Welcome to the Discover Costa Rica Garden All-Inclusive Tour with Jana Milbocker!

Immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty of Costa Rica's tropical gardens and experience the vibrant biodiversity of this stunning Central American country. From the lush rainforests to the dazzling butterfly gardens, join us on this unforgettable adventure.

Meet your group leader Jana Milbocker!

Jana is a garden designer, speaker, and author, and will be leading this tour with DGT for the second time. Jana loves to visit gardens and historic sites in the U.S. and abroad, and share her trips through her books, photos and blog. She is the author of 4 travel guides and has lectured at flower shows, horticultural societies, garden clubs, and libraries throughout the East Coast. She is also owner of Enchanted Gardens, a landscape design firm in the Boston area.  See EnchantedGardensDesign.com

 A $1,000 deposit, per person, is required to hold your reservation. The last day to register is  October 01, 2025 with final payment due no later than December 6, 2025.

This tour requires a minimum of 12 tour participants to make it a Go!

For more information on this, or any of our other tours, please call or text Ray at 816-842-7500 or send him an email at ray@discoverourtours.com.

Please Note: Changes to the itinerary may be necessary due to weather, availability, or other factors beyond our control.  We will update the itinerary on the website if changes occur.

Participants must be able to endure moderate physical activity (daily activities may include 2-4 hours of walking and 2-3 hours of bus riding) and should be in overall good health!

A valid passport is mandatory to leave the U.S. and/or to enter Costa Rica. Your passport must not expire within 6 months of your return from Costa Rica, otherwise, it will be considered non-valid and need to be renewed.  If you need a passport, or if your passport needs to be renewed, please act now!  It can take up to several months to receive a new or replacement passport.

The purchase of trip insurance is highly recommended.

Guest Cancellation Policy:

Days Before First Tour Date:           Refund:

90 days or more                                Full refund (minus credit card processing fees)

89 to 60 days                                     You are responsible for 50% of all fees owed

59 days or less                                   You are responsible for 100% of all fees owed

Monday, January 12, 2026

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica!  Forget about the stress and hassle of airports and flights, and get ready to enjoy the Pura Vida!

Upon arrival at San Jose International Airport (SJO), you will be met by your driver and taken to the Hotel Bougainvillea.  Depending on what time you arrive, take time to relax and explore the hotel and grounds.  The Welcome Dinner will begin at 7:00pm.

ACTIVITIES:

Transfer: from SJO to Hotel Bougainvillea

Lodging: Hotel Bougainvillea

Meals: Welcome Dinner

SPECIAL NOTE:

After clearing Immigration and Customs, you will exit the terminal where your driver will be hold a "Discover Garden Tours " sign.

Lodging at Hotel Bougainvillea

One of the few independent hotels left in the Central Valley in Costa Rica, this well-located place overflows with personality. Ten acres of botanical gardens, art, rocks and minerals, a restaurant very much liked by locals as well as visitors, swimming pool, tennis courts, and most importantly, the people who work with us, all conspire to make the hotel a destination rather than just a stop-over.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging:  Hotel Bougainvillea

Visit:  Poas Volcano

Tour:  La Paz Waterfall Garden

Poás Volcano

Poás Volcano is one of the major attractions in the Central Valley region

and one of the most visited national parks in Costa Rica. The volcano is a

powerful symbol of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica. When

the mist and clouds part you’ll see the sulfuric, bubbling, green rain-fed

lake at the bottom, surrounded by smoke and steam rising from fumaroles.

There are several routes that take you around the volcano, including a

paved, level, .3 mile crater-overlook trail, and other trails that highlight the

birds that live in the park and two of the endemic species—Poás squirrels,

and escalonia trees.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park features beautiful waterfalls, the

largest animal sanctuary in Costa Rica with over 100 species of animals, and

2 miles of cloud and rainforest hiking trails. Enjoy views of the waterfalls, a

butterfly house, snake and frog exhibits, hummingbirds, jaguars, pumas,

sloths, monkeys, and lovely flowers!

