The 9 Best Gardens in Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica

*It is always advised to call ahead in case Finca Cántaros must close unexpectedly for special circumstances* Finca Cantaros is a 17.3-acre private nature reserve about 2 km south of the town of San Vito. Enjoy grand vistas of the surrounding Coto Brus countryside & Talamanca Mountains; walk the trails through gardens and secondary forests; relax in one of several ranchos/shelters; bird watch; view several archaeological objects on the grounds close to Laguna Zoncho, a natural wetland with aquatic birds. Entry fees. Foreign visitors: $6.50/adult, $3.25/adolescent (12-17), under 12 free. Residents: ¢2000/adult, ¢1250/adolescent (12-17), under 12 free. The owners also maintain a store of selected crafts and other artisanal products of Costa Rica as well as crafts from Central and South America. Proceeds of store purchases as well as entrance fees help defray the expenses of maintaining the nature reserve.

Ave Azul de la Osa is a federally licensed Avicultural compound, supporting conservation through captive propagation.Owner / Director of Ave Azul de la Osa, Patrick S. Dunn was director of Kauai Zoological Gardens and curator of birds for 8 years while managing the parrot park for near 17 years simultaneously. Now with Ave Azul he prevents endangered birds from extinction.

The Monteverde Butterfly Gardens has been teaching people about the marvels of insects and arachnids for over 20 years. Our mission has always been to change the way people view these small but fantastically diverse animals. It is not hard either- with 4 different butterfly habitats housing up to 30 species of butterfly, a leaf cutter ant colony and over 20 species of live Costa Rican insects and arachnids in our nature centre we have something that will melt the heart of even the most devout bug crusher! A dedicated and passionate group of staff and volunteers will guide you on a tour through our three acre facility where you will see just some of the amazing insects and arachnids Costa Rica has to offer! The property is lush and full of other Costa Rican favourites such as capuchin monkeys and agoutis! Birders will not be disappointed with wrens galore and common visits from Keel Billed toucan, blue crowned motmot and the occasional appearance of the famed bell bird. We are open 365 days a year, so drop by whenever you can!

Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls is unique in Costa Rica. It is truly a "Visual Masterpiece". The gardens begin with the natural beauty of Costa Rica and four waterfalls in the property with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. To this millions of plants, flowers and orchids from all over the world have been added. Manicured walkways meander long a river and at the crest of the mountain which make the entire 50 acre gardens accessible to all. Have lunch in our restaurant and browse the gift shop that offers authentic Costa Rica gifts.

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), a nonprofit consortium of universities and research institutions from the US, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, South Africa, and Australia. The OTS operates three biological field stations in Costa Rica (Las Cruces, La Selva and Palo Verde) as part of its mission to provide leadership in education, research, and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics. We offer cabins with private bath, twin beds, fans and balcony with view to the gardens. There is s forest in the property, if you are a nature lover definately this place for you! The Wilson Botanical Garden is located at 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level along a spur of the Fila Cruces coastal range, and is about 300 km southeast of the capital San José in Coto Brus County. The prevailing temperatures at Las Cruces are pleasant and range from 21° – 27° C (70° – 80° F) during the day and 15° – 21° C (low 60° F) at night. The dry season runs from January to April. Come to visit us!

The Monteverde Orchid Garden is a place where you can enjoy beauty that is found in the marvelous world of orchids. Our garden has a large collection of orchids; we have more than 425 different species. You can find species that are endemic to Monteverde, and a collection of miniature orchids, including the smallest one in the world. We offer guided walks both in English and Spanish. We are in a great location in down town Santa Elena.

The Montezuma Butterfly Gardens is located 1.6 km outside of Montezuma on the Montezuma-Delicias road where the trail to the upper waterfalls is located. The Butterfly garden is open 7 days a week 8am-5pm. The entrance fee is $4.

San Bosco Eco Farm, located in the highlands of Monteverde is an unique family project where visitors can enjoy a lush tropical forest, admire hundreds of species of native orchids, live the fun experience of a farm and discover the secrets of nocturnal wildlife.