aprovaca (the orchid nursery & conservation center)

Nice collection of indigenous orchids, however when we went in February basically none of them had flowers, since it's not their blossoming season. Recommended to be visited in June.

This was a very interesting place with a mission. They are trying to save native orchids that are being lost to development. Visually, this place is disappointing. It is really the story (& the enthusiastic staff) that make this place interesting.

We visited Aprovaca as a part of our group tour. We were in a group of 20 and it was too large.Some nice small sized orchids and other plants. Information about the orchids is provided by an employee. We thought that the selection seemed small.

Expecting to just see some orchids the guided tour of the grounds was a pleasant surprise and the very knowledgeable staff pointed out and shared all kinds of information about the flora.

Nice garden with lot's of different orchids! And a very nice hostel too!!! Not to expensive and good atmosfere.

Despite not many of the orchids being in bloom (apparently, October is the month to visit for full blooms), we learned a lot about the orchids (as well as other native plants) and their mission to restore them to the mountains where they have been over picked. The girl who walked us through the nursery was very enthusiastic and excited about her work and it made for a very pleasant experience. I definitely recommend this as a stop when visiting El Valle. Especially on a day when you want to take it easy.

This is a nice spot for a stroll. The entrance fee helps maintain the elaborate nurseries. They have the famed Panamanian Ghost Orchid. If you're there around October, chances are you'll get to see them in bloom.

the time of the year really didn't allow me to see the orchids in full bloom. However, that all said they had a very extensive collection. I have found that by wandering around some of the local garden centers you can find more options. Went to a garden center on the way up to Cerro Gailtal and found one with a very extensive collection of orchids and very proud of what he had to offer

This charming little garden is a 5 Star Attraction during bloom season. Other months offer little in the way of orchid blooms, but the garden is pretty, well done and it is a learning experience for most. Certainly worth the $2.

At Aprovaca we had some happy surprises, probably because we knew prior to visiting the Orchid Nursery that it was a small place with a $2 entry fee. After the attendant took our money (Less than $5 per person to see some of the most beautiful orchids!) she then told us (in Spanish, but we could still understand enough for it to be useful) some history about Panama's flora, and pointed us to a specific orchid that is Panama's finest, or national flower. Then, she surprised us again and pulled out a mid-powered telescope and tripod and showed us the highest mountaintop where the orchid she had just described can be found. Next, she gave us a tour of their gardens and showed us some of the rarest orchids I had ever seen. I saw orchids up close that I had only seen before in books or travel guides, which was a real treat, and our guide showed us aspects of the orchids our untrained eyes would not have noticed otherwise. After about 20 minutes she left us to wander the grounds at will and to enjoy and take in the lush beauty around us. The Orchid Nursery is by no means big, but it is absolutely packed with beauty, and was one of the highlights of our trip, hands down. For less than $5 per person, the value can't be beat, and if you are a gardener or orchid aficionado, the value is obvious. We'd go back no problem.

Guides are very knowledgeable! You have to pay a small fee! but it is worth it as long as the orchids are in bloom!!!

Really loved this little center. It is surprisingly big when you start to walk around the grounds. Nothing is in bloom right now (Dec.) with the majority of orchids blooming August through October. No matter, it's still a really nice place to walk around and feel peaceful. The guide walking around with us spoke no English, but even without much verbal explanation, he was kind and tried to be helpful pointing out where to look and we got by just fine!

We paid the $2 to get in and have a tour by a non English speaking, kind gentleman. However, not much was blooming and it was confusing as to what we should look at. This could be passed on a trip through El Valle.

This is a nice little hostel / botanical garden with an amazing variety of orchids and a decent amount of other ornamentals as well. Also good place to spot butterflies and hummingbirds.

You really must visit the orchid "sanctuary." When trees fall or are cut, volunteers race to cut off and save any orchids. Each year, they repatriate many varieties of orchids back in the forest. We had a lovely English tour by Chris describing many varieties of large and small orchids, many in bloom despite it being October. Just seeing the national flower, the Holy Ghost orchid, is worth the drive and admission of only $2.50 per person.