La Laguna Botanic Garden

La Laguna Botanic Garden sits in the bottom of an extinct volcanic crater in El Salvador. Streams, small bridges, waterfalls and ponds run through 28 plant zones, and the paths let you walk slowly among the planting. Giant bamboo is one of the plants to look for, and turtles, fish, birds, iguanas and lizards live around the water. The setting is calm and green, a quiet retreat from the city. Go in the morning, when it is cooler, and allow a couple of hours to see the zones at an easy pace.

Inside the crater

The garden lies in the bottom of an extinct volcanic crater, so the walk drops into a sheltered hollow rather than across open ground. Streams cross the paths, small bridges carry you over them, and little waterfalls and ponds sit among the planting. The collection is spread across 28 zones, so you move from one planting area to the next as you walk.

Giant bamboo is one of the plants to look for. Turtles, fish, birds, iguanas and lizards live around the water and along the paths, so look low near the ponds as well as up into the trees. The landscaping is kept tidy but is looser than a formal botanic garden in Europe or North America, and that looser, more natural feel is much of its appeal.

Planning the visit

Plan about two hours to cover the paths at an easy pace. Tickets can be bought in advance, which the garden recommends. Entry is around USD 1.50, so check the garden's website for the current price before you go. The garden is closed on Mondays.

There is a kids' zone with a slide, and the garden suits children. The entrance, the restroom and the parking lot are all wheelchair accessible. Picnic tables sit near the entry, so you can eat there if you bring food.