One of our first tourist activities in Oaxaca was a visit to the Jardín Etnobotánico:
"El Jardín Etnobotánico muestra en vivo cientos de especies de plantas, todas ellas originarias de Oaxaca. Comenzamos a plantarlas en julio de 1998, y planeamos terminar la plantación de especies perennes próximamente. Las plantas provienen de diferentes regiones del Estado... tanto de climas áridos como húmedos, de las zonas tropicales bajas y de las áreas montañosas templadas y frías. El Jardín representa así la gran diversidad de climas, formaciones geológicas y tipos de vegetación que caracterizan a Oaxaca." - https://jardinoaxaca.mx/historia/
The garden offers guided tours, both in English and Spanish, at various times during the day. The only way to visit the garden is with a guide, and you can't make a reservation beforehand, so make sure you check the tour times available online and show up beforehand to be included in the group. You walk along a marked path with your guide and learn about the different species of plants that come from the whole state of Oaxaca, not just Oaxaca city.
The grounds are beautiful, and I loved seeing all the different species of cactus and flowers. I'm so glad that the garden staff provided hats and umbrella's for guests, as the day was quite hot, and we walked underneath the late morning sun for about an hour.
The scene below is the most famously photographed n the Jardín Etnobotánico:
I love plants, so I was happy to walk around the gardens for an hour and appreciate the views. However, the tour did feel a little fast, and I wish we would have had more time for photos and to wander through the gardens. In the end, this may not be an activity that I include for groups in my immersion program. If this is a must-see for you, students can visit during free times! There will be moments during the trip for travelers to explore on their own and/or visit sites not included with the group. If you decide to visit the Jardín Etnobotánico, remember to bring 50 pesos cash for the entry fee (about $3), and I suggest wearing sunscreen, bringing a hat, and showing up a bit early so you can be included in the tours since there's no prior reservations. Make sure to visit the website for more information: https://jardinoaxaca.mx/
What do you think - would you make a stop at the Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca?
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