The
Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is a biological transitional zone
between the semi-arid North Pacific and tropical South Pacific. So this
area is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species from both
areas. Our native botanic garden illustrates this biological diversity,
and includes many examples of heliconias, fruit trees, ornamentals,
and a fascinating spice tree garden.
Our
expert botanist, John Hall, designed and supervised the plantings of
our gardens. John has written several books on the native orchid, bromeliad
and tillandsia (air plants) species of Costa Rica, and is well-known
for his plant and animal illustrations. His creative approach to conservation
and landscape design has resulted in a truly memorable spectacle.
Our native bromeliad garden was formerly an above-ground swimming
pool that we converted into this very unique garden. It's full of
bromeliads, native frogs, turtles, iguanas and dozens of butterflies.
Some of the frogs are smaller than the tip of your pinkie finger,
and only come out at midnight! Our garden is home to bromeliads found
nowhere else on Earth. It is almost like visiting Jurassic Park!
Education
and conservation are central themes in our garden. Through the years,
we have removed hundreds of used tires from 
the
river, and recycled them in many different ways. We've used huge pieces
of driftwood from deforestation upriver as homes for our epiphytic
plants. We've recycled bromeliads from felled trees. We'll be happy
to show you some of the creative ideas we have implemented in our
garden when you visit us!
Mangrove
Estuary. Our
garden is located directly between them.
Every
morning and afternoon
when they fly to and from their nests,
dozens of scarlet macaws fly RIGHT OVER OUR GARDEN! There are very few places
on Earth where you can experience this
truly spectacular sight. Many of our guests consider this the highlight
of their entire Costa Rica vacation. 
