CATIE Botanical Gardens
Good to Know
CATIE Botanical Garden, nestled near Turrialba Volcano, is a renowned center for tropical agricultural research and education. Spanning 45 hectares, it showcases 4,000 plant species, including those native to Costa Rica and other tropical regions. This educational destination offers diverse tours, appealing to photographers, gardeners, and nature enthusiasts eager to explore its rich biodiversity and historical campus. It is dedicated to preserving plant species from tropical areas worldwide.
CATIE Botanical Garden is located in the shadow of the active Turrialba Volcano. In English, CATIE stands for, Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center. This garden is given the upmost respect from people all around the world as members work hard in preserving plant species that are not only native to Costa Rica, but tropical areas worldwide.
CATIE can be dated back to the 1940's when the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Sciences was founded. In the 1960's CATIE was just the research center but later turned into what it is today. CATIE is home to hundreds of different plant species, which form the grand total of 4,000 plants in the Botanical Garden. The garden reaches out to over 45 hectares that guest love to explore!
There are several different tour options offered to guests, those being: Garden the Bio Diversity Tours, CATIE Campus Tour, Collections, and Combination of Tours. The Garden Bio Diversity Tour is great for visitors wanting to experience nature to the fullest with the sounds of the birds chirping to the vibrant plant colors. This tour brings guests through various plant species ranging from bamboo to heliconias. The CATIE Campus Tour takes you through a building containing the history and mission of the garden. Guests will also walk through several other areas on campus one of which being the lake. The Collections tour allows visitors to get a glimpse of the 95 different species of trees. Finally there is the Combination of Tours which is an option for guests that plan on spending the afternoon in CATIE as it is a combination of all the other tours. Tours vary in prices.
Hours of operation are from 7 am to 4 pm
Driving Distances
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CATIE Botanical Garden?
The CATIE Botanical Garden, or Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center, is a 45-hectare educational and research institution dedicated to preserving thousands of tropical plant species from Costa Rica and around the world.
Where is CATIE Botanical Garden located?
CATIE Botanical Garden is situated near the active Turrialba Volcano, just 1 kilometer from the town of Turrialba, Costa Rica.
What types of tours are available at CATIE Botanical Garden?
Guests can choose from several tour options: the Garden Bio Diversity Tour, the CATIE Campus Tour, the Collections Tour focusing on 95 tree species, or a Combination of Tours for a comprehensive experience.
What are the operating hours for CATIE Botanical Garden?
CATIE Botanical Garden is open daily from 7 am to 4 pm.