San Juan Botanical Garden

The San Juan Botanical Garden is a research botanical garden in San Juan featuring multiple themed sections with native plants, lakes, and waterfalls. The grounds contain walking trails that wind through different garden landscapes and plant collections.

The University of Puerto Rico established this botanical garden in 1971 as a research and educational facility. The garden developed on the Mayaguez campus and grew into a significant center for plant research in the region.

The gardens display modern sculptures by Latin American artists positioned throughout the varied plant collections. Visitors can explore a recreation of Monet's water garden from Giverny, which adds an artistic dimension to the space.

A visit requires advance reservations and access is available between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM, with guided tours offered upon request. Comfortable walking shoes are advisable since the grounds feature extensive trails through different areas.

The garden maintains a herbarium with approximately 36,000 preserved plant specimens, including rare species found only in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. This collection makes it a significant refuge for scarce Caribbean plant life.

Location: San Juan

Inception: 1971

GPS coordinates: 18.38980,-66.05540

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:09