Casa Orquideas
Quick Facts
- Location : Playa San Josecito, Golfo Dulce
- Altitude : Sea level
- Area : 12 acres
- Hours : Reservation required
- Telephone : 8829-1247
- Entrance Fee : $10
Located a short 25 minute boat ride from Puerto Jimenez, Casa Orquideas' bright, maze-like geography is strangely reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The garden hosts some 100 species of orchids along with heliconias, bromeliads and slew of edible plants.
read more closeFounded nearly 30 years ago by American expats Ron and Trudy MacAllister, Casa Orquideas offers guests carefully landscaped paths blooming with bromeliads, heliconias, cycads, ornamental trees, ginger plants and various fruit trees. Visitors frequently spot colorful toucans, scarlet macaws and hummingbirds at the gardens and owner, Trudy, is highly knowledgeable on medicinal plants and local flora.
Two-hour guided tours are offered Sundays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. and cost $10 per person. Self-guided tours are available Mon-Wed and Saturday. The gardens are closed on Fridays and reservations are recommended for all visits.
Getting There:
The gardens can be reached by boat, kayak, or on foot for travelers staying on the Golfo Dulce's Playa San Josecito. Visitors staying in either Puerto Jimenez or Golfito can take a water taxi to the gardens for roughly $75 round-trip.