Eco-Themed Garden El Explorador — Attraction in Jaramillo

This is a whimsical, charming and enchanting garden off the beaten path. My wife and I really enjoyed our time wandering through the few acres of the property. It is owned and managed by a lovely older local woman who lives in a small house on the property with her son. Don't expect anything fancy, commercial or touristy - it's just a large garden lovingly cared for by a slightly eccentric person who loves nature and whimsy. The owner is super friendly and totally devoted to her "eco park". She speaks only Spanish but does so slowly and clearly such that my wife and I with our limited Spanish could easily understand her. Along with the many plants, flowers and trees are "found" art objects made from recycled/obsolete items, arranged in cute displays. There are also her animals including a lovely large chocolate Labrador Retriever who loves to be petted, a slightly moody goat, a raft of exotic chickens and several cats. The owner was kind enough to tour us through her private "magical garden" where she cares for her bonsai-inspired miniature trees and plants. She also showed us her private home.

We had no problem paying the $5 each as it no doubt provides her with some income as well as offsets her costs of maintaining the property.

This is a small treasure...

A labor of creative love in Boquete! For a small price of 5.00 a person, we got to explore this whimsical gardens with an underlying theme of recycling, love and art is good for your soul. The gardens are a vision of an artistic Panamanian couple who also live(ed) on the property with their various dogs and cats. It appears it is now just the wife and a team of workers who tend to the rolling hills garden and its trinkets. The numerous messages of human kindness and love are all over the property on recycled old Panama 🇵🇦license plates. And the figures and dioramas from recycled life items reflect a creative effort that can only be described as a vision of fun! We went on a rainy day and still enjoyed it. I can only imagine how fabulous it would be on...

If you have an ounce of soul and imagination, you’ll love this place. Real love, soul and creativity (and 30 years) went into this secret wonderland of magic. It’s effectively just a garden but it’s been so beautifully crafted and so representative of the individualism of the lovely lady that owns it that it gives your heart a little hug. I could have sat and watched the view of the volcano or just wandered around trying to take in all the inspiring beauty and quirky inventiveness and originality. Don’t go if you want a perfect display of flowers and plants. Don’t go if you think it’s going to be educational (it’s often described as a museum - I don’t know why). Do go if you want to lose yourself in a wonderful interpretation of peace...