The walk begins at the rancho along a magical path that leads the visitor around the palm garden where stately Traveler's palms stand tall alongside Triangle palms, Talipot palms, Yellow latans and Mexican palmettos. The path winds to an area replete with Sealing Wax palms, Pigmy date and Queen palms, with different pandanus and alocasias. Guava, Noni, and Rainbow Eucalyptus trees grow among the cycads, Ribbon fan palms, Majesty and Fishtail palms.

A jasmine covered pergola leads to another archway rounded with the sunny yellow flowers of Allamada carthartica. An entire hillside is bright with red and pink gingers and assorted coloured hibiscus that flower all year round. There is also the constant and exciting presence of humming birds and butterflies drawn to the nectar of these exquisite tropical flowers. The visitor then continues through a cool tunnel of red and pink Torch gingers onto a shady hillside of heleconias to a site where a 100 year old well is being resurrected. 

Along the path, stately, old trees provide shade. Bamboo and alocasias grow out of a gully. Visitors may see the resident troop of Howler monkeys, often with their babies and possibly some of the sloths or iguanas. When walking off the footpath, tiny, colourful frogs can be seen, camouflaged among the fallen leaves.

Two fish-ponds are being created. At present, they are home to a few caiman and many species of frogs and dragonflies. Soon, the caiman will be kept out and the ponds stocked with fresh-water fish and shrimp and covered by water-lilies. The ponds are in an idyllic location and surrounded by many palms, including Cuban royal palms, Fiji fan palms and Lady palms as well as cycads, pandanus and the blazing colours of tropical flowers. 

The hillside undulations of the farm often surprise the visitor with clear and silhouetted views of the Caribbean and Almirante Bay , which faces the mountainous mainland. All along the meandering path, there are uniquely placed and planted areas with shade and sun loving explosions of colours created by the mixing of foliage plants, logs with orchids and epiphytes, hillsides of heleconias and both flowering and fruit trees. The visitor will see nine species of bananas, Sour sop, Sweet sop, Pineapple, Passion Fruit, Granadilla, Papaya and Mango. You will also find Tamarind, Mammee, Guava, Starfruit, Genipa, Malay Apple, Manon Chino, Breadfruit, Sea Almond, Achiote and Nutmeg.

With all the abundance of fruit and flowers a wide variety of birds reside at or visit the farm. Parrots, tanagers, woodpeckers, orioles, flycatchers and many more. One may be lucky enough to see the exquisitely, small nests of the hummingbirds or at the other end of the scale, the 3-4' long pendulous nests of the Montezuma Oropendulas. 

Come take a tour and bathe in the beauty and sensory delights of Finca Los Monos to share the wonder of tropical flowers, fruits & tree species. 

Visiting hours:

Monday – 1pm

Fridays – 8.30am

Tour will last about 2 hours. Sturdy footwear recommended. Visitors must be able to negotiate small hills and steps.

Entrance fee: $10 per person.

 

Tours outside these times by arrangement. Tel: (507) 757 9461

gillinghamdl@yahoo.com