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Mata Redonda Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica

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Location: 6 km from Puerto Humo district: San Antonio, canton: Nicoya, Province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
El Rosario GPS Coordinates: 10.318925,-85.387342 (10°19’8.13″N, 85°23’14.43″W)
Size: 440 ha (920 acres)
Schedule: 8:00 a.m. at 4 p.m.
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica To Rosario, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Mata Redonda Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created in January 7th, 1994, in order to protect tropical forest and wetlands areas in the lowlands of the Tempisque River Basin. It is located south of Palo Verde National Park in Santa Cruz of Nicoya, Costa Rica.

The Mata Redonda Wildlife Refuge is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area, so it is located in one of the hottest and driest parts of Costa Rica with an annual average temperature of 28ºC. It consists of seasonal palustrine wetland of the fresh-saline mix type and constitutes feeding and breeding habitat for over 60 species of resident and migratory water birds, such as Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), Roseate Spoonbill(Ajaia ajaja), Wood Stark (Mycteria Americana), Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) and jabiru (Jabiru mycteria).

The flora is very similar to the one visitors can find in Palo Verde National Park, with big trees such as the Spanish cedar(Cedrela odorata), the Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), the Laurel (Cordia alliodora), the Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), the Ron Ron (Astronium graveolens) and the Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)amongst others.

The fauna is very similar too, and some of the most common mammals are the Howler and Capuchin Monkeys, Collared Peccaries (Pecari tajacu) and Coaties, besides crocodiles, frogs, iguanas and snakes.

There are no public park facilities at this national forest wildlife refuge. Other nearby Costa Rica Parks include Palo Verde National Park, Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge, Cipanci National Widlife Refuge, Corral de Piedra Wetlands, Barra Honda National Park and Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve.

Getting to Mata Redonda Wildlife Refuge:

From San José, take the Pan-American Highway north to the junction of the road to La Amistad Bridge on the River Tempisque, turning toward the bridge and follow the Highway to Nicoya, turn to the right and continue for about 25 km to Puerto Humo and then turn left and continue for 6 km until you get to Rosario town on the banks of the Tempisque. It is possible to reach it in a four-wheel drive vehicle from the town of Rosario to the refuge. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to the junction of the road to La Amistad Bridge on the River Tempisque, turning toward the bridge and follow the Highway to Nicoya, turn to the right and continue for about 25 km to Puerto Humo and then turn left and continue for 6 km until you get to Rosario town on the banks of the Tempisque. It is possible to reach it in a four-wheel drive vehicle from the town of Rosario to the refuge.

BY BUS

Take a local bus from San Jose – Nicoya through Tempisque, which takes about 4 hours making the stop at La Amistad Bridge (Empresa Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666 / +506 2685-5032). From here you can take taxi to Mata Redonda Wildlife Refuge, which is about 25 minutes.

BY PLANE

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to Daniel Oduber Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Mata Redonda Wildlife Refuge, which is about 45 minutes.

Cipanci Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica

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Location: district: Bolsón, canton: Santa Cruz, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50302.

WAZE location Cipanci Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica  Google Maps location Cipanci Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica

La Amistad Bridge GPS Coordinates: 10.247719,-85.22645 (10°14’51.79″N, 85°13’35.22″W)
Schedule: 8:00 a.m. at 4 p.m.
Arenal-Tempisque Conservation Area (ACAT) Telephone: +506 2695-5180 / +506 2695-5908
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO La Amistad Bridge, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Cipanci Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on March 28th, 2001, in order to protect tropical forest, wetlands and mangroves ranging from Bebedero River to the confluence of Lajas, and from the Toro Island, on the mouth of the Tempisque River, to the mouth of the Charco River, and in order to hence the breeding of aquatic and terrestrial birds, fish, shrimp and reptiles, located between the cantons of Nicoya and Cañas in Guanacaste province.

These mangroves in general, plays a major role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity of their environment, fulfilling a critical role in providing power to tropical estuarine systems.

At Cipanci National Wildlife Refuge is possible to find a wide variety of birds, both aquatic and terrestrial, as the Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao), the Great Curassow (Crax rubra), the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), the American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), the American Darter (Anhinga anhinga), the Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) and the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), the largest storks in the world. Moreover, within the common fauna found some mammals such as howler and capuchin monkeys, coatis, collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) and squirrels, as well as frogs, iguanas, snakes and crocodiles, this being the most representative species of the site.

The Cipanci National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Tempisque-Arenal Conservation Area, so is in one of the hottest and driest parts of Costa Rica, with an average annual temperature of 28ºC. The flora is typical of the area, with more than 750 species of plants and a wide range of tree species such as the Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), the Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), the Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), the Ron Ron ( Astronium graveolens) and the Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata), among others.

Finally, the Cipanci National Wildlife Refuge is undoubtedly a buffer zone of protected wilderness areas, as well as an important nesting site for birds, not forgetting that it is a Tempisque protection zone. Besides, the refuge also offers a boat tour service through the Fishermen’s Association of Nispero community (Asociación de Pescadores de la comunidad del Nispero). It also has several programs for environmental education and forest fires, management, control, protection, research and volunteerism. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Palo Verde National Park, Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge , Barra Honda National Park and Palustrino Corralde Piedra Wetlands.

Getting to Cipanci Wildlife Refuge:

From San José, take the Pan-American Highway north to the junction of the road to La Amistad Bridge on the River Tempisque, turning toward the bridge. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to the junction of the road to La Amistad Bridge on the River Tempisque, turning toward the bridge.

By bus

Take a local bus from San Jose – Nicoya through Tempisque, which takes about 4 hours making the stop at La Amistad Bridge (Empresa Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666 / +506 2685-5032). From here you can take taxi to Cipanci Wildlife Refuge, which is about 15 minutes.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to Daniel Oduber Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Cipanci Wildlife Refuge, which is about 45 minutes.