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging:  Villa Florencia

Visit:  Mrs. Terán's Private Garden

Tour:  Sólo Rosas Rose Garden

After checking out from the hotel, we will board our private shuttle to Turrialba. Here we will visit Mrs. Ileana Terán's home, see her private garden, and learn as she shares stories and knowledge over coffee and "bocas."

Continuing on to Cartago, the Costa Rica capital in colonial times, we will tour the Sólo Rosas Rose Garden. Our travels continue to the Turrialba Valley, in the shade of the active Turrialba volcano.

Sólo Rosas Rose Garden

Don Martin Guzmán traveled thousands of kilometers to the south of France - with a single objective: to select the best varieties of roses in the world. In 1978, he planted the first 3,000 rose bushes in his botanical garden. The result is this beautiful botanical garden located in Llano Grande de Cartago, on the slopes of the Irazú Volcano, where you will find roses with the most exquisite, colorful, large, abundant and resistant aromas and perfumes.

Turrialba Situated in the Costa Rican Cartago Province, the small city of Turrialba is home to flourishing agriculture, textile, and tourism industries. Renowned for its amazing white water rafting, visitors can enjoy thrilling excursions down the Pacuare and Reventazon Rivers. This city serves as the gateway to the Costa Rican Caribbean and has been declared as a city of National Archeological Interest. Visitors can explore the largely undiscovered Turrialba Volcano National Park, home of the active Turrialba Volcano.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Villa Florencia

Tour: Hacienda Sitio de Mata

Visit: CATIE Botanical Garden

In the morning we will visit Hacienda Sitio de Mata, where you will learn about the whole process for the coffee and the sugar cane.  There will be opportunities to try all the different products available! Later in the day we will visit the Tropical Agronomy Center for Research and Learning (CATIE), and see their botanical gardens with plants from around the world.

Hacienda Sitio de Mata Tour

Hacienda Sitio de Mata offers a guided expedition consisting of touring the hacienda, where visitors learn about the different processes of coffee, macadamia and sugar cane. During the tour, visitors also visit a colonial church from 1850 and a plank house built in 1750 on the slopes of the Irazú volcano. The journey includes a Costa Rican typical lunch.

The Botanical Garden of CATIE

Surrounded by the calls of birds, the whisper of the giant Guanacaste tree and the imposing Ceiba, The Botanical Garden of CATIE is a special place to relax. Here, tourists find life ranging from minuscule insects to exquisite orchids, bromeliads and robust stands of bamboo. The garden serves as a laboratory for students and scientists investigating the molecular and morphological characteristics of the conserved species. It is also an educational site, where awareness about environmental conservation and the sustainable use and protection of natural resources is promoted.

Friday, January 16, 2026

ACTIVITIES

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Suria

Visit: Lankaster Botanic Garden

Tour: Coopedota Coffee Farm

Check-out from Villa Florencia. and transfer for a visit to Lankester Boranical Garden.  The small garden is a research center for the University of Costa Rica, cultivating an array of breathtaking orchids. Afterward, experience the Coopedota coffee plantations and "Beneficio" (coffee factory), where you will learn about the process of coffee. The area of Dota is consistently among the highest-ranking coffee producers in the world!

Lankester Botanical Garden

Lankester Botanical Garden is located in Costa Rica, set on a 11-hectare property providing conservation, exhibition and research of tropical epiphytic plants with a focus on orchids. The botanical garden features over 3000 species of plants, a Japanese Garden, forest with trails, souvenir shop, and a deck area for eating and drinking.

Coopedota Coffee Farm

Based in Santa Maria de Dota, the Coopedota Coffee Tour takes us on a tour of a coffee farm to create public awareness around the process of producing organic coffee in order to protect the earth's natural resources. The farm uses environmentally friendly techniques that work in harmony with the local environment and forest to avoid wasting one of the most precious resources which is water. At the end of the tour, visitors can participate in coffee tastings. 

Saturday, January 17, 2026

ACTIVITIES:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Suria

Hotel Suria

Hotel Suria is a charming family hotel located in the mountains of San

Gerardo de Dota. Owned by Hilda Araya and family for 18 years, the hotel

offers genuine hospitality.

