A research-and-display garden tucked behind the main road in Santa Elena, the Monteverde Orchid Garden grows hundreds of species — many of them collected from local cloud forest. Around half flower at any time of year, which means there is always something to see.
Most of the orchids are small (the world's smallest known orchid, Platystele jungermannioides, was first identified here), and a hand-held magnifier is supplied with the ticket. Guided tours are short, well-informed, and a useful primer if you want to recognise orchids when you walk in the reserves later.