Finca Los Monos (the Monkey Farm) is a privately funded garden. It is situated on Isla Colon, the largest island in the enchanting archipelago of Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean coast of the Republic of Panama. At 9.2 degrees north of the Equator, the islands enjoy a steady temperature of between 80 and 93 degrees (27 C – 33 C) all year round, with adequate rainfall to keep them lush and humid.

David and Lin Gillingham arrived in Bocas in 1998 after years of traveling around the world in search of the perfect place to settle. They purchased the 20-acre property which was then a thick, green wall of jungle covering the rolling hills and gullies. First they hacked a pathway in by machete and within six months they built their hilltop house. This was finally home!

Lin, has worked hard to fulfill her dream of creating a tropical garden. Whilst clearing the land, she made forays into the rainforests and mountains where she discovered and collected more plants, as well as purchasing from nurseries on the mainland. Over the years she has created a magnificent garden with large collections of heleconias, gingers, palms, flowering trees, fruit trees, spices and ornamentals. New plants are constantly being added to the property. Although Lin has no formal botanical training she shares her passionate enthusiasm with Dave and the local people working there to have crafted a place of lasting beauty to share with all lovers of tropical nature.

Finca Los Monos is a 10 minute drive from Bocas town, just past the Smithsonian Institute, on the hilltop of ‘La loma del Idaan'. The hilltop farm has stunning views, both eastward toward the archipelago of Bocas del Toro and westward toward the mountainous mainland, with the fabulous blues and greens of the Caribbean in each direction.

 Visitors enter beneath two Flame of the Forest trees (Delonix Regia) into a large rancho that will serve as a Visitors Center. This center will be available for rent as a venue for meetings and intimate wedding ceremonies .

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