Jardín Botánico Culiacán, Botanical garden in Culiacán, Mexico

The Jardín Botánico Culiacán is a botanical garden containing approximately 1,000 plant species from around the world arranged in 17 distinct collections. The site also allows visitors to observe over 200 animal species and roughly 146 bird species in their natural habitat.

The garden opened in December 1986 on state-owned land, following a proposal by engineer and amateur botanist Carlos Murillo Depraect, who donated his personal plant collection. In 1996 Murillo and a group of businessmen founded the Sociedad Botánica y Zoológica de Sinaloa, which has operated the garden since. A contemporary art programme began in 2005, and in 2007 work on the infrastructure started based on designs by architect Tatiana Bilbao.

The garden's name honours Culiacán, the Sinaloa capital where it stands. Its 17 collections are labelled with common and scientific names on small signs at the foot of each species, and a one-hour audio tour in Spanish and English covers more than 60 points, from plants to artworks. Guided tours explain the garden's history and its contemporary art.

The best time to visit is early morning when animals are more active and the sun is less intense. The grounds are quite spacious, so comfortable walking shoes are essential and you should allow plenty of time to explore the different sections.

The garden holds the National Palm Collection, with more than 60% of the palm species native to Mexico. The landscape around James Turrell's Skyspace "Encounter" extends into the Palmetum collection, where specimens of scientific and ornamental value stand. Encounter is the first Skyspace in Mexico open to the public.