Updated on 06/04/2024
Dear reader,
I would also like to recommend our Colombia travel guide, which provides a perfect overview of the tourist attractions in Colombia. Enjoy reading it!
Did you know that Colombia is the country with the greatest diversity of heliconias in the world? In this blog, you will discover where to admire this wonder of nature.
Where to see Heliconias in Colombia?
Bogotá Botanical Garden
Location: Avenida José Celestino Mutis # 68-95, Engativá district, Bogotá.
Access: Entry requires a fee.
The Botanical Gardens of Bogotá serve as a space for conservation, education, and research on plant biodiversity in Colombia. It boasts a collection of over 100 species of heliconias, among other exotic and native plants.
For instance, you can marvel at the Heliconia burleana and the Heliconia reptans, two well-known native species in Colombia precisely cultivated and preserved here. The garden, with its well-maintained pathways, offers a delightful stroll from one area to another.
Services and Activities
- Guided tours.
- Cafeteria and restaurant.
- Library.
- Talks and discussions.
- Parking facilities.
- Courses and workshops covering environmental, botanical, artistic, and cultural themes.
- Exhibitions.
We invite you to explore the Bogotá Botanical Garden for further information.
Medellín Botanical Garden
Location: Calle 73 # 51d-14, Aranjuez neighborhood, Medellín, Antioquia.
Access: Entry is free.
The Botanical Garden of Medellín stands as a living museum and research center, showcasing a display of over 100 heliconia species alongside other ornamental, medicinal, and fruit-bearing plants.
You’ll find the heliconias in a section called Palmétum, dedicated to palms and similar plants, where you can observe all national heliconia species. Additionally, you’ll explore the Orquideorama, an architectural structure offering not only heliconias but also orchids, anthuriums, bromeliads, and ferns. This is an ideal spot for delving deeper into botanical culture.
Services and Activities
- Restaurants and cafeterias.
- Workshops and exhibitions on art, education, and culture.
- Concerts.
- Flora museums.
- Science centers.
- Guided or self-guided environmental tours.
- Sports such as yoga, tai chi, or athletics.
For more information and updates, visit the official website.
Quindío Botanical Garden
Location: Calarcá municipality, 9,3 miles from Armenia in Quindío.
Access: Entry requires a fee.
The Botanical Garden of Quindío stands out as the perfect spot to admire heliconias, boasting one of the largest and most diverse collections of this plant family in Colombia.
This garden conserves 58 out of the 110 Colombian wild heliconia species. Here, you can wander through ecological trails showcasing different varieties of this plant. You can also explore the labyrinth, a space where you’ll discover heliconias symbolic of the city of Armenia.
Another option is to explore the online resource of the National Heliconia Collection, providing biological records of the species found in this botanical garden.
Services and Activities
- Butterfly garden (butterfly watching).
- Birdwatching.
- Hiking.
- Palm museum.
- Insect museum.
- Geology museum.
- Parking facilities.
- Restaurants and cafeterias.
How to get there?
From Armenia, drive or take a bus from the transport terminal to Calarcá, where the garden is located, approximately a 20-minute journey. Finally, instruct the driver to drop you off at the entrance of the botanical garden.
For further information, visit the Botanical Garden of Quindío website.
Botanical Garden of the Technological University of Pereira
Location: Carrera 27 # 10-02, Alamos neighborhood, Pereira, Risaralda. When on Carrera 30, you’ll encounter a blue road sign directing you towards buildings 11 and 12. A left turn a few meters ahead will lead you there.
Access: Entry requires a fee.
The Botanical Garden of the Technological University of Pereira encompasses 14.4 hectares of Andean forest, prioritizing environmental awareness about the flora and fauna of the Colombian Coffee Axis. Additionally, it’s considered the lung of the city of Pereira.
Here, you’ll find over 50 heliconia species distributed across trails. Some notable collections include:
- Heliconias and Zingiberales Collection: Aiming to conserve and exhibit the diversity of these plants in the Risaralda department of Colombia.
- Medicinal Plants Collection: Introducing aromatic plants with medicinal and culinary uses, such as heliconias bihai, caribaea, and psittacorum.
