Caribbean
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent
Kingstown
Things to Do in Kingstown
Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens, Kingstown: Address, Phone Number, Botanical Gardens Reviews: 4.5/5

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Botanical Gardens

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Botanical Gardens
4.5
467
#1 of 12 things to do in Kingstown
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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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Best nearby
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30 within 3 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
467 reviews
Excellent
206
Very good
197
Average
53
Poor
8
Terrible
3
Mikopath
Birmingham, UK61 contributions
Very interesting and worth a visit
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.
John B
United Kingdom37 contributions
Informative guide
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.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
PNEPete
Leyland, UK1,948 contributions
Nice
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.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Gabi T
Spokane, WA37 contributions
“Anthony “continues
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 $10.00 you need to communicate better before hand. On a side note. The local ASPCA has a table set up close to the first set of shops that you get too. Please donate. I saw way to many dogs running around that have recently had puppies or where not neutered.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
SueWolves53
Wolverhampton, UK299 contributions
Peaceful walk in sun
Jan 2020
This is one of the oldest botanical gardens in western hemisphere. Recommend having a guide as they are very knowledgeable and could relate a lot of information regarding how many of the plants could be used for medicinal or cooking purposes.
The aviary houses many local parrots, their national bird.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
William L
London37 contributions
A great place
Mar 2020
We were stayiing in Bequia and having read a little about the Botanical Gardens in nearby Kingstown thought we would make the trip. After a short ferry ride and a little difficulty we found the bus station and with the help of the locals found our bus. 1 EC$ each was the cost which is almost nothing. I would not recommend walking there as it is uphill, very steep and very hot.

The gardens are a delight. It is well worth hiring a guide and it's not expensive. We had the wonderful Errol. Without Errol we would have missed so much. Beautiful trees and shrubs from all over the world and even some endangered but beautiful parrots. Errol even suggested our lunch venue, Veejays in Kingstown, which together with the bus ride with Bob Marley blasting out at full volume was a truly Caribbean experience.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
William S
3 contributions
Perfumed Garden
Jan 2022
My wife and I spent a couple of hours in the Kingstown Botanical gardens, the oldest in the western hemisphere. There are trees and shrubs from all over the world, many of them in bloom. We had a guide ($8) who pointed out the historically and agriculturally interesting plants. He was able to explain a great deal about the blooming and fruiting of the trees. I was interested to see a nutmeg tree and a huge variety of palm trees. Also of interest was an exhibit of the St. Vincent parrot, a large, colorful and raucous bird. As we sat in a gazebo enjoying the cool breeze, the fragrant snow on the mountain absolutely filled the garden. There were many brightly colored shrubs and a poinsettia bush 8 feet tall. The garden is on a slope, steep in places with paths that weren't all smooth, that made it difficult at times to push my wife's wheelchair, but it was just about manageable.
Written January 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
dolittle2016
Miami Beach, FL50 contributions
A Perfect Intro to the Island's Flora
Jan 2020
We visited the gardens with expert guide Diane on an excursion arranged by Celebrity Summit. She shepherded about 20 of us around the relatively small acreage, stopping to explain what we were seeing particularly in regard to herbs with medicinal or culinary qualities. A highlight was seeing the enclosure where a rare species of parrot, the Island's national bird, is encouraged to reproduce. Well worth an hour or so's visit.
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
John H
Leigh, UK281 contributions
Walk in the sun
Jan 2020 • Couples
Our ship docked at the key side and we walked through town to the Gardens. A walk of about 40 minutes with the last 15 uphill. Once at the gardens it was 5 EC$ per person to enter. The site is kept in lovely condition and it’s a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours. There are plenty of benches to sit on and plenty of shade. There are guides to walk you through the various plant types. It is well worth the walk. If you want to take a taxi it is 15 EC$ or 5 USD.
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
25lilith
112 contributions
Beautiful and peaceful
Jan 2020 • Couples
Beautiful location, the parrots were delightful even though not in talkative moods. If you tire easily some of the paths are steep, however take your time, it’s peaceful, and there are places to sit. Been to lots of botanical gardens but this one was lovely.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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