is a first quick stop for coffee, with a short presentation on coffee plantations in the area and a chance to taste.

At the gardens, you tour for up to two hours, with about an hour and a half or more walking through the main plantings, the greenhouses and the vanilla plantation. The named areas include the Vanilla Plantation, Orchid Houses, Begonia House, Cactus House, Rhododendrons House and aquatic plant pools, as well as the nursery and gift shops. Restrooms are available on arrival, and bug spray is provided.

The travel time to and from the gardens is about 45 minutes each way, roughly 1.5 hours in total. The listing also mentions a drive through a small bay community with a beach, boat docks and a few restaurants on the beach and the malecón.

Afterwards you have several options to keep exploring on your own: visit the river and swim, travel by bus to the historic town of El Tuito and its old plaza, visit a tequila distillery or spend the afternoon at a zipline canopy company. Lunch is available at the Botanical Gardens’ restaurant, Hacienda de Oro. A full-day garden tour is also offered.

The tours are small and intimate, with an average of 4 people. The guided tour and admission fees are included. Not included are the bus, which the listing puts at about 3 USD each way, and lunch. Public transportation options are available nearby and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The listing does not name a meeting point, so ask the operator when you book.