Guyana Botanical Gardens
One of the oldest botanical gardens in the Caribbean, where you can feed West Indian manatees in the ponds and enjoy water lilies and tropical birds.
The gardens were established in the late 1870s and cover about 50 hectares. Highlights include groves of palms, a pond of Victoria amazonica giant water lilies, and canals. The most popular activity is feeding the manatees along the canal. Staff and visitors use leafy greens to coax the manatees to the surface, and the afternoon tends to offer the best chances. The gardens are also home to parrots, toucans and other tropical birds. Next door are the Guyana Zoo and the Castellani House, the former residence of the artist Cesare Castellani, now the National Gallery of Art. Entry is free. The grounds are large and some areas are quiet, so it is best to visit in daylight with a companion and to take a taxi there and back.
Opening hours
Open daytime
Nearby sights
- Guyana Zoo
- Castellani House
- 1763 Monument
- Bourda Market
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Brickdam Cathedral)
- St. George's Cathedral
- Georgetown City Hall
- St. Andrew's Kirk