COSTA RICA FLOWERS

Think of it: one of every 20 kinds of plants.

One of every 20 species of animals on the globe.

More butterflies than in all of Africa.

As many birds as in the Continental United States. Almost as many as all of Europe combined.

The magnificent, remote Osa Peninsula, described by National Geographic as the "most biologically intense place on earth."

All waiting for your Costa Rica vacation.

Imagine a place where there are 1400 kinds of orchids (more are being discovered all the time).

Here are a few examples of Costa Rica botanical gardens you will find when you travel Costa Rica.

Monteverde Orchid Garden

You can look for some yourself in the park or visit the little town of Santa Elena (in the Park) and go to the Monteverde Orchid Garden and see more than 450 gathered in one place.

Opened in 2006, tours of this privately owned garden typically take between 30 minutes and an hour.

Monteverde is well worth a couple of days of your Costa Rica vacation. There are lots of things to do in the area, which is easily reached from either San Jose (plan on three hours) or Liberia (Costa Rica's second international airport serving its Gold Coast) and Monteverde is one of Costa Rica's Seven Wonders, visit here

Lancaster Gardens

Originally private, they were donated to the University of Costa Rica.

Today these 26 acres are home to a dazzling display of orchids (more than 1,000 kinds) as well as collections of bamboos, heliconias, cacti and other succulents, bromeliads, palms, and conifers.

A favorite of butterflies (there's also a butterfly enclosure), hummingbirds, and other creatures, this is a "must-see" botanical garden almost in the shadow of the magnificent Volcano Irazu where, on a clear day, you'll be able to see two great oceans from the summit of an active volcano!

Open daily except Easter Week (called Santa Semana), Christmas and New Years, this is one of the great bargains for seeing Costa Rica flowers.

With nearly 3,000 different kinds of flowers and plants, there's nearly always something in bloom.

But, if you're lucky enough to be here between February and April you'll be particularly dazzled by the colors.

Admission fee for nonresidents is about $3.00.

And, while you are in the neighborhood looking at Costa Rica flowers, be sure to visit the Center for Tropical Agriculture Investigations and Learning, a huge (a typical tour takes 5 hours), wonderful research facility with, among other things, 2,500 different species of coffee (and great bird-watching)!

Learn more by visiting our page about Turrialba Volcano.

Wilson Botanical Gardens

Like some of the other Costa Rica botanical gardens, this was originally developed by private people, Robert and Catherine Wilson, who donated it to the Organization for Tropical Studies, a 50 university research and study consortium. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are buried in their beloved gardens, covering an astounding 145 hectares or 360 acres.

You can visit this magnificent park with its incredible 7,000 species of Costa Rica flowers and tropical plants from around the world, including the world's largest collection of palms. Some plant species here are very rare and even extinct in their natural habitat.

You'll find Wilson Botanical Gardens in

La Amistad International Park, click for info

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