Palo Verde National Park Costa Rica

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Location: 19 km (12 miles) south from Bagaces, district: Bagaces, canton: Bagaces, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50401.
Bagaces GPS Coordinates: 10.520894,-85.254769 (10°31’15.22″N, 85°15’17.17″W)
Size: 18.418 ha (45,492 acres)
Altitude: from sea level up to 200m (656ft)
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hacienda Palo Verde Telephone: +506 2671-1290 and +506 2671-1455
Organization for Tropical Studies Telephone: +506 2524-0607
Fax: (506) 2671-1062
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

WAZE location Palo Verde National Park Costa RicaGoogle Maps location Palo Verde National Park Costa Rica

Palo Verde National Park Costa Rica: created on April 30th, 1978, in order to protect forested areas and an extensive marshland between the Tempisque and Bebedero rivers, approximate 30 km west of the Cañas city in Guanacaste. Palo Verde National Park is a diverse patchwork of habitats located at the head of the Nicoya Gulf in the flood plain of the Tempisque River.

The Palo Verde National Park is form by a group of twelve habitats created by the topography and the conditions such as the drainage, the rivers overflow and the tides effects. This habitats includes freshwater and saltwater lagoons, wetlands, marsh and swamps, pasturelands, black mangrooves, rough-leaf tree grasslands, thorn scrub, lowland mixed deciduous forest, hillside mixed forest, riparian forest, savannah woodland, swamp forest, evergreen forest and the tidal estuarine ecosystem of the lower Tempisque River, making it one of the most varied national parks in Costa Rica. Besides, this park provides an important wintering ground to migrant North American waterfowl.

This area is subject to inundation’s of big magnitude. During the rainy season, and because of the little natural drainage the hill has, the place flood by effect of the combination action of the rain, the tides and the overflow of the rivers Bebedero and Tempisque, which tidal rises and falls up to four meters and is navigable for about 36 km, as far as the confluence with the Bolson River. In some occasions, the whole zone converted in a large lagoon. In the dry season, from mid-November through mid-May, the waters shrink back to scattered pools, making it one of the hottest and driest parts of Costa Rica with an annual average temperature of 28ºC. If visiting during the dry season, be sure to drink plenty of liquid and try to avoid staying in direct sunshine for very long so as to eliminate the risk of heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke.

Over 150 types of trees have been recorded, including the Palo Verde (Parkinsonia aculeata) meaning “Green Tree”, beacuase its levees, branches and part of the trunk are light green color. Between the biggest trees are the Wild Cashew or Espavé (Anacardium excelsum), the Kapok (Ceiba pentandra), the Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), the Spanish cedar(Cedrela odorata), the Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), the Laurel (Cordia alliodora), the Tempisque (Sideroxylon capiri), the Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), the Rain Tree (Samanea saman), the Ron Ron (Astronium graveolens), the Ceibo Barrigón (Pseudobombax septenatum), the Guayabón (Terminalia oblonga), the Níspero or Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) and the Holywood Lignum-vitae (Guaiacum sanctum), tree of precious wood endanger extinct.

The natural hydrologic system of Palo Verde create the right conditions to produce in the zone the most important concentration of birds in the country and Central America, which was the primary reason that the park was created. The whole area is a bird-watchers paradise, with over 300 species recorded. It is the dry season that is most attractive to birders, because the birds concentrate on the remaining wet areas, and at the same time many of the trees have lost their leaves, making it easier to spot wildlife, besides, there are fewer mosquitoes and bugs. In the park nest the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), a specie endanger of extinct, and also subsist the only population of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) of the Dry Pacific, as well as the Great Curassow (Crax rubra), the Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) and the Great Egret (Ardea alba). It is estimated that over a quarter of a million wading birds and wildfowl, many from North America, spend the winter months here. Among the resident species are some of the country’s larger, more exotic birds, such as the stunning Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), the American Darter (Anhinga anhinga), American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) and Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa). From September to March, thousands of sea gulls, herons (Egretta), falcons, ducks (anas) and water rooster concentrate in the lagoons and neighbor areas to feed and reproduce.

The main nesting area is an island in the middle of the Tempisque River, known as the Pajaros Island, located in front of the park. This is home to the country’s largest colony of Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) and for being a nest area for the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis).

Some of the mammals most common are the Howler and Capuchin Monkeys, Porcupines, Coaties, White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Collared Peccaries (Pecari tajacu), Coyotes (Canis latrans), Variegated Squirrels, Tayra or Tolomuco (Eira Barbara), Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), Tepezcuintle or Lowland Paca (Cuniculus paca), Margays (Leopardus wiedii) and Pumas or Cougars (Puma concolor). Besides, near the Tempisque River you can observe crocodiles up to five meters long as well as frogs, iguanas and snakes such as the Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), Tropical rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) and the Central American Coral Snake (Micrurus nigrocinctus).

Geologically, the lower Tempisque River basin is unique in Costa Rica since the surrounding hills are of limestone and not volcanic rock. This material was originally formed by corals some 40 to 60 million years ago when the area was part of the ocean floor. Subsequent shifting of the continental plates has caused these low hills to rise to their present heights and also changed the course of the Tempisque River that once flowed directly out to sea in the general area of what is now the Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge.

In the past century, extensive cattle ranching was the principal agricultural activity in the area that is now Palo Verde National Park. The haciendas were characterized by having large tracts of land on which the cattle roamed and grazed freely with little care. This meant that the natural forests suffered relatively minor disturbance and the human population level stayed quite low, since just a few men could handle a large herd. Thus, wildlife fortunately is still fairly abundant throughout the park and much of the original natural habitat has been preserved.

