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 third year in a row. 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 15, 2026 with final payment due no later than November 15, 2026.

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 mandatory.

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

Arrive a day early on Friday, January 15 and stay at the Hotel Bougainvillea.

Give yourself time to relax after traveling or enjoy exploring San Jose. Well situated in the heart of San Jose, you will be able to walk to many restaurants and museums from the hotel. See cost and availability under the Add-ons section above.

You can also book The City Tour for the day on Saturday January 16, 2027.

See information on The City Tour listed below.

Saturday, January 16, 2027

The San Jose City Tour will consist of a private guide/driver, entrance fees to the Gold Museum, and the Jade Museum. Lunch is not included in the price, but will be at a local restaurant selected buy your guide/driver.

This is a great way for you to experience the heart of Costa Rica's rich cultural heritage with our exclusive San Jose City Tour, where a private guide and driver will take you through the stunning Gold and Jade Museums, offering an intimate and seamless journey through the country's most treasured history.

See cost and availability under the Add-ons section above.

Saturday, January 16, 2027

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 7:00 pm.

ACTIVITIES:

Transfer: from SJO to Hotel Bougainvillea

Lodging: Hotel Bougainvillea

Activity: Welcome Dinner

SPECIAL NOTE:

After clearing Immigration and Customs, you will exit the terminal where your driver will be holding 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.

Sunday, January 17, 2027

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging:  Hotel Bougainvillea

Tour:  La Paz Waterfall Garden

Visit:  The Green Arc

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!

The Green Arc

A tour The Green Ark Botanical Garden is a tour of the senses. Herbs are crushed to smell and taste. The garden paths meander through trees, bamboo stands and a diversity of gardens in one of the most extensive collections of plants in Central America.

Monday, January 18, 2027

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.

Mrs. Terán's Private Garden

Doña Ileana is the founder of SACRO (Save Costa Rica's Orchids), an organization dedicated to protecting plants in their natural habitats, preserving the guaria morada, educating students to become defenders of nature, and supporting community conservation projects. Her philosophy is simple and compelling: when we cultivate these plants, we come to know them, to love them, and, through that love, to protect them. A visit to doña Ileana’s home is not a tour. It’s an intimate encounter with one remarkable woman's life's work and with the irreplaceable natural heritage of Costa Rica itself.

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.

Tuesday, January 19, 2027

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.

Wednesday, January 20, 2027

ACTIVITIES

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Bougainvillea

Visit: Lankester Botanic Garden

Check-out from Villa Florencia. and transfer for a visit to Lankester Boranical Garden.

Lankester Botanical Garden

A visit to Lankester Botanical Garden, nestled in the Central Valley near Cartago, Costa Rica, is a paradise for plant lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. Managed by the University of Costa Rica, the garden is world-renowned for its breathtaking orchid collection — one of the finest in the Americas — with thousands of species in bloom throughout the year. Strolling along its serene, shaded pathways, visitors are treated to a remarkable diversity of bromeliads, cacti, aroids, and tropical trees, all thoughtfully arranged to highlight both their beauty and scientific significance. It is a quiet, contemplative retreat that perfectly blends botanical research with natural wonder.

Thursday, January 21, 2027

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.

Friday, January 22, 2027

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.

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!

Saturday, January 23, 2027

ACTIVITIES:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Bougainvillea

Tour: Jardin Else Kientzler

Check-out from Hotel San Bada. Travel through the Central Valley, stopping for today's tour at Jardin Else Kientzler.

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

Jardin Else Kientzler

Jardín Else Kientzler, located near Sarchí in Costa Rica's Central Valley, is a stunning botanical garden offering a peaceful journey through thousands of tropical and subtropical plant species — from vibrant heliconias and exotic orchids to towering palms and fragrant gingers — all set along winding, well-maintained paths. Named after Swiss-Costa Rican philanthropist Else Kientzler, the garden blends beauty with a deep commitment to conservation and education. Visitors can stroll at a leisurely pace, taking in the kaleidoscope of colors, breathing in tropical fragrances, and spotting hummingbirds and butterflies along the way — a true gem that captures the lush spirit of Costa Rica.

Sunday, January 24, 2027

ACTIVITIES:

Meals: Breakfast

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 inadvance. 

Come early or extend your stay. Tell Discover Garden Tours what you would like to do before, or after the tour, and we can provide a customized itinerary and quote.