Hi If seeing orchids is your main goal you'll definitely want to arrange a tour. Of the 1700 species I've found four on my own lol Of course there is also the problem that even if you do find them ,they are frequently 50 feet off the ground surrounded with hundreds of other species of plants. With 10,000 species of insects not to mention snakes spiders,scorpions and tree crabs not a good idea to climb trees ?? lol. Also there are so many other distractions monkeys giant lizards birds and butterflies of every color.waterfalls floodplains,tree fern forests and on and on lol. BTW Get a GOOD guide. I asked about orchids and one showed me some cane Dends growing on a palm in front of the hotel lol. May I suggest visiting Monte Verde,true montane rainforest accessible by bus!! Be sure to go on the the tour otherwise you'll miss 90 percent of what's there. gary

not a brom, but a ginger. I saw hundreds of varieties at Tabacon. The most amazing place in Costa Rica. Many are native to Hawaii I think. Here is a link that might be useful: Hawaiian red ginger

Whoa! I've never seen a passionflower like that either, but you never know, out there in the jungle. Amanda 'romando'

Hey all, thanks for the info. I have been out of town and this is the first chance I got to GW in a week. My sister found one of these plants at a nursery in central Illinois. The store owner told her the peppers were delicious, but hadn't caught on yet in the USA. He gave her the plant for $1.00 as he couldn't sell it. I suspect people were afraid it would be hot. She has it planted at home and is looking forward to getting some peppers.