The park headquarters are based at the old “Hacienda Palo Verde”, which yards and old buildings are a reflection of the life of the “Sabanero Bajureño” and constitute an important element in the antic Guanacaste culture.

This protected area also incorporates the Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve and the Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge. Now the three, together with Barra Honda National Park and adjacent areas, form the Tempisque Megapark.

The park is operated by the Organization of Tropical Studies. There well-maintained trails lead from the station through the forest to lookout points over the river and marshland. It also has a small dock near to the administration center, where boats may be hired to view Pajaros Island, where landing is not permitted. Among the nature spots that are worth visiting are the look-outs on Catalina and Guayacán Peaks, two of the most spectacular in the country, as well as the Tiger Cave (in the refuge) and the Hollow Stone (in the park) which are magnificent limestone formations that are both caves and veritable handing gardens; and the Bocana Lake, which gives shelter to an incredible number of birds all year long.

The Palo Verde Ranger Station is open for visitor attention a has potable water and restrooms. Besides, the Organization for Tropical Studies operates a Biological Station in Palo Verde, which has a shelter for up to 36 people, a dining room, a classroom, laboratory, and also offers excursions. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge ,Cipanci National Widlife Refuge, Barra Honda National Park and Palustrino Corralde Piedra Wetlands

Getting to Palo Verde National Park:

From San José, take the Pan-American Highway north to Bagaces. Turn left down a gravel road and travel south about 19 km to the park entrance, following the signs to the Palo Verde National Park. From the entrance it is another 9 km to the administration building at the old Hacienda Palo Verde. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway.

Entering by boat from the Tempisque River is also possible. Six kilometers up river from the village of Puerto Humo (where boats can be hired), there is a rustic dock at a spot known as Puerto Chamorro, about 2km beyond the administrative area via a dirt road.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south for some 14 km from Liberia to Bagaces. Then turn right down a gravel road and travel south about 19 km to the park entrance, following the signs to the Palo Verde National Park. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway.

By bus

Take a local bus from San Jose – Liberia, which takes about 4 hours making the stop at Bagaces (Pulmitan Liberia, +506 2222-1650). From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Palo Verde National Park, which is about 15 minutes.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to Daniel Oduber Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Palo Verde National Park, which is about 45 minutes.

Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero Costa Rica

Location: near Bagaces, within Palo Verde National Park, district: Bagaces, canton: Bagaces, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50401.
Bagaces GPS Coordinates: 10.520894,-85.254769 (10°31’15.22″N, 85°15’17.17″W)
Size: 7,354 ha (18,172 acres)
Altitude: from sea level to 200m (656ft)
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps
Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero (March 24, 1915 – January 29, 1981) was a Costa Rican biologist, botanist, and artist known for his drawings of Costa Rican wildlife. He created a Department of Biology at the University of Costa Rica. In this department, which later became the School of Biology, he gave lessons in biology and botany, being the director for eleven years.

In addition to its scientific aspect, Rafael Lucas Rodriguez had a humanistic and artistic side, with a great talent for drawing, which he impose on his scientific work, reproducing in detail and full color, many species of Costa Rican flora, especially orchids. He also was the author of more than 1 000 full-color reliable plates.

Besides, Rafael Lucas was one of the creators of the prestigious Journal of Tropical Biology, the Organization for Tropical Studies and the Costa Rican Orchid Society. He also made some procedures to the Chancellor of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and foreign organizations to save Charles Lankester Botanical Garden in Cartago, whose effort was crucial to the Lankester Botanical Garden was donated to UCR in 1973. He also won the Magón National Prize for Culture in 1977.

The Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero Wildlife Refuge was created on October 1st, 1978, as an extension of Palo Verde National Park, located in the heart of the hottest, driest basin in the country, located at the head of the Nicoya Gulf in the flood plain of the Tempisque River.

Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge has a similar variety of habitats, from swampland to evergreen forest and dry forest, and wildlife that the one visitors can find in Palo Verde National Park. With more than 300 wading and waterfowl flock bird species have been recorded such as the Great Curassow (Crax rubra), and the only permanent colony of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) of the Dry Pacific tropics, which is also particularly replete with waterbirds, including the American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), the American Darter (Anhinga anhinga), the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), and Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), the largest storks in the world, as well as sea gulls, herons (Egretta), falcons and ducks (anas).

Some of the most common mammals are the Howler and Capuchin Monkeys, Coaties, White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Collared Peccaries (Pecari tajacu), Coyotes (Canis latrans) and Variegated Squirrels, besides crocodiles, frogs, iguanas and snakes such as the Central American Coral Snake (Micrurus nigrocinctus), Tropical rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) and the Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor).

The flora is very similar too, with big trees such as the Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), the Spanish cedar(Cedrela odorata), the Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), the Laurel (Cordia alliodora), the Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) and the Ron Ron (Astronium graveolens) amongst others.

The Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge is located in one of the hottest and driest parts of Costa Rica with an annual average temperature of 28ºC. Even though, dry season, from January through March, is considered by some to be the best time to visit the refuge, because access roads are then more passable, and visitors can more easily view the abundant water birds. Although, if visiting during the dry season, be sure to drink plenty of liquid and try to avoid staying in direct sunshine for very long so as to eliminate the risk of heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke.

Hiking and camping are permitted but there are no facilities. Other nearby Costa Rica parks include Palo Verde National Park, Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve , Cipanci National Widlife Refuge, Palustrino Corral de Piedra Wetlands, Mata Redonda National Wildlife Refuge and Barra Honda National Park.

