With year round warm temperatures as well as relatively high rainfall, I anticipated a lush tropical paradise at Isabel de Torres Botanical Gardens in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

I wasn’t disappointed with the verdant growth, but the whole garden had an air of gentle decay. Slowly, but surely, the 135,000-square meter (30-acre) garden is dissolving back into the jungle.

Other shortcomings to this botanical garden were the lack of labels, and many of the same plants throughout the gardens. The stone paths are also extremely slippery after rain. I crouched down and slid down on some of the paths.

I recommend travelling up to the garden by cable car ($10.00). Not only do you see great views of the Puerto Plata harbour, but you also see the luxuriant treetops below.

Although there’s a 4-hour trek up through the jungle to the peak, I wouldn’t suggest it. At the botanical gardens, one of the six soldiers lounging underneath the Christ the Redeemer statue let it slip that there were Haitians bandits in the jungle below. (Truth or fiction? Don’t know. There’s a general paranoia about their Haitians neighbours in DR).

Even with all the drawbacks, it’s worth seeing this cloud-shrouded tropical garden. I think the gothic author, Anne Rice, would approve of this garden’s otherworldly atmosphere.

More photos…

Daily max temp: 27 to 31 degree Celsius (81/88 degree F)

Daily min temp: 18 to 23 degree Celsius (64/73 degree F)

Rainfall: 1759 mm (69 inches)

Putting rainfall in perspective, Toronto’s average yearly precipitation is 834 mm (33 in), And our wettest city, Vancouver, get average annual rainfall of 1117.2 mm (43.98 inches)