This was the first Botanical Garden set up in Central America and the only one in Guatemala. At present, the Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (CECON) is in charge of the garden's management and maintenance. It offers a wide variety of local and exotic plants, including a wide range of Guatemalan, endemic and endangered species. There are 18,000 square meters of gardens and visiting is a pleasant educational experience, as most of the plants are classified according to their common and scientific names. There are also guided tours for groups and assistance to researchers, teachers and students. The garden plays an important role within the conservation of species, as it includes the Index Seminum Unit, which collects seeds from the Botanical Garden and the countryside in order to exchange them with other botanical gardens abroad. It supports botanical education in Guatemala. Entrance to the Gardens is through the Museo de Historia Natural.