WILSON BOTANICAL GARDENS

This garden was born in 1963 on the initiative of a couple of naturalists and, since 1983, it has been part of La Amistad Park. On a property of 365 hectares, the 10 hectares of gardens are reserved for the cultivation of tropical plants in a setting designed by a Brazilian horticulturist. Endangered plant species are grouped together in greenhouses. This complex is the basis for reforestation studies conducted by researchers and students from around the world. Some 6 km of trails, named after certain plants grown (the "Fern Hill" trail, for example), have been laid out through the forest surrounding the gardens. For convenience, it is advisable to walk them during the dry season, but the exuberance of the wet season (April to December) highlights a greater number of plants such as orchids, ferns or epiphytes, including the fabulous bromeliads. To find your way among the 200 species present, do not hesitate to buy the brochure that the administration puts at your disposal. Very well done, it could even be an excellent souvenir once you come back (it is not a question of forgetting everything you have learned). It is possible to eat there, but only with a reservation. The research station also offers accommodation, mostly reserved for researchers, but some small houses can accommodate individuals.