Getting to Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero Wildlife Refuge:

From San José, take the Pan-American Highway north to Bagaces. Turn left down a gravel road and travel south about 19 km to the park entrance, following the signs to the Palo Verde National Park. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south for some 14 km from Liberia to Bagaces. Then turn right down a gravel road and travel south about 19 km to the park entrance, following the signs to the Palo Verde National Park. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway.

By bus

Take a local bus from San Jose – Liberia, which takes about 4 hours making the stop at Bagaces (Pulmitan Liberia, +506 2222-1650). From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to the refuge, which is about 15 minutes.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to Daniel Oduber Airport, either with Sansa Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to the refuge, which is about 45 minutes.

Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Reserva Biológica Lomas de Barbudal Costa Rica

Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve Costa Rica: created on March 5th, 1986, in order to protected interesting examples of dry tropical forest, along with patches of evergreen and riparian forests. This reserve is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area and it is located on the southwest part of Bagaces, north of Liberia in the Guanacaste province.

Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve is often referred as the “insect park”, because of the immense variety of insects found here, where 240 species of bees have been recorded comprising almost 25% of the entire world’s bee species, along with 60 species of moths and over 60 species of nocturnal butterflies. The large, solitary bees that nest there are major pollinators of many tree and vine species in the forest. One of the more unique genus are the large, solitary, tunneling Centris bees (Abejas Antofóridas) that attracted G. Frankie to study the area in the late seventies.

However, if insects aren’t your thing, Lomas de Barbudal has excellent birdwatching potential for the species that occur in tropical dry forest such as Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis), Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), Stub-tailed Spadebill (Platyrinchus cancrominus), Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus), Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans), Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus), as well as the great Curassow (Crax rubra). In the dry season, mammals can usually be found enjoying the cool shade of the evergreen forest along the Cabuyo River, such as Howler and White-Face or Capuchin Monkeys (Alouatta Palliate and Cebus capucinus), Variegated Squirrels (Sciurus variegatoides), Numbat or Banded Anteaters (Myrmecobius fasciatus), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Raccoons (Procyon lotor), Tayras (Eira barbara), Central American Agouties (Dasyprocta punctata), Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica), Greater Bulldog Bat or Fisherman Bat (Noctilio leporinus) and a lot of reptiles are among the possible species that can be seen here. As well, the reserve is one of the last strongholds habitats for endangered spectacular Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and the Collared Peccary (Tayassu tajacu).

When the hillside forests turn brown and leafless in the dry season, highlights the colorful blossoms of flowering trees that dot the landscape and provide pollen and nectar to all those bees. That is why the reserve also protects several species of endangered trees, such as Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), Panama redwood (Platymiscium pleiostachyum), Pochote or Spiny Cedar (Bombacopsis quinata), Ron-Ron (Astronium graveolens), Cocobolo or Rosewood (Dalbergia retusa) and Swamp Kaway (Platymiscium parviflorum), as well as the Nance or Golden Spoon (Byrsonima crassifolia) whose flowers provide an oily resin that the Centris bees use as mortar in tunnel construction, and the Corteza Amarilla (Tabebuia ochracea) which is renowned for the small yellow flowers that encase its naked branches following the first rains.

At the reserve you will know Don Daniel, the person who guards this wonderful place, an old dedicated man, who worries about the reserve protection and preservation. If you stay enough time, you will hear from him a lot of very interesting stories about the zone and his own life.

If you’re interested in hiking through the Lomas de Barbudal Reserve, stop at Friends of Lomas de Barbudal office in Bagaces, a non-profit organization which protects the area. Here visitors can pick up trail guides and study the small exhibits they have on the region. Also, at the reserve entrance there is a small museum called Casa Patrimonio (Heritage House) which can give you even more information of the area and details of the flora and fauna of the reserve.

A number of other unmarked trails and roads wander through the reserve, welcoming visitors to explore on foot. Guides are available at the park office to assist visitors in locating fauna. From the visitor’s center (Casa de Patrimonio) on the northwest tip of the reserve, the most popular walk is a short quarter mile upstream (300m) along the Río Cabuya to a swimming hole, or “poza” (in Spanish), containing many different fish, so snorkeling is well worth to take a look around, where you may feel a little like you’re swimming in your home aquarium when you see the Convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) or feel the Green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) nibbling at your toes. This watering hole, besides being a perfect place for a cooling dip, attracts concentrations of wildlife in the dry season.

Along the southern edge of the reserve lies the Quebrada La Mula, a seasonal stream and forest area that once formed a continuous greenway between Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve and Palo Verde National Park.

Visitors recognized the region as one of the last remaining stands of tropical dry forest where weather is hot year-round with a pronounced dry season from December through April. As is the case with Palo Verde National Park, dry season is the best time to visit the reserve, since birding is easier once the deciduous forests shed their leaves, leaving avian fauna in plain sight. Lomas Barbudal is at its most spectacular in March, when the Corteza Amarilla trees (Tabebuia ochracea) are totally covered with yellow flowers.

The riverside woodland that forms a fringe along the rivers and streams is evergreen and considered the densest and most divers in the area, which is especially rich in solitary wasps. Besides, the savannah, covered in grassland, is dotted with trees, forming a wonderful landscape. Other habitats here are xerophytic or extremely dry woodlands, which is very rich in cacti and land bromeliads, oak forest (Quercus oleoides) and regenerated forest.

Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve is situated in the lower parts of the Tempisque River near Palo Verde Nacional Park. The offices are located on the banks of the River Cabuyo, 18 km from Bagaces. Near the offices, next to the River Cabuyo, there is a picnic area with tables and toilets and there also is a visitor centre between the offices and the river. Other nearby Costa Rica national parks includes Palo Verde National Park, Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero National Wildlife Refuge and Barra Honda National Park.

Caution: visitors allergic to bee stings should not get in to the refuge without a bee-sting kit, as the swarming Africanized “killer’ bees are amongst the numerous species of bee that inhabit the park.

