José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden

About

In Bogotá, you’ll discover an entire universe of natural attractions. But there is one place that stands out for its beauty and heritage: the José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden. Located in the Engativá district, in the western part of the city, this garden and district research center is responsible for managing Bogotá’s urban vegetation. It also develops environmental education programs that help conserve and maintain the city’s living plant collection.

Covering approximately 195,000 m², the Botanical Garden has an inventory of around 46,645 specimens, 304 families, 469 genera, and 903 plant species, of which 78% are native and 14% endemic. It also features a network of circuits that emulate ecosystems found across the country, especially high Andean and páramo ecosystems.

This natural sanctuary is named after astronomer and botanist José Celestino Mutis, the first scientist dedicated to the study of natural sciences in the New Kingdom of Granada. “El sabio Mutis,” as he was known, arrived in the country in 1760 as the personal physician to Viceroy Pedro Mesía de la Cerda. With the support of the colonial authorities, he would later begin the renowned Royal Botanical Expedition of the New Kingdom of Granada in 1783. The expedition lasted 33 years and catalogued 20,000 plant species and 7,000 animal species, laying the foundation for the nation’s tradition of studying its flora and fauna.

How to get there?

Located between Avenida Rojas and Calle 68, it is the iconic Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park. You can get there by TransMilenio and get off at El Tiempo station. From there, you’ll need to walk about 15 minutes north. You can also get there by SITP via Calle 63 and get off at Avenida 68.