☰Vallarta Botanical Garden

A 79-acre tropical garden at 400 metres above sea level, about 30 minutes south of town on Highway 200. The focus is orchid conservation — the Holstein Orchid and Vanilla House alone is worth the trip — but the grounds also hold collections of oaks, bromeliads, agaves, cacti, and wild palms. Hiking trails wind through native tropical dry forest, and you can swim in the Río Horcones at the bottom of the valley. Birding is excellent, especially early morning. Closed Mondays from April through October.