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The Alexander von Humboldt Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Alejandro von Humboldt) is one of the highlights of visiting the small town of Marsella. It’s named for Prussian botanist Alexander von Humboldt, who spent a significant amount of time doing research in what is now Colombia.
Visiting the Garden
The entrance to the garden is near the entrance to Marsella. It costs COP$5,000 per person to enter (as of May 2023) and it’s open daily from 8am to 5pm. Expect to spend between one to two hours enjoying the garden.
The Path
The path through the garden is well-marked, with arrows pointing you in the right direction. It starts with a short explanation of where you’ll walk and what you’ll see. From there, you cross a bridge and start the cobblestone path into the garden. Almost all of the trees along the path are marked so you know exactly what you’re looking at.
The first major landmark in the garden is a shrine dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, who happens to be the patron saint of ecologists. Further up the trail is a small chapel.
Next is a tall hydromechanic tower next to some solar panels.
From there, we crossed a bamboo bridge and walked through a bamboo forest.
Next, we passed by some tall palms and came to a playground. There were some fantastic views of the surrounding landscape from there.
The path continued along past an echo tube and a strange looking windmill before turning back towards the entrance. We passed several beautiful heliconias, and then came to a small event center with a mural of Marsella.
Museum
Finally, there was a small interactive museum with a café and library. The “exhibits” weren’t exactly interesting. It felt more like a hands-on funhouse than anything.
Conclusion
Overall, the Alexander von Humboldt Botanical Garden was the highlight of our day in Marsella. It’s a beautiful space that’s very well cared for, and it’s well worth spending the time to visit.