Getting to Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve:

From San José, take the Interamerican Highway north to Bagaces. Then turn southeast near km 221 (10 km northwest of Bagaces, 14 km southeast of Liberia) and drive for approximately 12km to the park entrance. A sign notifies visitors of the appropriate turnoff to the entrance of Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve (4WD recommended). The visitor’s center at Casa de Patrimonio is 7 km south at the bottom of a steep hill that affords a panoramic view of the area you’re about to explore. Consider parking at the top and walking in to the visitors center when road conditions are marginal.

Alternatively, there is a very rugged 4WD road leading northwest from the entrance station of Palo Verde National Park. Check with the rangers for current conditions and regulations before setting out on this route. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south for some 14 km from Liberia to Bagaces. Then turn southeast and drive for approximately 12 km to the park entrance. A sign notifies visitors of the appropriate turnoff to the entrance of Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve (4WD recommended). The visitor’s center at Casa de Patrimonio is 7 km south at the bottom of a steep hill that affords a panoramic view of the area you’re about to explore. Consider parking at the top and walking in to the visitors center when road conditions are marginal.

By bus

Take a local bus from San Jose – Liberia, which takes about 4 hours making the stop at Bagaces (Pulmitan Liberia, +506 2222-1650). From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, which is about 15 minutes.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to Daniel Oduber Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, which is about 45 minutes.

Location: 15 kilometers southwest of Bagaces, district: Bagaces, canton: Bagaces, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50401.
Pijije GPS coordinates: 10.540903,-85.342181 (10°32’27.25″N, 85°20’31.85″W)
Size: 2,279 hectares (5,636 acres)
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Pijije, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Children’s Eternal Rainforest Private Reserve Costa Rica

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San Gerardo Field Station · Poco Sol Biological Station · Bajo del Tigre Sector · Finca Steller Education Center

Location: between Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and the Arenal National Park, in the provinces of Alajuela and Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Size: 22,500 ha (54,000 acres)
Altitude: from 450m to 1,800m (1,480ft to 5,900ft) above sea level
Reservation Telephone: +506 2645-5851 / +506 2645-5305
Website: www.acmcr.org

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Children’s Eternal Forest in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Children’s Eternal Rainforest Private Reserve Costa Rica is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica, that protects the country’s tropical rainforest, primary forest, secondary forest and regeneration areas in northwestern Costa Rica, a project that has been part of the dream of children’s and adults around the world. On September 18th, 2007, it was declared part of the Peace and Water Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and is administered by the Monteverde Conservation LeagueChildrens Eternal Rainforest Private Reserve Costa Rica (ACM in Spanish).

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is located in the Tilaran Mountain Range, bordering the Arenal Volcano National Park, the higher elevations of Monteverde and Miramar, reaching the Alberto Manuel Brenes Reserve in San Ramon. It continues through the San Carlos zone, close to the populations of San Jorge, La Tiga, San Isidro de Peñas Blancas, Chachagua, and El Castillo.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest exists thanks to the dream of saving the rainforest by children. It’s fundraising campaign began in 1987, in a small rural school in Sweden, while studying tropical forests prompted a nine-year-old Roland Teinsuu, to ask what they could do to keep the rainforest and the animals that live in it safe from destruction. Young Roland’s question led his teammates to make a campaign to raise money for the purchase and protection of threatened rainforest in Costa Rica. With the guiding hand of teacher Eha Kern and her husband Bernd, and the assistance of tropical biologist Sharon Kinsman, who introduced the Monteverde project to the school, Roland and his classmates raised enough money to buy six hectares of rainforest at a cost of $250 per hectare, including surveying, title search, and legal fees connected with the purchase.

Linked to this initial success, this group of children dedicated to saving the tropical forests formed the “Barnens Regnskog” (Children’s Rainforest). The vision took hold, sweeping the globe, with contributions flocking in from the far corners of the world. Fundraising projects have been as varied as a child’s imagination. Children have collected aluminum cans and glass, baked cookies for sale with rainforest ingredients (ginger, chocolate, vanilla), or asked for a parcel of rainforest as a Christmas or birthday gift.

The original six-hectare preserve, settled near Monteverde in 1988, has grown to more than 22,500 hectares (over 54,000 acres) of land, currently is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica, and to date, 44 different countries have contributed to the acquisition and protection of the territories of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.

In the Children’s Eternal Rainforest are represented 6 out of the 12 life zones present in Costa Rica, as well as a variety of habitats and ecosystems that span from 450 to 1800 meters above sea level, so it presents a topography characterized by peaks and mountain ridges, valleys and canyons as well as abundant rivers of rapid currents that drain both the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of the country. In general can be classified into three forest types: seasonal evergreen forest, cloud forest and a seasonal rain forest, this later type being the most representative within the reserve.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest and other nearby areas have been the focus of numerous studies and vast collections of plants and Childrens Eternal Rainforest Private Reserve Costa Ricaanimals. Since the 1960’s, many naturalists, students and biologists have contributed to the knowledge of the cloud forest and other adjacent habitats.

The climatic conditions and the topography of the terrain have allowed for habitat diversification and a high degree of endemism. To date there have been 60 species of amphibians, 101 reptiles, known worldwide as the habitat of the Golden Toad (Bufo periglenes), 425 of birds, including the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata), Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii), Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius), Bare-necked Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis), Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda), Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus), Cherrie’s Tanager (Ramphocelus costaricensis), Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus), Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis), and even the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) as well as various species of hummingbirds, woodpeckers, orioles, parrots, parakeets and many others. Here you can also find 121 species of mammals which represent 50.5% of all terrestrial vertebrate species known in Costa Rica, such as the howler, spider and capuchin monkeys, raccoons, porcupines, peccaries, agoutis, deer, lowland pacas, squirrels, jaguars and tapirs, which is the largest land mammal in Costa Rica and very abundant in these forests. Also, within the invertebrates, it have been reported about 658 species.

