Lankester Botanical Garden is one of the main tourist attractions in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Besides being a botanical garden it is a Research Center that is part of the University of Costa Rica. It is dedicated to the exhibition, conservation and the study of orchids. The Garden is located in the City of Cartago, about thirty kilometers from San José, the capital of the country.
A paradise of orchids
Lankester Botanical Garden is one of the main tourist attractions in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Besides being a botanical garden it is a Research Center that is part of the University of Costa Rica. It is dedicated to the exhibition, conservation and the study of orchids. The Garden is located in the City of Cartago, about thirty kilometers from San José, the capital of the country.
The orchids
For reasons such as its location and its geological history, Costa Rica is one of the countries with more diversity of species of orchids. More than 1.600 species are actually known, and 25% of them are endemic to this small country. In the greenhouses of Lankester Botanical Garden visitors have the unique opportunity to observe more than 20.000 orchid plants being cultivated. These belong to the more than a thousand different species that have been collected as part of the scientific and conservation activities of its researchers. Among these emblematic species we have the Guaria Morada (National Flower of Costa Rica) Guaria Turrialba (Cattleya dowiana), Toritos (Stanhopeas), Golden Rains (Oncidiums) and hundreds of species of miniature orchids among which are some of the smallest of the world that measure just a few millimeters.
Other attractions
In just over 11 hectares in Lankester Botanical Garden over 3.000 species of plants are grown. Its secondary forests are home to many species of birds, butterflies and other small animals. Among the collections that the visitor can enjoy are the cactus, heliconias, bamboos, palms, and ferns.
One of the main attractions is a beautiful Japanese Garden that serves as a unique place for activities such as weddings and meetings.
Japanese Garden
The Lankester Botanical Garden has extensive universal access trails, guided tour services for students and groups of tourists, a souvenir shop, plants for sale, coffee shop and rentable.spaces for academic and social meetings.
