Visiting Botanical Gardens

[Felidae]

Would like to see the botanical gardens on my own. Is it within walking distance of the port? If not, can anyone recommend a way to get there?

Thanks!

[CoralReef]

It is not within walking distance. We had a rental car because we wanted to see the rainforest & north shore. Not a bad option at $70 per day. Otherwise, I think your best option is a taxi. If there are only two of you, maybe you can find another couple on your Roll Call or at the pier to share costs. If you are active, you could probably reach it by rental bike.

[Sherry Baby]

It is not walkable. We have just returned, and went to the gardens, Whim Plantation, and Cruzan Rum for $25 pp, with 4 people, in a taxi van. It was not easy to get this rate, but "Mary" is the driver that said yes.

 

I wrote more on this board, in reply to where it says "frustrating lack of options".

[Pepperwood]

We used Andre Toussaint as our island guide. As part of his tour, he usually goes to the rum factory, but because that was closed on Sunday, he took us to the Botanical Gardens instead. Andre was extremely well-versed in the history of the Gardens (a former sugar cane slave plantation) and very knowledgeable about everything growing in the Gardens. He constantly broke off leaves and flowers for us to smell, and described their uses in island cooking and medicine. In addition, he was able to name every plant we asked about.

 

In my opinion, even if it is not a Sunday, if you are using Andre, get him to skip the rum factory and take you to the Botanical Gardens instead--a fascinating time.

 

(Cost for the day was $35 pp for 8 of us, plus a $5 admission to the Gardens).