The diversity of plant species in the area is also great, there have been reported 3.021 species of vascular plants, a number that corresponds to one third of the total species reported for the country. Other groups classified on the lesser-known flora and are also endemic in the area. For example, approximately 10% of the total flora is considered endemic to the Tilaran Mountain Range, where you can find a variety of trees such as Kapok (Ceiba pentandra), Cedrillo (Brunellia costaricensis), Cirri Blanco or Colorado (Mosquitoxylum jamaicense), Sura or Guayabon (Terminalia oblongata), Laurel or Salmwood (Cordia alliodora), West Indian Laurel Fig (Ficus americana) and several species of ferns, palms, orchids, bromeliads, vines and moss.

Another major objective of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest is the protection of water, due to conditions of geographical location, topography, climate, and principally forest cover, permits a higher richness in the clean water resources within it that are used for human and animal consumption as well as the generation of hydroelectric energy, approximately 50% of the production of electricity originates from this protected area. The main watersheds located in this area are: the Peñas Blancas River, the Esperanza River, the San Lorenzo River, the Aranjuez River, the Caño Negro River and the Guacimal River. Each watersheds has its own composition of different rivers and permanent and temporal streams, as well as innumerable amounts of springs and natural lagoons.

Within the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, you can stay in one of their biological stations, either San Gerardo Station or Poco Sol Station. These are ideal for retreats, workshops, study groups, research projects or vacations. Both offer classroom Quetzal Childrens Eternal Rainforest Private Reserve Costa Ricafor session groups work, hiking trails in natural forest and regeneration areas with an excellent opportunity to observe and share with the wildlife, the opportunity for a presentation (on request) and delicious Costa Rican meals.

San Gerardo Field Station

San Gerardo Biological Station is located on the Atlantic slope of the Tilaran Mountain Range at 1,200m above sea level. The station has the best conditions to house 32 people. It has 6 bedrooms on the second floor, each with private bath. The balcony offers a spectacular view of Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal and the surrounding forest. The first floor has a kitchen, dining room, rooms for guides and group leaders and a conference room. It also offers facilities for students, researchers and tourists such as trails through primary and secondary forest and regenerating areas.

The average temperature of this zone is 16°C (61°F), with an annual rainfall of 4000 mm, being the best time to visit during the dry season, from April to June, because that is when most bird species in the region are very active due to their breeding season.

Location: 6km (3.7 miles) northeast of downtown Santa Elena in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

GPS coordinates for San Gerardo Biological Station: 10.359658, -84.790992 (10°21’34.77″N, 84°47’27.57″O)

Getting to San Gerardo Biological Station:

From San Jose, take the Interamerican Highway north to km # 133, and take the turnoff to the right towards Sardinal to Santa Elena (about 29 km). Upon entering the community of Santa Elena, continue 6 km to the station entrance. Santa Elena is reached via a gravel road, so it is recommended to go with four-wheel drive vehicle. Driving time from San Jose is approximately 1 ½ hours.

By bus

You can take a bus route San Jose – Santa Elena (Auto Transport Tilarán, +506 2222-3854), which takes about 4.5 hours. From there you can take a taxi to the entrance, which can take about 15 minutes.

Poco Sol Biological Station

Location: Poco Sol in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica.

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GPS Coordinates for Poco Sol Biological Station: 10.362025, -84.658467 (10°21’43.29″N, 84°39’30.48″W)

Poco Sol Biological Station is located on the Atlantic slope in Tilaran Mountain Range at 720m above sea level. The station’s Childrens Eternal Rainforest Private Reserve Costa Ricainfrastructure is divided into two buildings. A main building which corresponds to the shelter with capacity for 34 people. It has seven rooms, each with private bath. The main floor has a conference room, bathrooms and two rooms for the disabled; the second floor is an open room with terrace and five bedrooms. The second building has a kitchen and dining area for the enjoyment of traditional foods. It also offers facilities for students, researchers and tourists such as trails through primary and secondary forest and regenerating areas, passing through a 3.8 ha lagoon, a waterfall, fumaroles and hot springs.

As to San Gerardo station, the type of forest in the area is classified as Premountain Rainforest (an evergreen forest), with a canopy of 30 to 40 meters in high, abundant epiphytes and a dense undergrowth. The average temperature of this zone is 24°C (75°F), with an annual rainfall of 4000 mm, being the best time to visit during the dry season from December to May.

Getting s to Poco Sol Biological Station:

From San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway westward to the city of San Ramon. Then follow the road north through Angeles and La Tigra up to Pocosol. Driving time from San Jose is approximately 4 hours.

You can also take the Pan-American Highway to Naranjo and follow the road through the villages of Zarcero, Ciudad Quesada and La Tigra to Pocosol. Driving time from San Jose is approximately 4 hours.

By bus

You can take a bus San Jose – La Fortuna, (Auto Transport San Jose-San Carlos, +506 2256-8914), which takes about 4 hours, making a stop in La Tigra. You can also take a bus from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna (Transpisa, +506 8379-3153) which takes about 1.5 hours. From there you can take a taxi to the entrance, which can take about 15 minutes.

By plane

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport and the Arenal Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From there you can rent a car and drive to the reserve, or take a taxi, which can take about 30 minutes.

