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The Medellín Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico de Medellín) is a beautiful green space in Medellín, Colombia. It’s located next to University Station in the Aranjuez district.
The Medellín Botanical Garden covers almost 14 hectares and contains over 1,000 different species of plants and flowers. About 140 different bird species have been recorded there.
Origins of the Medellín Botanical Garden
The Medellín Botanical Garden can trace its origins back to the late 19th century. At that time, the land was owned by Victor Arango and later his sisters. It was known as the Bathhouse of Eden (Casa de Baños El Edén) and was leased out to families for recreational purposes.
The city purchased the land and on August 11, 1913, created the Centennial of Independence Forest (Bosque Centenario de la Independencia), which was later shortened to The Forest (El Bosque). Medellín’s first hippodrome was built there as well as an artificial lake for visitors to row boats. There was also a bar, restaurant, skating rink, tennis courts, playground, train, zoo, and pet shop. The Forest hosted national celebrations and theatrical performances as well as fishing and nautical competitions. It was the city’s most important public space for 50 years until it declined due to crime and brothels springing up in the area around it.
In 1968, with the park closed and threatened with demolition, Elena Baraya, president of the Colombian Society of Orchidology (Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología), returned from Australia with the news that Medellín would host the 7th World Orchid Conference in April 1972. The society joined forces with the city and incorporated a non-profit organization to create a botanical garden. They officially named it the Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe ), after Colombian naturalist Joaquín Antonio Uribe (1858-1935).
Visiting the Medellín Botanical Garden
The Medellín Botanical Garden is open daily except Mondays from 9am to 4pm. Admission is free except for the Butterfly House (Mariposario), which costs COP$6,000 for foreigners, and the Prehistoric Plants Trail (Sendero de Plantas Prehistóricas), which costs COP$5,000 per person. Admissions are current as of May 2023. The nearest metro stop is University Station.
Getting around the garden is fairly easy although not everything is well marked. When things are marked, interpretive panels are in both Spanish and English. The garden contains a gift shop, commercial nursery, two restaurants – In Situ and Del Bosque, El Vagón snack bar, and spaces to sit on the grass. Vendors sell water and snacks outside as well.
Entrance Pavilion
The entrance pavilion at the Medellín Botanical Garden was designed by Lorenzo Castro and Ana Elvira Vélez. It’s in a circular shape and contains a few of the plant species living in the garden.
Andean Forest
Once inside the garden, directly in front of the entrance is the Andean Forest (Bosque Andino). It’s a good example of stratification in a forest, with a high canopy and lots of vegetation on the ground. The path through the forest is on a boardwalk, and there are several different species of animals living inside as well.
Some of the highlights include cyclanthaceae, which provide the fibers to weave traditional hats from Aguadas as well as other handicrafts; orchids; and monstera deliciosa. Unfortunately, nothing was flowering at the time I walked through.
Palm Garden
Next to the Andean Forest is the Palm Garden (Jardín de Palmas). Colombia is the 2nd richest country in the world for palms. Different species of palms line the garden, illustrating the importance of palms to humankind. There’s also a huge tree next to the Palm Garden.
Scientific Building
Following the main road to the southeast corner of the garden, you’ll come to the Scientific Building (Edificio Científico), which was designed by architect Óscar Mesa. It opened on November 1, 2007, and was built in just five months. The Scientific Building is where botanical samples are kept and where administrative offices are located. In addition, there’s a climate-controlled herbarium.
The Gardeners’ Villa (Villa de los Jardineros) is across the street and the Magnolia Collection (Bosque de Magnolias) is next door.
Desert Garden
Continuing counterclockwise around the main road, another smaller path cuts back into the center of the garden. After a short walk you’ll find the Desert Garden (Jardín del Desierto). It includes plants found in the desert and dry climates. According to an interpretive panel, only 8% of the original dry forest in Colombia still remains.
Lagoon
Across from the Desert Garden you’ll get your first glimpse of the Lagoon (Laguna) that takes up a large portion of the northeast section of the garden. Named for Colombian naturalist and revolutionary Francisco José de Caldas (1768-1816), it represents the wetlands that have disappeared from the flood plains of the Medellín River due to urbanization. It’s a good place to spot some of the wildlife living in the Medellín Botanical Garden, such as iguanas, turtles, ducks, geese, and more.
Coal Miners’ Park
Directly in the center of the garden is Coal Miners’ Park (Parque de los Carboneros). It’s a small plaza with a bust of Joaquín Antonio Uribe on one end. Behind the bust is a vertical garden.
Nearby is the snack bar, El Vagón, and an old train car from the Antioquia Railway (Ferrocarril de Antioquia). There are also bathrooms as well as a small theatre in the area.
Orquideorama
A large structure on the west side of the garden is one of the main highlights. The Orquideorama replaced an older orchidarium built for the World Orchid Conference in 1972. It was a joint design by Plan B Architects and JPRCR Architects. The building was constructed in just six months and the inauguration took place on August 25, 2006.
The Orquideorama stands 65 feet high and has a wood meshwork canopy topped by hexagonal honeycomb structures that collect rainwater. It’s officially named after Colombian botanist José Jerónimo Triana (1828-1890). It holds special events such as flower exhibitions and displays for the Flower Festival.
Butterfly House
Nearby is the Butterfly House (Mariposario). It’s one of the largest of its kind in the department of Antioquia, at 581 square meters, and holds 31 species of butterflies. The Butterfly House consists of a trail, a laboratory, and a controlled flight area. Tours run about 20 minutes and tickets can be purchased from the food cart at the entrance.
Auditoriums
The north side of the Medellín Botanical Garden contains a building housing auditoriums and meeting rooms as well as the In Situ restaurant. There are five different rooms with different environments that can be used for academic, business, social, and cultural purposes. A bamboo forest sits nearby along the main road.
Medicinal Garden
Finally, another section on the north side is the Medicinal Garden (Huerto Medicinal). It includes plants that have medicinal value, herbs, spices, plants considered magical, and plants used in religious ceremonies.
