Our visit to Cerro Punta included a tour of Finca Drácula, a farm specializing in Central and South American orchids, with more than 2,200 species from around the world.
Finca Drácula began as the hobby of Señor Andrew Maduro back in 1969, when he acquired what was then an almost treeless cattle pasture, or potrero; in the forty years that followed, Maduro transformed these 22 acres into a rare and precious orchid nursery, surrounded by a garden designed to recreate wild orchid habitats and shaded by a number of tall trees planted since the finca’s founding.
Maduro’s Finca Drácula represents an environmentally-conscious enterprise in Panama that is as beautiful as it is lucrative. Some of the rare orchid species housed here go for more than $5,000 apiece. The name originates with the peculiar Dracula orchid, of which 124 different species exist worldwide, many of these represented among the farm’s collection. A lesser-known reason for the farm’s name: owner Maduro was reportedly partial to classic Dracula flicks.
We took a guided walk through the orchid nursery, macro lens in hand, and were able to capture some great images to illustrate what it’s like to explore this wonderful little finca.
If you’re in Panama and planning to explore the cloud forests of Chiriquí, strongly consider a visit to Finca Drácula. The following slideshow may convince you of all the delicate beauty not to be missed.
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Finca Drácula
A look into the protected area where the more delicate flowering orchids are housed, and the starting point for a tour of the finca. In this greenhouse you'll find maybe a hundred different fascinating specimens. But before we were allowed to enter this room, we first needed to take a walk through the surrounding gardens…
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Guided Walk
Our knowledgeable guide Nadia led us through the gardens, describing the finca and the more than 2,000 species of orchids they take care of. Emily took a lot of pictures.
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Dracula Orchid
The finca’s namesake, the “Dracula,” is a type of orchid so named because it awakens at night to raise a blossom with a ghoulish face that comes in a variety of colors.
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In the Wild
In the outdoor garden, orchids were interspersed with a huge variety of other plants: flowering impatiens, epiphytes, coleuses, hibiscuses, and ferns, to name just a few of the plants I could recognize.
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Fern Spores
This close-up of a fern leaf about to “give birth” shows clusters of fern spores, called sori, which are usually on the underside of the fronds. The leaf in this photo is about a quarter inch wide… Yes, the macro lens is fun to play with.
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Garden Walk
While its main purpose is to function as an orchid nursery, the finca has a gorgeous garden covering several acres. Naturalistically designed, with winding paths, hundreds of plant species mixed together, and water features such as waterfalls, cascading pools and collecting lagoons, it invites both exploration and simply sitting on a bench and relaxing.
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Miniature Orchid Wall
After finishing our garden tour, we returned to the “greenhouse” that opened our slideshow and were shown the various species of orchids that need special attention from staff while flowering. This wall contained about three dozen species of miniature orchids in bloom.
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Mini-Orchid
One of the miniature orchids in bloom. The leaf was no more than one inch wide, and the orchid flowers less than a quarter of an inch wide. Frankly they were hard to appreciate with the naked eye: a macro lens or magnifying glass is required to really see them well.
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Succulent
The greenhouse contained more than just orchids. Cactii, ferns, jades, and succulents – like the one shown here – were spread throughout as well.
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Rare & Endangered Orchids
With their commitment to orchid conservation, the staff at the finca collect rare and endangered species in the wild to care for and study at Finca Drácula. Orchid habitats worldwide are diminishing due to deforestation and climate change, but here at Finca Drácula, many threatened species find a safe haven.
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A Wealth of Species
The number of orchid species equals more than twice the number of bird species. Finca Drácula boasts one of the world's largest orchid collections, including a number of rare and exquisite varieties that sell for thousands of dollars apiece.
When to Go
The majority of orchids will be in bloom during March and April, so the best time to visit is from late spring into early summer. This is also when you’ll encounter the fewest other travelers, so you’ll very likely have this magical orchid nursery all to yourself. Stop in at the finca any day of the week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and the knowledgeable staff will be glad to lead your tour.
How to Get There
Take the road leading up from Concepción towards the highlands villages of Chiriquí, crossing first through Volcan to reach the road’s terminus in Cerro Punta. Just 5 minutes outside Guadalupe (a small town within the Cerro Punta region) a path will lead you through the woodlands to reach the finca.
TAGS: Chiriqui Flora & Fauna Must Read Nature Panama Panama Do & See Plant Life Slideshows
Post by Benjamin Loomis
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I really enjoyed touring this finca.