Bajo del Tigre Sector

Location: 2km (1.2 miles) southeast of downtown Santa Elena, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

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Bajo del Tigre Sector GPS Coordinates: 10.305703, -84.811578 (10°18’20.53″N, 84°48’41.68″W)
Reservation Phone: +506 2645-5305
Birder’s Tour Schedule: at 5:30 a.m. and at 7:30 p.m.
Daytime walks Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Night walks Schedule: from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (The Night Hike allows visitors to see the difference between the forest during the day, and at night. An experience you will not want to miss!)

The Bajo del Tigre Sector is physically separated from the large block of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, but is part of this large protected area and administered by the ACM. Bajo del Tigre is located in Monteverde and has a size of approximately 29 hectares, however the property is surrounded by other private protected area, a situation that provides a greater forest cover.

The forest type found in Bajo del Tigre is quite rare and has a low representation in the country due to the deforestation to make way for coffee plantations and urban zones, for presenting favorable conditions for human settlements. Bajo del Tigre has an elevation between 1.020m to 1.380m above sea level, and record rainfall over 2,400 mm of rain per year. This forest is considered Childrens Eternal Rainforest Private Reserve Costa Ricaseasonal, with a dry period extending from January to early May.

Bajo del Tigre has a reception center for visitors and a gift shop with items related to their organization and conservation in general. In addition, next to the reception it has a “Children’s House”, aimed to environmental education for local children and visitors.

Bajo del Tigre Sector has about 4.5 km of trails that let you enjoy a unique flora and fauna of the area, as well as an excellent opportunity to appreciate the sunset over the Gulf of Nicoya.

Getting to Bajo del Tigre Sector:

From San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway north to km # 133, and take the turnoff to the right towards Sardinal to Santa Elena (about 29 km). Upon entering the community of Santa Elena, continue for 2 km to the station entrance. In Santa Elena is reached via a gravel road, so it is recommended to go with four-wheel drive vehicle. Driving time from San Jose is approximately 1 ½ hours.

By bus

You can take a bus San Jose – Santa Elena (Auto Transport Tilarán, +506 2222-3854), which takes about 4.5 hours. From there you can take a taxi to the entrance, which can take about 10 minutes.

Finca Steller Education Center

Location: La Tigra in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica.

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GPS Coordinates for Finca Steller Educational Center: 10.341378, -84.584947 (10°20’28.96″N. 84°35’5.81″W)
Finca Steller Phone: +506 2468-8382

In 1993, ACM acquired a property adjacent to Children’s Eternal Rainforest in order to build a Environmental Education Center. Some years later, thanks to donations from organizations and individuals, they were able to build basic buildings to carry out education and Finca Steller Education Center Childrens Eternal Rainforest Costa Ricareforestation activities.

The Finca Steller Education Center, located in La Tigra of San Carlos, has a classroom, a kid’s house and a tree nursery for the production of native tree species. In addition, there are hiking trails through primary and secondary forest, and areas of regeneration.

Getting to Finca Steller Educational Center:

From San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway westward to the city of San Ramon. Then follow the road north through Angeles to La Tigra. Driving time from San Jose is approximately 4 hours.

You can also take the Pan-American Highway to Naranjo and follow the road through the villages of Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada to La Tigra. Driving time from San Jose is approximately 4 hours.

By bus:

You can take a bus San Jose – La Fortuna, (Auto Transport San Jose-San Carlos, 2256-8914), which takes about 4 hours, making a stop in La Tigra. You can also take a bus from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna (Transpisa, +506 8379-3153) which takes about 1.5 hours. From there you can take a taxi to the entrance, which can take about 15 minutes.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport and Airport Arenal, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Costa Rica

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Location: 5km (3 miles) north of Santa Elena town, district: Monteverde, canton: Puntarenas, province: Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 60109.
Santa Elena GPS Coordinates: 10.317369,-84.824386 (10°19’2.53″N, 84°49’27.79″W)
Size: 310 ha (765 acres)
Altitude: from 1,300 m (4,800 ft) to 1,700 m (5,600 ft.).
Schedule: from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. all the year round. Night walks from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (with previous reservation)
Telephone: +506 2645 5390 / +506 2200 4688
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
Website: http://www.reservasantaelena.org

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Sardinal intersection (Rancho Grande), Puntarenas, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Costa Rica is a state owned non-profit reserve created in March 1992, in order to help preserve the unique cloud forest surrounding them and to use tourism as a tool to benefit community development, thanks to the help of Youth Challenge International, a Canadian Non-profit Organization, the Costa Rican government and the Santa Elena Community, making it one of the first community managed reserves in the country, located high on the Tilarán Cordillera slopes.

The original vision was to use this land for agricultural research and education. But, for multiple reasons, the farming proved to be unsuccessful, and in 1989, it was decided to convert the land into a cloud forest reserve. The philosophy of this reserve is unique, where long term sustainability is not only a concern of the Reserve, but of the community as a whole, making it an excellent example of what people can do to preserve and learn from their environment.

A cloud forest is a highland forest characterized by nearly 100% humidity throughout the year. Here in the Santa Elena Clod Forest Reserve, warm North-Easterly trade winds, filled with moisture, blow in over the Atlantic. As the winds sweep up to the Continental divide, they cool and condense to form clouds, bathing the forest in a constant soft mist.

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is even cloudier and wetter than the Monteverde Reserve because of its higher elevation. Here, the cloud forest receives an incredible 4m (12 ft) of rain every year.

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve has 83% of primary forest, with the remainder being mature secondary forest. Birds are less abundant than in Monteverde Reserve, but you can find a wide variety of birds as the spectacular Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, and animals such as Red brocket deer (Mazama Rufina), sloths, coaties, ocelots, howler, capuchin and spider monkeys, as well as a wide variety of insects, amphibians and mammals which never even come down to the forest floor, making it a perfect place for hiking, bird watching, volunteering or do some research.

