Juan María Céspedes Botanical Garden, Tuluá

Juan María Céspedes Botanical Garden: tropical dry forest in Tuluá

The Juan María Céspedes Botanical Garden is a center for observing the plants and wildlife of the tropical dry forest, one of the most threatened and least represented ecosystems in Colombia’s protected-area system. Run by INCIVA, it is an ideal place to walk among plants and trees of many species while getting to know the climate and environment of this type of Andean forest up close.

Location and size

The garden is in the village of Mateguadua, about 7 kilometers from downtown Tuluá, in Valle del Cauca. It covers about 154 hectares of rolling land between 1,050 and 1,300 meters above sea level, which gives it a wide variety of microclimates and species along a single walk.

What to see: Ethnobotanical Museum and living collections

Its main attraction is the Ethnobotanical Museum, dedicated to the relationship between people and plants throughout history and to their traditional uses. The garden also has extensive living collections of guadua and bamboo, heliconias, zamias and ceibas, visited along guided nature trails that let you see the biodiversity of the tropical dry forest up close.

Opening hours

• Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (the garden closes at 1:00 p.m.)
• Sundays and public holidays: groups only, minimum 8 people, with advance booking

Entry prices

• Adults: COP 8,500
• Children: COP 6,000
• Seniors and people with disabilities: COP 4,500
• Foreign visitors: USD 10 (cash at the ticket office)

Prices may change; we recommend confirming them directly with INCIVA before your visit.

How to get there

From downtown Tuluá you can take a taxi or local public transport, which has direct routes to the garden; the trip usually takes less than 20 minutes. If you are exploring the area, also see our guide to places to visit in Tuluá and our selection of museums and exhibitions in Valle del Cauca, which includes other cultural spaces to combine with this visit.

Contact and bookings

For groups, weekend visits or more information, write to jardinbotanico@inciva.gov.co or call +57 602 620 6848 ext. 129 / WhatsApp +57 322 270 5834.

The Juan María Céspedes Botanical Garden is a center for observing the plants and wildlife of the tropical dry forest. It is a place to walk among many kinds of plants and trees and experience the climate and environment of this ecosystem.