A Guide to the Botanical Gardens in Medellin

TLDR? The botanical gardens in Medellin are free and include tons of cool exhibits for you to check out. 

The botanical gardens in Medellin, with more than 2 million annual visitors, are a paradise for nature lovers. 

There are spots to sit and go forest bathing as well as unique exhibits such as the butterfly house. 

If you’re ready to learn more about this unique place, keep reading. Here’s everything you need to know. 

A Bit About the Botanical Gardens

Created in 1972, the Botanical Garden is a private non-profit organization with the purpose of supporting natural botany. 

As with many of the other nifty spots around Medellin, the botanical gardens are one of the city improvements transforming the area. The organization focuses on both cultural and environmental education.

On top of that, the gardens are dedicated to scientific research. In fact, the management is nationally recognized for their work in caring for flora in Medellin. 

In terms of checking out the gardens, you’ll be glad to know that admission to this place is free (unless there is a special event). 

However, they do ask you to fill out a form before you visit the garden. Don’t worry though, this isn’t to charge you, it’s just for internal administration. 

A word of advice: the form is in Spanish, so if your Spanish is not very good, you might need to enlist the help of a translator app.

Aside from that, you’ll be all set to head into the gardens and check them out! Just be sure to check the hours before you go so that you don’t make the trek out there to no avail. 

How to Get to the Gardens

Vehicles aren’t allowed in the garden, so if you choose to take a taxi, you’ll get dropped off at the entrance. 

Alternatively, you can take the metro to get there. This is a cheap and fast option for getting to the gardens!

Website: https://www.botanicomedellin.org/

Address: Cl. 73 #51d-14, Medellín, Aranjuez, Medellín, Antioquia

Tours

Although you’re welcome to explore the gardens on your own, you can also take a tour. The tours are free, but they’re only available on specific days of the week. 

Tours are usually in either the morning or afternoon, although on weekends they run a bit more frequently. 

The tour lasts an hour and a half. If you want it to be completely in English, you just have to write to the garden and they’ll hook you up with a bilingual guide. 

Butterfly House

Known as Casa de las Mariposas Forjas Bolívar, the butterfly house is one of the best places in the entire garden.

I don’t know if you know what it’s like to have a butterfly perch on you, but for me, I felt like The Chosen One. 

In the house, you’ll find 31 species of butterflies and a variety of plants that these insects feed on. 

Just be prepared to pay a small fee. It costs about a dollar to get into the butterfly garden unless you’re shorter than one meter. In that case, you can get in for free. 

Urban Agriculture Laboratory

This place is for people interested in educational topics about agriculture and ecology.

In the urban agriculture lab, visitors can learn about planting, saving water, fertilizers, and other topics related to caring for the environment. 

The entrance to this space is free, too, so you can check it out during your visit without having to pay any extra cash. 

Restaurants

One of the best things about visiting anywhere, in my opinion, is the food. Luckily, in the botanical gardens, there are two restaurants for you to choose from. Here’s what to know about each. 

In Situ Restaurant

In Situ is situated in the middle of the gardens and has a casual elegant atmosphere. In other words, you can wear jeans here and still get away with it. 

The restaurant has actually been around for about 12 years, too, so they definitely know what they’re doing. 

In terms of what to order, if you want to try something different, order the Ceviche de Chicharron. This is a fried pork twist on the classic seafood dish. 

I also recommend you leave a little space for the dessert since all of them are delicious.

In Situ offers picnics in the park. They pack up cute little baskets that you can enjoy on the lawn. In my opinion, it’s perfect for a birthday party or just an outing with friends!

You can also enjoy a picnic on the green grass of the park, with baskets made by In Situ Restaurant. What a perfect idea to celebrate someone’s birthday, or to spend time with friends!

Del Bosque Restaurant Cafe

Del Bosque is the other restaurant in the park. This is much cheaper than In Situ, and the service is a bit quicker, too. 

Del Bosque offers coffee and pastries and modest lunches, so it’s more of a place for a snack than for a full-on meal. 

But, it’s the perfect place for a pick-me-up after wandering through the garden all day!

Tips for Visiting the Botanical Gardens

If this guide has got you excited about the idea of a trip to the botanical gardens, I don’t blame you. 

But, before you race out to the gardens, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. 

For one thing, you’re not allowed to bring pets with you. If you’re traveling with furry friends, make sure you’ve got someone to watch them while you’re out. 

You should also know that you won’t be able to get into the gardens without a photo ID. You can bring your passport with you. 

Finally, the general rules of enjoying nature apply: leave no trace and respect the plants and animals. 

Plan a Trip to the Botanical Gardens of Medellin

The Botanical Gardens are a great place for anyone who loves the great outdoors. You can wander through the park and check out beautiful plants, trees, and flowers for hours!

Plan a trip out there on your next free day and enjoy the magic of this place for yourself. 

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