Six kilometres south of San Vito, the Wilson Botanical Gardens are one of the finest botanical collections in the Americas. Operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), the 25-hectare garden holds over 1,000 genera of plants — palms, heliconias, aroids, ferns, orchids — arranged across a lush hillside that drops into a river gorge. The garden was established in 1963 by American horticulturalists Robert and Catherine Wilson, then donated to OTS in 1973.
The bird list here is extraordinary. More than 360 species have been recorded on the grounds, including resplendent quetzal, tanagers in improbable colours, hummingbirds at every flowering tree, and an assortment of raptors overhead. Early morning is best — arrive at opening and walk the trails before the heat builds. Birders sometimes spend an entire day without leaving the garden.
Accommodation is available on site at the Las Cruces Biological Station, which makes Wilson Gardens a destination in its own right rather than a day trip. Researchers and serious naturalists often stay several nights. Day visitors pay an entrance fee; guided tours can be arranged in advance through OTS.