Botanical Garden La Catalina - Grecia

Botanical Garden La Catalina - Grecia

Grecia, Costa Rica

La Catalina botanical garden is a project of rural tourism and a research center located 15 km north from San José airport. This makes it a very interesting visit for people who have just arrived or are leaving the country and are looking for a short but interesting activity in the area. They offer a tour every Saturday and Sunday that you have to book in advance. (check the contact section below).

The roads are quite good and will go through hills covered with coffee plantations. You will not have any problem, you can make it even with a Fiat Punto. You can leave the car directly in the farm.

The farm size is 1 hectare. The father of one of the guides (Randall) bought the land several years ago and they have been adding more and more plant species little by little to the forest.

The activity includes an educational chat, a snack and a guided tour. During the tour you will be shown a wide variety of plants and flowers, many of them can only be found in this farm in Costa Rica, and some others are very rare even in the whole world, such as blue or pink bananas. You will also spot different types of frogs, birds, insects and see a waterfall.
It’s worth mentioning the giant variety of the orchid collection that encompasses nearly 570 different species. Most of them are very unusual and fascinating.

The total duration of the visit is 3 to 4 hours. It’s a very personal activity, during which you will have a talk about the local culture, their beliefs, the story of the mad Catalina who didn’t let the kids play in the waterfall and stole their clothes… and you will have the possibility to meditate as well. You will learn a lot about the tropical rainforests and their conservation.

At the end of the visit you will try natural juices and delicious homemade pastries. .

It’s a very personal and unique experience. You will learn not only things about botany, but also culture and beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation.