Central America
Costa Rica
Province of Puntarenas
San Vito
Things to Do in San Vito
Finca Cántaros

Finca Cántaros, San Vito: Hours, Address, Finca Cántaros Reviews: 5/5

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Finca Cántaros

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Finca Cántaros
5
32
#2 of 5 things to do in San Vito
Farms
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9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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About
Finca Cántaros Environmental Association is an environmental non-profit organization registered in British Columbia, Canada and based in San Vito de Coto Brus, Costa Rica. We aim to work collaboratively with partners on environmental education and forest restoration initiatives in service of conserving, enhancing or creating biological corridors throughout the Western Hemisphere, starting with the AmistOsa Corridor here in the southern zone of Costa Rica and eventually expanding to conduct work from Canada to South America. We are open to the public from Monday through Saturday, 9am to 3pm. Instead of an entrance fee we ask visitors to make a donation to support our environmental education initiatives.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
32 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
4
Average
1
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0
Terrible
0
Ellen E
5 contributions
Rainforest Restoration and Community Involvement at Finca Cnataos
We are ex-pat residents of Panama and decided to cross the nearby border into Costa Rica and visit the town of San Vito. Finca Cantaros is 2 km from the town center, walking distance from town. Reservations are required which were easy to make via email. Admission fee is by donation only. We received an excellent tour of about one hour by Randall Jimenez, a staff member. It helped very much that one of us speaks fluent Spanish and the rest of us have a beginner-intermediate command of Spanish. If you speak only English you can still enjoy the natural beauty of the site but will miss out on the depth gained by learning the history and mission of Finca Cantaros.
After Randall's tour we were turned lose to hike the beautiful grounds that encompass a wetlands full of bird, amphibian and insect life, a 30 year old restored rainforest teaming with trees, flowering plants and vines, more birds, small mammals, and butterflies, an amazing tropical tree and plant greenhouse that is the most productive I have ever seen and run on a shoestring, and the impressive rainforest restoration project the community children are creating.
Finca Las Cantaros is committed to involving the local community in their ecological mission and that shows throughout the beautiful grounds. We hiked for a few hours and dug deep into the details of this wonderful site. Oh, and the frosting on the cake: petroglyphs and a commitment to honoring the native ancestors of this beautiful area of Costa Rica.
Written February 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wanderer680214
Cancun, Mexico24 contributions
A Diamond in the rough
Couples
Wonderful place, drove by it the first time, the main attraction was rained out. So we stopped here and Wow! Its beautiful, the. Couple that greeted us were so helpful!! Jay gave us a breath taking tour, OMG this place is so worth a visit!
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Linda D
Shutesbury, MA25 contributions
So Zen - Feel the Serenity and Exotic Beauty
Couples
We almost missed these beautiful gardens because they are not well-publicized. We encountered few people, but so many birds. It felt like a private retreat. The grounds themselves are worth the visit, but if you are a bird-watcher you will be rewarded. We watched a Blue-crowned Motmot at the edge of the pond and tracked the flight of a flock of green parakeets as well as seeing many other gorgeous birds. If you have a Panama field guide to birds, you probably will do fine with that in San Vito, since San Vito is very close to Panama. Habitat is somewhat similar to Chiriqui Highlands. Walking trails are easy too with no steep hikes.
Written November 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tom W
Qualicum Beach, Canada39 contributions
Unique property and shoppe.
Couples
Well worth dropping by to visit the artesania shoppe for hard-to-find top quality indigenous crafts. The gardens are extensive and very well done affording good photo opportunities. The acreage is really quite splendid with viewscapes of the nearby town as well. Gail is a terrific local resource and her horticultural knowledge is extensive.
Written January 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Panamamixs
Pedasi, Panama29 contributions
Must See in San Vito
Family
Nice garden just south of town with a beautiful lake. Gail has done a fantastic job over the years making such an awesome escape into the wilderness. Great map to use for the self guide tour with good markings throughout the garden to learn about plants, history and the Finca. Awesome hillside view of San Vito with sitting area for a lunch or just a break. Trails are marked well and great shelters to use when it rains. Worth every penny, plus great gift shop.
Written December 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
marpolu
Zurich, Switzerland19 contributions
smal botanical garden with self guides tour
Beautiful garden with self guides tour for 5$. Owner is an American lday with a broad knowledge of plants. She has also a small shop with crafts from different places like Darien Indios from Colombia
Written July 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tima B
London, Canada1 contribution
Commited to excellence
Couples
The owners of this private reserve are taking every effort to make it a genuine experience of the region. Try to get there for 7 am to watch the birds.
Written January 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Laura G
Wilmington, NC44 contributions
Enjoy someone's dream of a lifetime
Solo
Gail, the founder of this beautiful botanical garden, has put her heart and soul into this special place for 20 years, and it shows. She was so friendly, and spent a good deal of time answering my questions and telling me about the history and development of the finca, which was fascinating.

Take your time to meander along all of the little side paths, and sit for awhile on the benches, thoughtfully placed for visitors to better enjoy the views and sounds of jungle creatures. Follow the free map and printed self-tour to better appreciate the details.

And then buy some locally made chocolate and coffee in the shop, both delicious!
Written June 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Christine M
70 contributions
Lovely walk in El Bosque
Couples
We marveled at the depth and complexity of the landscaping. Gail and her team have reconstituted the natural look and flow of the forest from bare pasture land. In an hour or so, you can follow the self-guided tour through the 7 hectares and see a variety of plants, trees, birds, butterflies, indigenous carvings. Well worth the entrance fee. Also the gift shop features crafts by indigenous people. We bought all our gifts there.
Written February 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Leonard G
New York257 contributions
Birding, native archaeology, and botanical interests
Couples
My wife and I spent two hours in a relaxed walk through the well maintained trails through this garden and forest. It's a good place to go if you are interested in tropical vegetation. The self-guided tour map is full of detailed information about the flora, fauna, and archaeology of the site. We were there in the dry season and did not expect an overwhelmingly lush environment. But we found lots to catch our interests. There are several scenic overlooks wth great views, some native petroglyphs, lots of bromeliads, some orchids, and a great variety of trees. It's best to show up early for birds, before the heat of the day. The terrain is not challenging, so it also might be a good choice for anyone wanting to avoid a more strenuous hike. There's a craft shop with native and Latin American crafts. The owners are very friendly and well informed about the area.
Written February 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Finca Cántaros
Finca Cántaros is open:
  • Mon - Sat 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM