Botanical Gardens
Botanical Gardens
4.5
About
The Botanical Gardens are one of the most important and popular sites in St Vincent. They are the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere (established in 1765) and are also an important conservation site (particularly for the St Vincent parrot). The Botanical Gardens are in Kingstown, a short journey from the town centre.
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  • Amanda W
    1,114 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent
    Wonderful gardens. Most botanic gardens I have found boring but this was great, more like an exotic park. I would recommend having a guide to get the best out of what you are seeing. On a slight hill but not too steep. Very peaceful. Don't miss the parrots, though it is sad they are all in cages. Toilets.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 25 July 2023
  • drew d
    Beacon, New York515 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful grounds, wonderful pictures
    We did a quick drive thru as part of an excursion from the cruise ship. Lots of plants and trees to take interesting pictures of including the tree that crushed a school bus during Hurricane Maria 1994? - no one was hurt! Could have spent hours here, so beautiful!
    Visited September 2022
    Travelled solo
    Written 3 August 2023
  • JH-Haslemere
    Surrey, United Kingdom29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit
    We visited here in May which isn't the time of year when the gardens are at their most colourful but we still had a very enjoyable couple of hours being shown round by Cornelius who was very knowledgeable and patient. Whilst a guide is not mandatory you will get an awful lot more out of our visit by having one as you will learn about the history of the gardens from their original inception and appreciate how it has developed over the years and the fact that many of the trees/plants are not indigenous but have been brought here over the years from many countries. We particularly enjoyed that Cornelius took the time to explain the uses of some of the plants/trees whether it be for medicinal purposes or for more practical purposes, the tree who's leaves could be used as sandpaper and the tree who's wood was very hard and used for making tool handles were just some of the many things we would never have learnt about had we walked round on our own. If you've got a couple of hours to spare this place is well worth a visit.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 November 2023
  • machinmad
    Yaxley, United Kingdom2,508 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Educational and fun ...
    This colonial garden is about 40mins walk from the cruise port; take stout shoes as the pavements are very rough or non existent. It’s up hill in the heat too. Admission is only $2 but make sure you pay the extra $6 to get a guide. We were fortunate to get a guy who knew everything about everything in the garden. He explained each tree and shrub, showing which had spicy scents and what they were used for. It really was an enjoyable education and a fascinating hour. I think these guys are self-employed, so tip them generously. There are restrooms, a small gift shop and cold drinks for a couple of dollars.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 January 2024
  • Jill H
    133 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Botanical Garden in St Vincent
    We spent about an hour and a half walking through the garden. The first hour we had a guide who was very knowledgeable. He was able to answer any questions put to him. It is very peaceful and relaxing and a great place to unwind after a busy day. There is a wonderful variety of flowers, trees and shrubs and the garden is beautifully maintained. Well worth the visit and hiring a guide who will only enhance your visit.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 February 2024
  • DaveBMinnesota
    Circle Pines, Minnesota21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Take Taxi (don’t walk!) to Wonderful Garden
    Take a taxi to Garden, Don’t Walk! This garden is very good but the walk from cruise port is through a sketchy neighborhood (a kid stole our bag and ran but I got it back from him!) $2 each to enter: $4 each for a local guide at the entrance. Our guide Nigel was very good at describing plants from around the Caribbean in the garden. Took taxi back to cruise ship for $6 each with no problems.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 March 2024
  • Mel C
    New Glasgow, Canada2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful gardens
    We had a nice visit to the gardens. Our bus dropped us off at the top, so we wandered down to pay at the front. We decided we were going to do a self guided tour. However, the local guide decided we weren't. He just walked with us and started talking about the plants. We did not agree to a tour but reluctantly went with him . He had a script and would not really answer questions about plants not in his itinerary. After it was done, he aded for $20 EC plus a tip. My husband tipped him $5, but he was unhappy with it.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles488 reviews
Excellent
221
Very good
202
Average
54
Poor
8
Terrible
3

Mel C
New Glasgow, Canada2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
We had a nice visit to the gardens.
Our bus dropped us off at the top, so we wandered down to pay at the front.
We decided we were going to do a self guided tour. However, the local guide decided we weren't.
He just walked with us and started talking about the plants.
We did not agree to a tour but reluctantly went with him .
He had a script and would not really answer questions about plants not in his itinerary.
After it was done, he aded for $20 EC plus a tip.
My husband tipped him $5, but he was unhappy with it.

Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DaveBMinnesota
Circle Pines, MN21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Take a taxi to Garden, Don’t Walk!
This garden is very good but the walk from cruise port is through a sketchy neighborhood (a kid stole our bag and ran but I got it back from him!)
$2 each to enter: $4 each for a local guide at the entrance. Our guide Nigel was very good at describing plants from around the Caribbean in the garden.
Took taxi back to cruise ship for $6 each with no problems.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jill H
Williamsville, United States133 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
We spent about an hour and a half walking through the garden. The first hour we had a guide who was very knowledgeable. He was able to answer any questions put to him. It is very peaceful and relaxing and a great place to unwind after a busy day. There is a wonderful variety of flowers, trees and shrubs and the garden is beautifully maintained. Well worth the visit and hiring a guide who will only enhance your visit.
Written 29 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

machinmad
Yaxley, UK2,508 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
This colonial garden is about 40mins walk from the cruise port; take stout shoes as the pavements are very rough or non existent. It’s up hill in the heat too.

Admission is only $2 but make sure you pay the extra $6 to get a guide. We were fortunate to get a guy who knew everything about everything in the garden. He explained each tree and shrub, showing which had spicy scents and what they were used for. It really was an enjoyable education and a fascinating hour. I think these guys are self-employed, so tip them generously.

There are restrooms, a small gift shop and cold drinks for a couple of dollars.
Written 26 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lithlith
Michigan885 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
We walked here from the cruise ship in about 20-25 minutes using Google Maps that we has pre-downloaded, which was good because things were not well signed in St. Vincent. The entry fee to the gardens is just a couple of dollars ($2 USD each) each and then you are required to have a guide inside the gardens which you pay at the end (required $5 USD each, we gave our guide $20 for the two of us). We had an hour long tour with Jeffery, who was great. He showed us all around and pointed all nearly every plant and tree long the way. He was constantly picking up leaves, nuts, etc, and pulling examples out of his backpack to show us and have us smell. It was a solid tour.
Written 13 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JH-Haslemere
Surrey, UK29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
We visited here in May which isn't the time of year when the gardens are at their most colourful but we still had a very enjoyable couple of hours being shown round by Cornelius who was very knowledgeable and patient.

Whilst a guide is not mandatory you will get an awful lot more out of our visit by having one as you will learn about the history of the gardens from their original inception and appreciate how it has developed over the years and the fact that many of the trees/plants are not indigenous but have been brought here over the years from many countries.

We particularly enjoyed that Cornelius took the time to explain the uses of some of the plants/trees whether it be for medicinal purposes or for more practical purposes, the tree who's leaves could be used as sandpaper and the tree who's wood was very hard and used for making tool handles were just some of the many things we would never have learnt about had we walked round on our own.

If you've got a couple of hours to spare this place is well worth a visit.
Written 18 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

drew d
Beacon, NY515 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Solo
We did a quick drive thru as part of an excursion from the cruise ship. Lots of plants and trees to take interesting pictures of including the tree that crushed a school bus during Hurricane Maria 1994? - no one was hurt! Could have spent hours here, so beautiful!
Written 3 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amanda W
Oxford, England1,114 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
Wonderful gardens. Most botanic gardens I have found boring but this was great, more like an exotic park. I would recommend having a guide to get the best out of what you are seeing. On a slight hill but not too steep. Very peaceful. Don't miss the parrots, though it is sad they are all in cages. Toilets.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CAL
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
On arrival we decided to do a guided tour with Ian and he was great! Ian was friendly and knew so much about the gardens it was very impressive. The plants/trees were amazing and very interesting. We also had the chance to see some gorgeous parrots. We had a great time. Thank you to Ian and the team.
Written 23 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Charles M
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
Definitely get the guide! Sanford was awesome and really enhances the garden with his knowledge. He would crush leaves for the fragrance and would have us guess what it was. Totally a must do on the island
Written 12 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Botanical Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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