Step into the Dr. Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanico Dr. Faustino Miranda) for a showcase of the wealth of vegetation that exists throughout Chiapas. The garden has a focus on the endemic and endangered species present in the state’s central region. The garden was established in 1949 by the Spanish-born algologist and botanist Dr. Faustino Miranda González. Part of his mission was to protect and recover native species that had been displaced by fast-growing foreign plants.
The garden covers an area of over 10 acres (4 hectares). It features a series of walkways that weave through woodland and around flower displays and waterways. Interpretive signs provide information about the common name, scientific name, family, habitat and use of each type of plant. Enjoy the fresh air, gently rustling leaves and rippling streams within the park as a welcome respite from the city’s urban noise.
Walk amid areas of jungle, low deciduous and sub-deciduous forests. Here you’ll find examples of cactus, medicinal, ornamental and succulent plants. Admire the collection of colorful orchids and huge cycads and gaze upward at giant palm trees.
Inside the Botanical Museum (Museo Botánico) is the Chiapas Wood exhibition. It has 46 samples of timber, including trunks, barks and grains. Study a photo gallery of some of the most vivid flowers found in Chiapas. There’s also a herbarium with a display of about 40,000 specimens.
The garden is located in the eastern section of Parque Madero and is about 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) from Plaza Civica. Ride here in 5 minutes by taxi or walk for 15 minutes. Combine your time here with a visit to the park’s other museums and cultural institutions. Among these are the City Theater Emilio Rabasa, Museum of Paleontology and Regional Museum of Chiapas.
Visit Dr. Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is free. The Botanical Museum is open from Monday to Saturday. Guided tours are available by advance reservation.