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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- Jill H152 contributionsBotanical Garden in St VincentWe 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 2024Traveled with familyWritten February 29, 2024
- DaveBMinnesotaCircle Pines, Minnesota21 contributionsTake Taxi (don’t walk!) to Wonderful GardenTake 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 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 4, 2024
- Mel CNew Glasgow, Canada17 contributionsBeautiful gardensWe 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 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 10, 2024
- DuckysWifeUnited Kingdom1,492 contributionsCoreas Caribbean Adventures tour of gardensOpen feel to the gardens with many plants and huge trees many of them old, all in great health. Guide was exceptional with knowledge on everything and anything we looked at. Quick look at the tiny aviary to one side for breeding parrots. Tour operated by Coreas Caribbean Adventures also took us to Montreal Gardens.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 11, 2024
- travelsafer7,141 contributionsBotanical gardens in Kingstown, St Vincent and GrenadinesWe had a nice visit to and old botanical garden, our guide told us history facts and let us touch and smell several garden plants and gave us explanations on many of them. The entrance is $2, and it's $4 for a guided tour which is very recommended. There is some walking so wear comfortable shoes.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten May 23, 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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
497 reviews
Excellent
225
Very good
203
Average
57
Poor
9
Terrible
3
Byzy
Doncaster, UK55 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
We had an excellent tour around these botanical gardens by Jeffrey the guide. It was well worth paying extra for the tour as Jeffrey brought the gardens to life, with his expert knowledge and his bag of tricks with all sorts of wonders to see, smell and touch. Well worth a guided visit to spend an afternoon or morning!
Written February 3, 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.
Yorkshire Lad - The Original
York, UK1,679 contributions
Dec 2022
Go there on an organised tour, or walk the two miles from the cruise terminal up the hill and pay the couple of US dollars entry before slipping 10 US $’s to a local guide who will take you all around the garden, started way back in the mid 1750s. Our guide knew his stuff and took us to places away from the snaking groups who seemed to take an eternity, always held back by the slowest member of the party. Deffo worth the trip just to smell the lovely botanicals.
Written December 8, 2022
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, UK2,681 contributions
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.
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 January 26, 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.
Annie M
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Couples
Were charged US $5 each to enter and a guide immediately latched onto us. No discussion about did we want a guide - nothing. He was following a script as we heard exactly the same thing from other guides we passed and he was unable to answer any questions that went off his script. He couldn't even tell us how long he'd worked there. 'A while' was all he could tell us. At the end of the 'tour' (that we hadn't requested), he demanded a tip of US $6 per person. We would have enjoyed the gardens much more without this so-called guide tagging along. The gardens were quite pleasant but after we had paid the guide off (although not the amount he was requesting) we felt used and no longer inclined to wander around the gardens on our own just soaking up the nature.
To future visitors, when you're asked for payment to enter the gardens, check whether they're talking US $ or East Caribbean $ and if someone tags along, decide whether you want a guide and, if you do, agree a price upfront. Saves awkwardness all round at the end.
To future visitors, when you're asked for payment to enter the gardens, check whether they're talking US $ or East Caribbean $ and if someone tags along, decide whether you want a guide and, if you do, agree a price upfront. Saves awkwardness all round at the end.
Written January 6, 2025
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.
Mikopath
Birmingham, UK57 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Excellent historic botanical gardens with lots to see. It’s very cheap to get in and on top of that we hired a local guide for a couple of pounds more which was a great move. Cornelius was very well-informed and after his tour we spent a further hour or so just strolling. Allow a couple of hours to do it justice.
Written March 7, 2022
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.
Metrorider105
Greater London, UK125 contributions
Jul 2022
Still one of the best places to visit in SVG. This is a must to see if you are going to the country for the first time and into plants etc.
Only gripe is the shop could be better stocked with more items. Very limited cold drinks was available and it would have been a bonus if they had ice-creams.
It is great to see many of the National Parrots there which there are plenty of now.
Seems to be popular for people taking wedding pictures.
Entrance fee good value for money
Only gripe is the shop could be better stocked with more items. Very limited cold drinks was available and it would have been a bonus if they had ice-creams.
It is great to see many of the National Parrots there which there are plenty of now.
Seems to be popular for people taking wedding pictures.
Entrance fee good value for money
Written September 11, 2022
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, UK48 contributions
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.
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 November 18, 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.
John B
United Kingdom39 contributions
Feb 2020
We had hoped to use the local bus to Vermont Nature Trails. The bus ‘station’ is a good walk left from the ship and after the first bus ‘station’ and passed the Fish market). Local people very helpful advising which (mini-) bus to get but they only accepted local currency so abandoned that trip.
In the end did a short taxi tour US$15 to fort (good views) and botanical gardens. Garden US$2 each but you will then have a guide unless you refuse! (US$4 each plus tip). Guide very good and was very informative about all the plants. We got a lot more out of the visit than if we’d just wandered round ourselves. 40 minute walk back to the ship.
