I’ve always been drawn to natural flora and fauna so it was an easy yes to admiring nature at Lankester Botanical Gardens on our Orosi Loop.

The Jardin Botanico Lankester was founded in the 1940s when the British naturalist Charles Lankester expressed interest in the cultivation of epiphytic plants in Costa Rica. Although an amateur botanist, Charles dedicated his life to a private garden on his estate.

The gardens flourished under his care and study and after his death, the importance of the garden became even more evident.

The garden was donated to the University of Costa Rica in 1973 with the commitment that they would turn it into a botanical garden open to the public with support from the American Orchid Society and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.

Both my mom and Jim’s mom were avid gardeners and I wish they had been able to stroll the lush grounds with us enjoying a stunning display of exotic orchids but also a lovely Japanese garden complete with a replica tea house.

My mom had a stunning rose garden and Jim’s mom toured gardens with us in several countries around the world. It’s been nearly a decade since we became nomadic and the one thing I miss from having a home is our extensive vegetable and flower cutting garden. A place such as Jardin Botanico Lankester is a bit like coming home.

As you enjoy the gardens you move easily between the orchids, ferns, and palms.

Further along the path are the bromeliads, heliconias, and even a small cactus display.

There is even a spectacular bamboo forest.

As if the stunning floral display wasn’t enough, we had a spectacular lunch on the grounds, experiencing our first-ever choripan; a delicious chorizo grilled and served on a toasted bun with freshly prepared chimichurri sauce all enjoyed on the grassy lawns.

Enjoy this photo essay of some of the most spectacular floral displays we enjoyed and make sure to check it out if you find yourselves in the area. It is well worth the price of admission.

Lankester Botanical Gardens – R4Q5+QWM, Cartago Province, Cartago, Costa Rica

Open daily. Admission $10.00 USD for non-residents.