Hikers can take it easy in Lankester Botanical Gardens
Lankester Botanical Gardens
Visiting Costa Rica is an adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime. No matter what part of the country you travel to, you’re guaranteed to have plenty of opportunities for exploration. Costa Rica hiking trails attract people from all over the globe who want to see the country’s unique wildlife and flora up close. If you love filling your vacations with hiking and other active endeavors, you’ll appreciate the wide variety of outdoor activities Costa Rica offers.
Looking for a hike that’s more relaxing than a grueling trek through tangled jungle overgrowth or steep mountain terrain? You might want to spend a day exploring Lankester Botanical Gardens in the city of Paraíso, Cartago. It’s perfect for those days when you want to enjoy the outdoors without working up a sweat. It’s also a great option for travelers who are visiting Costa Rica with children or seniors.
What To Expect
When you begin your trek through Lankester Botanical Gardens, you’ll notice right away that the terrain is mostly flat. There are a few hills that break up the monotony, but they’re small and don’t take too much effort to climb over. It’s easy to meander your way through the entire garden without tiring. In fact, you’ll probably be so mesmerized by the gorgeous scenery and local animal sightings that you won’t even notice how far you’ve walked.
If you decide to be adventurous and explore the nearby jungles, you’ll notice the terrain becomes a bit more challenging. However, it’s still possible for children and adults to hike the areas nearby without becoming overly tired. Despite the additional challenge of tromping through steeper areas surrounded by dense jungle growth, you’ll most likely find the experience to be very relaxing. There’s something serene and rejuvenating about the rich green plant growth all around you and the soothing sound of birds and other animals calling to each other from the depths of the rainforest.
Be careful to wear good shoes if you plan to tromp through jungle trails, since the terrain can be unforgiving. You might find yourself walking on flat, dry ground one minute, then slogging through mud puddles the next. Despite its unpredictable terrain, most of the paths around Lankester Botanical Gardens are not too difficult for the average hiker to undertake.
Plant and Animal Sightings
You’ll be treated to an impressive display of more than 3,000 unique plant varieties in the gardens, including rare orchid species that most people will never see in their lifetimes. While the local animal life tends to be shy, you may catch glimpses of tree frogs, colorful birds and monkeys. Make sure you put on plenty of bug spray so you aren’t bombarded by the approximately 5,000 different types of insects that live in Costa Rica.
How To Get There
The Lankester Botanical Gardens are located in Cartago province and was constructed in the 1940s. Charles H. Lankester, a renowned botanist, originally used the garden as his own private conservatory. Currently, the garden property covers a total area of 27.2 acres of land and is located just outside of Cartago (a city that’s about 25 kilometers east of San José). The public garden functions as both a research center for the University of Costa Rica and as a popular tourist destination.
Over time, garden caretakers have made the area even more attractive for active tourists by creating picturesque hiking trails through the garden itself, as well as through the jungle areas surrounding it. Unlike many of the grueling hiking trails nearby, most tourists find the trails through and around the botanical gardens to be casual and ideal for beginning hikers.
Finalize Your Itinerary
Finalizing your Costa Rica vacation plans? Add Lankester Botanical Gardens to your itinerary if you want to see some of the most beautiful plant life Costa Rica has to offer.
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