Just 10 km from the center of Havana there is a tourist attraction, without visiting any tourist route in Cuba .This is one of the largest artificial parks in Latin America - the National Botanical Garden, and there really is something to see, to wonder and admire .Not only tourists, but also Cubans themselves love to come here, because in the gardens you can not just get acquainted with the rich flora of Latin America, Africa and Asia, but also have a great rest .A favorite place for visitors to visit is the wonderful Japanese garden with a soothing atmosphere .Nothing so charges spiritually, as contemplation of an amazing nature, when you sit in a cozy gazebo under the lulling overflow of a waterfall .The Japanese garden appeared here in 1989 ., he became a gift from the Asian community .By the way, botanists here are also frequent visitors, because in the territory of more than 600 hectares plants grow from all over the world .These are worthy objects for observation and research!
Flora
In the National Botanical Garden, more than 4,000 varieties of plants are collected, and the species characteristic of this locality (they are represented in the Caribbean Division) do not exceed 20% of the total area .And this is about 7000 plants from Cuba .The territory is divided into several thematic zones, most of all tourists like the zone of tropical plants, the valley of cacti and, of course, the Japanese garden .In the gardens you can see almost 60 species of palm trees and more than 500 varieties of orchids .Lovers of exotics are attracted by the "archaic" forest with its dense thickets of fossil plants that have been preserved since ancient times .
Gastronomy
The botanical garden boasts just seven restaurants, each of which offers its own menu. One establishment specializes in creole cuisine, in others you can taste home-cooked Cuban cuisine, and thirdly, you will be offered vegetarian delights.
Its restaurant is even in the Japanese garden - eco-restaurant Bamboo offers an excellent organic menu. Have not forgotten here and about the small visitors: in the park there is a small children's cafe with sweets and delicious cocktails.
If you want to take with you a piece of this luxurious flowering garden, do not try to rip off the plants. It is better to look in the local shop of decorative flowers, all the saplings in it are grown with love and are surrounded by attention and care. You can easily pick up for yourself a beautiful plant, or even one.
Helpful information
Address: Cuba, Habana, Jardin Botanico Nacional.
Phone: +53 (7) 697-91-60.
E-mail: hajb@ceniai.inf.cu.
Opening hours: Monday - Sunday: 9:00 - 16:30.
Entrance: 19 CUP, several times a day a tractor with a "trailer" runs around the park territory, the ticket cost is 3 CUP.
The National Botanical Gardens of Havana can be reached either by train (Estacion Calabazar station) or by bus (to the Parada Parque de Calabazar stop). Next to the gates of the garden itself, you need to drive about 3 km by taxi. For motorists there is a paid parking.
Prices are shown as of November 2014