Last Updated: August 4, 2025
Costa Rica is said to hold as much as five percent of the world’s total biodiversity. For such a small country, that means that around every corner you can see dozens of unique plants and animals. Imagine now, a meticulously planted botanical gardens with vegetation not only from Costa Rica, but around the world. The Wilson Botanical Garden at Las Cruces Biological Station is just that. We recently made a visit to this internationally recognized garden near San Vito in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone. In this post, give all the details to plan your own trip.
History of the Garden
The Wilson Botanical Garden was first established by Robert and Catherine Wilson in the early 1960s. The couple moved to southern Costa Rica in 1962 from Miami, Florida where they operated a tropical nursery. Upon their arrival, the property where the gardens are now, near San Vito, was nothing but abandoned coffee fields and cattle pasture.
Along with their plans to cultivate tropical plants, the two originally had hopes to start a tea farm. The effort and cost to process the tea leaves, however, soon thwarted that idea.
Instead, using their skills in horticulture and the design knowledge of a friend (famous Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx), an impressive tropical garden began to take shape.
In 1973, the Wilsons sold the property to the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) and remained on as managers for a number of years.
The OTS is a non-profit consortium of research institutions and universities. Its mission is to provide leadership in education, research, and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics.
In addition to the 25 acres (10 hectares) that make up the Wilson Botanical Garden, over the years OTS acquired more land that borders the property. They now own about 900 acres (365 hectares), which, including the Wilson Botanical Garden, make up Las Cruces Biological Station.
As the Wilsons aged, and eventually passed away, the OTS became more involved with the gardens but kept the Wilson name to honor of their efforts. The official name of the property is now Las Cruces Research Station and Wilson Botanical Garden.
The couple is buried on the property outside their former home. Today, the home is used to house research students who share the same enthusiasm for horticulture as the couple once did.
What You’ll See
The main attractions for visitors to the Las Cruces Research Station and Wilson Botanical Garden are the elaborate plant collections.
Over 2,000 different species of plants can be seen through a network of meandering garden paths and trails. Additional forested trails bring you through farther reaching sections of Las Cruces Biological Station. We’ll talk about both below.
The Wilson Botanical Gardens
The elaborate Wilson Botanical gardens are broken up into sections. Each features a different genus of plant with some crossover and additional species (like large trees) mixed in. Mostly, though, you will find areas of similar plants and see various plaques or tags identifying their scientific names.
In the past, the gardens were used mainly for scientific research so aesthetics wasn’t the priority. Recently though, changes to the gardens have made them more appealing to everyday visitors. Flowering species have been added to areas that previously held only leafy vegetation, and a hummingbird garden was constructed. The hummingbird garden is built in a Japanese style, and is quite beautiful.
Those walking through the gardens will pass through the following sections:
Tree Ferns and Palms
The Wilson Botanical Garden has the second largest collection of palm trees in the world with 700 species.
Marantas
Common as houseplants (e.g., prayer plant), this genus is known for low-growing lush and colorful leaves.
Bananas
Bananas aren’t always yellow. Some of the species in the gardens have beautiful reddish fruits or elaborate flowers.
Heliconias
Sometimes referred to as parrot flowers or lobster claws, these plants have interesting shaped flowers that allow only certain hummingbirds with curved beaks (like the green or brown hermit) to eat their nectar.
Dracaenas
A common genus to Africa. Also a popular houseplant.
Bamboos
There is a massive section of bamboo with 63 different species. Fifteen of the species are indigenous.
Gingers
Many of the ginger species have beautiful flowers. Our favorite is the beehive ginger, which has a waxy looking sort of honeycomb flower that is yellow, red, or a mixture of both.
Aroids
Occasionally referred to as philodendrons, these plants have interesting flower parts. Something called a spadix (picture a narrow corn cob) is usually centered on a spathe (leafy part of the flower).
Bulbs, Conifers, and Rhododendrons
This section of the garden, adjacent to the Wilson’s former home and grave site, has some mature conifer trees with nice beds of rhododendrons and bulbs beneath. There is also a picnic area and benches to take a rest.