In the end did a short taxi tour US$15 to fort (good views) and botanical gardens. Garden US$2 each but you will then have a guide unless you refuse! (US$4 each plus tip). Guide very good and was very informative about all the plants. We got a lot more out of the visit than if we’d just wandered round ourselves. 40 minute walk back to the ship.
Written March 13, 2020
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.
PNEPete
Leyland, UK1,934 contributions
Dec 2019
A nice place to visit, a bit of a walk from the port 30- 40 + minutes not good if you have walking problems but ok if you feel like a staedy walk.
$2 each to go in worth the cost main attraction was the local parrot 'Amazona Guildingii'
If you want a guide it costs more but not really worth it, just walk round at your leisure.
Or you can visit with a variety of tours or a taxi from the port, which can be easier if you cant walk a long way.
$2 each to go in worth the cost main attraction was the local parrot 'Amazona Guildingii'
If you want a guide it costs more but not really worth it, just walk round at your leisure.
Or you can visit with a variety of tours or a taxi from the port, which can be easier if you cant walk a long way.
Written January 4, 2020
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.
Gabi T
Spokane, WA34 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Read the reviews and decided to go to the gardens. We decided to take a taxi because the road to get there was not marked, we have never been here and it was a hot sunny day. Good choice on our part, not sure we would have found the place and did go through downtown with lots of traffic and people. It was $10.00 for the taxi for both of us both ways. So we get to the gardens , decide to take the guided tour and low and behold we get Anthony. Having read the previous 2 reviews that mentioned him by name I was interested to see which one we would get. He was GREAT. very knowledgeable about the plants and how to use them. I wish we would have been able to see the parrots up close, and if they ever get the one water feature going again it would be even nicer. We only did a 1 1/2 hour tour because my husband is not as into gardening as I am. I told Anthony about the bad review on him. He said she was hard to please. I can see the confusion about payment , the language barrier and just the fact of being able to decide how long you want your tour to be can get complicated. We made sure that we understood what we where paying before we started. I will say this. They depend on the cruise industry and if you really are that upset over $10.00 you need to communicate better before hand. On a side note. The local ASPCA has a table set up close to the first set of shops that you get too. Please donate. I saw way to many dogs running around that have recently had puppies or where not neutered.
Written March 2, 2020
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.
Hi, we visited the gardens in St Vincent last year, and did an organised trip. Next year we will be there again and would like to spend longer in the gardens, could you please tell me what sort of cost was the taxi from town? (We will be starting at the cruise terminal) and possibly how much was the cost for a guise? USD would be good if you have the information. Many thanks in advance.
Written November 6, 2019
We used Top Dawg Tours as as our taxi a. s we toured more than the garden. The tour guide at the garden was $10 US er person. Worth every penny!!
Written November 7, 2019
How much would the taxi from the Cruise Port cost to get here?
Written December 26, 2018
Hi. I was just wondering who you did your island tour with? And would you recommend? Thank you
Written February 5, 2018
To be honest any of the taxi drivers will provide an excellent service.
They love their island, have a great knowledge of it and very friendly.
The area close to the ship can look a little intimidating for the faint hearted but the locals are great too.
Enjoy
Written February 23, 2018
Is the walk to the Botanical Gardens uphill or level? If it is uphill, is it possible to take a taxi or other transport to the gardens. I have a genetic condition which makes walking up even the slightest incline quite a struggle. We visit on a cruise early December and I think we are the only ship in port on the day.
Written November 19, 2017
The gardens are laid out on a hillside so any visit will require some uphill walking mostly on well defined paths. Transport by taxi to the entrance and exits is easy but we entered at the lower end of the gardens and left by an exit higher up the hill.
Written November 20, 2017
How far is it from the cruise port. Can you walk there. Thanks
Written October 25, 2017
We walked there but it is not a short walk and from the ferry port to he botanical gardens this is steeply up hill and so not easy if you are not used to walking.
Written October 25, 2017
Hi do you need a guide and kind of prices did you have to pay. Thanks
Written August 30, 2017
You don't need to take a guide, but they know the place and its trees and plants well and are happy to spend a reasonable time with you, pointing out things you might otherwise miss - the age of trees for instance - even if you know the Caribbean and its vegetation quite well. The guide's fee plus tip isn't too much of an ask - USD5 as I remember.
Written September 4, 2017
Is the gardens opened today 27/12/2016
Written December 27, 2016
Good day. We are open everyday including hoildays from 7am-6pm.
Written December 28, 2016
Would it be difficult to get around the gardens in a manual wheelchair? Are there hard surfaced paths?
Written February 26, 2016
I would suggest you get a tour guide to help push you. You will have to agree on a fee for his assistance
Written January 10, 2017
Could you advise how difficult it is to walk round the gardens we would like to visit but my father has limited mobility
Written March 4, 2015
The Botanical Gardens has paved pathways, and gentle slopes in a few areas. Can use a pushchair and still see most of the Garden.
Written April 1, 2015
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