San Gerardo de Dota is a tiny town at the bottom of the Talamanca

Mountain Range. With an altitude of 6600 feet, San Gerardo de Dota has

fresh, clean air, lush green rainforest and incredible biodiversity. Nestled in

the valley of the Savegre River, it is the perfect destination for the nature

lover and avid birder!

The Suria Hotel features 20 rooms sited on 10 acres of lush grounds,

gardens, and creeks. On the hotel grounds, you are likely to see

hummingbirds, butterflies, and other local wildlife. The sounds of the wind

combined with the songs of the birds create an unforgettable experience

amidst the lush, evergreen nature.

You will have the day on your own to relax or your guide will be available to take you on a birdwatching walk, look for the Quetzal, visit to the Paramo and more.  They will discuss the options with the tour group in advance of arrival at the hotel.  The options include a Quetzal tour, Birdwatching tour, Paramo tour and more.

Sunday, January 18, 2026

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging:  Hotel San Bada

Visit:  Villa Vanilla 

Free Afternoon: Relax!

After breakfast at the hotel, we will embark on our drive to the Quepos area. We will visit Villa Vanilla and take the Rainforest Spices Farm Tour.

Villa Vanilla Rainforest Spices Farm Tour

Villa Vanilla Rainforest Spices Farm Tour takes place at the magical Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation located in the Central Pacific rain forest, overlooking Manuel Antonio National Park. Spanning over 27 acres of agriculture production and 125 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, this expansive farmland houses vanilla, as well as true Ceylon cinnamon, cocoa, black pepper, allspice, turmeric, and a variety of exotic fruits, essential oil and medicinal plants. This serene tour allows participants to experience the sights, tastes, and aromas of the spices, meander along the winding plantation trail and shop for souvenirs to take home.

Monday, January 19, 2026

ACTIVITIES:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Hotel San Bada

Visit: Manuel Antonio National Park

Enjoy the morning strolling through Manuel Antonio National Park taking in all it has to offer. The park is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and popular during the high season. Grab an early breakfast so we can arrive to the park ahead of the crowds. We will leave Manual Antonio for lunch and enjoy an afternoon filling our senses with local cuisine ingredients as we prepare and make dinner together.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Set just south of Quepos, on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast is the Manuel Antonio National Park. Boasting enthralling rain forests,  beaches, and gorgeous coral reefs, this is an ultimate destination for outdoor explorers. In the forests, hikers may see iguanas, sloths, snakes, lizards, butterflies, different types of monkeys and brightly colored tiny crabs. The forest is a mecca for birdwatchers - there are more than 350 spectacular bird species including toucans and emerald amazon kingfishers.

Some of the best beaches are the Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio, and the conditions for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing, are excellent here. We will have plenty of time for a swim in the ocean, walk along the beach, or catching some rays.

Notes:

1. It is forbidden to bring any meals or snacks inside the park.  Only water, in non-disposable bottles is allowed. Your bags will be checked at the entrance by park rangers.

2. Wear your swimming suit underneath your clothes, as the lines to the changing rooms are very long! Bring a towel from the hotel to dry yourself after your swim in the ocean.

3. Wear comfortable walking shoes, you will need to walk on pebbly trails for about one mile.

Free Afternoon!

Enjoy your afternoon however you would like in this beautiful paradise!

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

ACTIVITIES:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Bougainvillea

Visit: The Green Ark

Check-out from Hotel San Bada. Travel through the Central Valley, stopping at The Green Ark, where we will enjoy lunch followed by a tour with its terraces of different crops. 

In the evening, share a Farewell Dinner at Hotel Bougainvillea.

The Green Ark

The Green Ark is located in Santa Barbara de Heredia, Costa Rica, and is a foundation that aims to educate and share knowledge of the use of plants. The botanical garden features different terraces, including a Medicinal garden, a culinary garden, a tropical food garden, an essential oils garden and a natural colorants garden. You will enjoy walking around the garden on our guided tour.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Check-out from Hotel Bougainvillea. Transfer from the hotel to Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]

INCLUDED:

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer: To SJO Airport

It’s time to go back to reality; we hope to have fulfilled your expectations.
Buen viaje! We hope to see you again soon on another Discover Garden Tour.

Pura vida!

Note: For international flights, airlines suggest to be at the airport 3 hours in advance.