- Forest trails featuring flora and fauna, including heliconia crops native to the region.
Feel free to check the official website for further details.
Services and Activities
- Guided tours of the garden (planetarium, botanical collections, wetland, sundial, etc.).
- Academic and business events (seminars, courses, training sessions, etc.).
- Plant sales.
Guillermo Piñeres Botanical Garden
Location: Matute Sector, Turbaco municipality, approximately 5,6 miles from Cartagena in Bolívar department.
Access: Entry requires a fee.
The Guillermo Piñeres Botanical Garden stands as one of the most significant ecological attractions in the Caribbean region. Here, you’ll encounter a collection of over 300 exotic ornamental plants from Colombian forests and other tropical regions worldwide.
With over 1,2 miles of trails, the garden showcases heliconia collections like the Heliconia wagneriana or the rostrata, boasting vibrant red and yellow hues, particularly planted along the Colombian Caribbean coast.
These plants attract numerous birds, butterflies, and insects, making the garden an ideal spot for wildlife observation and ecotourism.
Services and Activities
- Guided tours.
- Birdwatching.
- Auditorium for talks or events.
- Cafeteria or picnic services.
How to get there?
From Cartagena, take two buses. The first from Avenida Pedro de Heredia, labeled “Ternera – Villa Grande,” to the Turbaco bus stop (Petronil gas station). Then, take the next bus to Turbaco and ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance road to t he Botanical Garden. Finally, it’s just a 0,6 miles walk to the garden entrance.
For any inquiries, feel free to contact through the official website.
Eloy Valenzuela Botanical Garden
Location: Floridablanca municipality, approximately 4,3 miles from Bucaramanga in Santander department.
Access: Entry requires a fee.
The Eloy Valenzuela Botanical Garden serves as a natural museum spanning 7.5 hectares of pure tropical and dry forests, hosting over 3,500 species of native plants, including more than 20 heliconia species.
Notable spots for heliconias include the humid forest, home to the heliconia trail, the palm garden, and the butterfly garden, where you can spot native heliconias.
The guides, environmental high school graduates, will lead you through each garden trail with enthusiasm.
Services and Activities
- Cafeteria.
- Souvenir shop.
- Parking facilities.
- Fairs featuring green businesses (entrepreneurship, crafts, etc.).
- Birdwatching.
- Flora and fauna observation
- Space rental for local events.
How to get there?
From Bucaramanga, take a bus passing through Carrera 27 or the Floridablanca Highway. Get off at the Jardín Botánico bus stop, about 984 feet from the garden, roughly a 15-minute journey. It’s conveniently close.
We invite you to explore Eloy Valenzuela Botanical Garden for further details.
Tips for Visiting Botanical Gardens
- Aim to arrive early to avoid crowds, respecting each garden’s opening hours.
- Explore all areas of the garden to appreciate its diversity fully.
- Avoid littering and always respect the surrounding flora and fauna.
- Apply sunscreen and carry hydration.
- Wear comfortable attire and footwear suitable for walking.
- Pets are not allowed.
National Park of Heliconias
Location: Located in Limones village, 4,3 miles from Caicedonia, 7,4 miles from Sevilla, and 99 miles from Cali in Valle del Cauca.
Access: Entry requires a fee.
The National Park of Heliconias serves as an environmental education center and agroecotourism development hub, showcasing over 150 heliconia and tropical flower species. It’s also a platform for exhibiting and commercializing native flowers.
To spot heliconias, I recommend three trails: Heliconias, Coladas, and El Ceibo, each offering unique sizes and attractions for a round trip exploration.
The Heliconias trail is the shortest and easiest, featuring a gentle, short walk, while the others require a more demanding physical effort.
Services and Activities
- Hiking.
- Cafeteria and restaurant.
- Accommodation.
- Commercialization of native flora.
- Workshops on heliconia conservation and cultivation.
- Lookout with a telescope for regional landscape observation.
How to get there?
From Cali, by car or bus, take a route to Caicedonia municipality. From there, continue on a transport heading towards Sevilla municipality; the park is located about 4,3 miles away, approximately a 12-minute journey.
For further details, please visit the official website for updates.