Cycads
Sometimes mistaken for palm or fern species, cycads are ancient, slow growing seed plants with woody trunks and evergreen leaves. Though not as common these days, during the Jurassic Period, these plants were some of the most prolific.
Bromeliads
Bromeliad Hill, where the Wilsons are buried, is one of the more manicured areas of the property. A signature design method of Architect Roberto Burle Marx can also be found here. Look for the ruffled fan palm (Lacuala grandis) planted beside an imperial bromeliad (Vriesea imperialis).
Forest Trails
In addition to the garden paths, Las Cruces Research Station and Wilson Botanical Garden has seven trails that stretch over 12 km (7.5 miles).
Trails range in difficulty from easy to hard and cover a range of distances from only 0.5 km (0.3 miles) to 3.1 km (2 miles). Be sure to ask for a map of the forest trails, which has a lot of detailed info about the specific conditions.
Close to 494 acres (200 hectares) of the property are classified as primary (virgin) forest so the landscape is quite different than that of the gardens. Here, you’ll find towering canopy trees and understory vegetation native to Costa Rica. There is also ample opportunity to view wildlife. An impressive 425 species of birds and 800 species of butterflies and moths have been identified!
On our visit, we took the very short Rio Java Trail to the canopy tower to do some birdwatching. We then backtracked into the gardens and cut through the bamboo grove to connect with the Jungle Trail.
The shorter section of the Jungle Trail returned us to the botanical gardens for a total hike of about 40 minutes (going slow). This hike was easy to moderate with some slippery areas to traverse. The Jungle Trail also loops around another way, which would make the hike about an hour longer.
The Canopy Tower was probably the highlight of our hike since from the top you have an outstanding view of the forest and mountains. This tower is 15 meters (49 feet) and has vegetation of various heights surrounding it, which is great for birdwatching. We spotted a Blue-Gray Tanager and some Green Honeycreepers during our brief visit.
On the Jungle Trail, we also saw a group of Crested Guans posing on a branch. We didn’t see much for mammals on our short hike, but did see several agouti (small rodents about the size of a rabbit) along the garden paths.
Planning Your Visit to Las Cruces Research Station & Wilson Botanical Garden
Guided Tours
Short Walk (2 hours): 7:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., $36 per person adults, $24 per person children (ages 5-12), children under 5 are free.
Long Walk (4 hours): 7:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., $47 per person adults, $29 per person children (ages 5-12), children under 5 are free.
Birding and night tours can also be arranged.
Prior reservations are required: Email: visit.ots@tropicalstudies.org or call +506 2524-0607
For last minute inquiries, call Las Cruces Biological Station directly at +506 2773-4004 or +506 2773-410,
Directions
From the main intersection in San Vito, take Route 237 toward Ciudad Neily for 6 km (3.7 miles). The entrance to Las Cruces Research Station and Wilson Botanical Garden will be on the right.
Accommodations
Las Cruces Biological Station has a total of 12 cabins. Rates start at around $95/per person and include meals and one 2-hour tour (discount for children and additional people).
Another option nearby, which we really enjoyed, is Cascata del Bosco. This small hotel has four uniquely round cabins that are beautifully decorated and cozy. The cabins look out to the forest for some good birding opportunities, and you can also explore the private trails. The restaurant on-site has amazing wood-fired food.
Conclusion
If you are visiting southern Costa Rica and are a plant enthusiast, don’t miss an opportunity to visit the impressive collections at Las Cruces Research Station and Wilson Botanical Garden. In addition, the surrounding area is beautiful and the town of San Vito is very welcoming to tourists.
Have you visited the Las Cruces Research Station and Wilson Botanical Garden? Leave us a comment below.
Looking for more information to plan your visit to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
San Isidro de El General – If you’re on your way to San Vito from San Jose, consider this authentic Tico city as a stop. It has one of the largest farmer’s markets in the country.
El Arca Botanical Garden & Restaurant – This botanical garden near San Jose has a farm-to-table restaurant and is a must-visit for plant lovers!
Manuel Antonio Spice Farm – Walk through the jungle and gardens here to see cinnamon, black pepper, cacao, and vanilla growing.
Things to Do in Costa Rica – Looking for more activities for your trip? Our Things to Do articles cover 150+ activities all around Costa Rica.
