The Caracas Botanical Garden — 70 hectares wedged between the Universidad Central, the Río Guaire, and the autopista — was laid out in the 1940s under the direction of the Swiss botanist Henri Pittier. The collection emphasises Venezuelan native flora, particularly tropical orchids, bromeliads, and Caribbean palm species. The garden was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 as part of the Villanueva-designed Ciudad Universitaria.
The garden has suffered from underfunding in recent years — paths and labels are not always maintained, and some collections have been lost. But the broader landscape — old mahogany allées, the Amazonian forest section, the cactus garden — is still worth a couple of hours, and the place is rarely crowded. Open daily; small entry fee. The Plaza Venezuela metro station is the closest.