About us

Hacienda de Oro                      No Outside Food or Drink Allowed

Located on Highway 200 between Puerto Vallarta and El Tuito, the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens offer visitors a chance to enjoy a beautiful mountain setting brimming with nature's bounty. Your journey here will take you along the beautiful rugged Pacific coastline, then onward and up into the mountians, through an enchanting jungle gorge past a majestic granite halfdome, encrusted with orchids, plumeria and wild vanilla. Drivers, please keep your eyes on the road. You may encounter free range cattle or fallen rocks and potholes on the roadway. Drive with caution at all times. Just getting here is an exciting adventure!. To find out how to reach us by bus or car click here.

Hacienda de Oro started in 2004 with the construction of the Hacienda de Oro Restaurant and Visitors Center, the centerpiece of the Gardens. Next came the nursery area for growing plants, trails throughout the property, a statuary making facility, and of course many plants. Over 6000 Blue Agaves adorn our "Blue Agave Hills" area while this area is being re-forested with native tropical hardwood trees. Over 1000 native tababuia, mountain pine and mahogany trees have been planted in this former cattle grazing area, Deforested over 30 years ago.

Native oak species are being grown from acorns to establish our Mexican Oak Collection. The Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens were instrumental in the establishment of Puerto Vallarta Orchid Society which now boasts over 60 members. The PV Orchid Society is dedicated to the study, preservation and understanding the special cultural practices of native Mexican orchid species.

Hacienda de Oro Restaurant  has a menu ranging from salads to wood-oven baked pizza and Italian calzones plus a wonderful selections of Mexican specialties. There is also a full cocktail bar, wine list and an assortment of coffee drinks. Not to be missed are the restrooms. Far from primitive, these are very classy restrooms. We also have a gift shop, and nursery which sells orchids, anthuriums, various tropical plants, containers, and statuary. Guided and self-guided tours are available.

Hacienda de Oro Restaurant is available for weddings and other events .Please contact us at: specialevents@vallartabotanicalgardensac.org 

The Gardens

  • Both Native and Non-native collections of orchids, palms, ferns, bromeliads and cactus
  • Easy walking on paths and swimming in the Crystal Pools of the Los Horcones River.
  • The Tree Fern Grotto offers a close-up walk in the tropical mountain forest.
  • Hike the Blue Agave Hills.
  • Puerto Vallarta's best photo safari and great Birdwatching!
  • Easy Public transportation to and from Gardens on the El  Tuito-Botanical Gardens Bus.

Birding in the Gardens

The Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a birding hotspot! Bring your binoculars and prepare to be amazed.

Newsletter

To view the November 2007 Newsletter of Vallarta Botanical Gardens click here.

To View The 2006 Winter News Letter of Vallarta Botanical Gardens click here.

To View The 2007 Summer News Letter of Vallarta Botanical Gardens click here.