A natural Oasis to escape the heat of Portoviejo. Guided tours of the Universities Botanical gardens with a wide variety of tropical plants, shade trees, lagoons, turtles, birds, and monkeys.

Visited with friends and 3 generations of their family. The park has a maze, small turtle pond, playground with swings and monkey bars, as well as a small garden center and snack bar. Several of the plants and trees were labelled for those of us not familiar with local flora. Plenty of shade for a respite from the hot weather in Portoviejo. A simple and fun way to spend a few hours with family and friends of all ages, and popular with picnickers too. Free admission and parking. Only gripe is garden center has limited hours, and it was closed when we visited.