One of the most characteristic features of the reserve is the abundance of vegetation, where competition for growing space is so intense that trunks and branches are almost entirely covered with a variety of lichens, liverworts, bryophytes, mosses and epiphytes, mats store moisture, which is especially important in the dry season (from February to May).

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve trails will take you on an amazing journey of discovery as you blaze your way through the hanging vines and moist vegetation. The reserve has four main trails: the Caño Negro Trail, the longest trail (4.8km – 3.5hrs); the Encantado Trail, excellent for bird watching (3.4km – 2.5hrs); the El Bajo Trail, extends through more secondary growth forest (2.6km – 1.5hrs); and the Youth Challenge Trail, ideal for lookouts (1.4km – 45min), which are more natural and more difficult to walk than those of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. There is also a tower offering beautiful views of 5 Costa Rica volcanoes on a clear day: Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, Tenorio, Miravalles and Poas, where visitors can even appreciate the Nicaragua Lake, as well as similar habitat and wildlife like the one in Monteverde reserve.

This reserve together with the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (El Bosque Eterno de los Ninos), the Arenal Conservation Area and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, constitute a contiguous conservation area of approximately 28,000 hectares (69,000 acres), with plans to raise funds to buy and restore adjacent farmlands for future inclusion into the Santa Elena Reserve. Conservation efforts in the area are concentrating on establishing forest corridors, so the Resplendent Quetzal, American Pumas, Jaguars, Ocelots and Red Brocket Deer have large territories in which to forage and breed.

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is the less visited sister reserve of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Less crowded, lush green forests full of flora and fauna, this reserve boasts one of the best places to hear and see howler monkeys in all of Costa Rica.

The Reserve is administered by the Professional Technical School of Santa Elena. All the profits from entrance fees, guided tours and the souvenir shop are dedicated to help and to give support to the education of Santa Elena’s youth. They are also invested into the development of courses in environmental education, biology, agriculture, language and tourism. In using the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve as a natural classroom, students and teachers harness an unlimited educational resource that can be used for anything from studying tropical plant ecology to leading tours.

At the entrance of the reserve, you can find a visitors center, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, boots for rent, etc. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Monteverde Biological Clod Forest Reserve.

Getting to Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve:

From San Jose take the Pan-American highway North to kilometer 133, then turn right towards Sardinal, 1 km after the Aranjuez River and Cuenca Restaurant, until you reach Santa Elena (about 29 Km). Once you reach Santa Elena, continue for another 6 km following the signs. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the same directions to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. From Sardinal to Santa Elena, you will need a 4×4 car, even during the dry season, since some 20 km correspond to a gravel road.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south on the Pan-American Highway through Liberia, Bagaces, Cañas and Las Juntas to Sardinal. Here, turn to the left at the gas station to Santa Elena (about 29 km). Once you reach Santa Elena continue for another 6 km following the signs to Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. From Sardinal to Santa Elena, you will need a 4×4 car, even during the dry season, since some 20 km correspond to a gravel road.

By bus

Take a bus San Jose – Monteverde, which takes about 5 hours, making the stop at Santa Elena (Transmonteverde S.A, +506 2222-3854). We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.

You can also take a bus Puntarenas – Monteverde, which takes about 2 hours (Transmonteverde S.A, +506 2222-3854). There is also a bus service leaving from downtown Santa Elena to Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Reserva de Bosque Nuboso Monteverde Costa Rica

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Costa Rica is the most famous cloud forest reserve in the world and one of the most important protected areas in Costa Rica. It is visited by nature lovers from various countries desiring to enjoy, appreciate and study the abundant biodiversity of its ecosystems. It was created in 1972 to protect the watershed above the village of Monteverde (“Green Mount”), a small town in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve entrance in Costa RicaAlthough majority of the reserve is located in the Puntarenas province, however parts stretch to the Alajuela province, along the Tilarán Mountain Range.

It is often considered a major tourist destination in Costa Rica, primarily frequented by ecotourists drawn by the high biodiversity of its numerous reserves, the most famous of which is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The area is also frequented by researchers and naturalists who come to study specialized areas of mountain and tropical biodiversity. The Monteverde area has been christened number 14 of the Americas in Newsweek’s 100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear, besides been deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica, and also has been called “the jewel in the crown of cloud forest reserves” by National Geographic.

The reserve consists of 6 ecological zones, 90% of which are virgin forest, filled with extravagantly tall trees that range from 30 to 40 meters in heigh, with pathways that are embellished in orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. The unique landscape is home to over 2,500 plant species, so is also known as the site with the largest number of orchids in the world, as well as has over 161 species of amphibians and reptiles, been known worldwide as the habitat of the golden toad (Bufo periglenes), a species that disappeared in 1989.

The variable climate and large altitudinal gradient has helped produce an extremely high biodiversity, with more than 100 species of mammals such as marsupials, squirrels, porcupines, agouties, deer, monkeys, muskrats and felines such as the Jaguar, Ocelot, Baird´s Tapir, Three-wattled Bellbird, Bare necked Umbrella bird and the famous elusive Resplendent Quetzal. The beginning of the migration of the bell bird (Procnias tricarunculata) is similar to that of the quetzal, with reproduction occurring from March to June, and followed by a post-reproductive move downhill on the Pacific slope during the months of August and September. Besides, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has about 400 bird species, where 21% of them are long distance migratory birds, which reproduce in North America and pass through Monteverde during their migration. Three of these species, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve Quetzal in Puntarenas, Costa RicaSwallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus), the Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius), and the Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis), reproduce in Monteverde and migrate to South America during their non-reproductive phase.

The majority of the bird species in Monteverde are primarily insectivores, given that the plants in the region offer a wide variety of fruit. The epiphytes are important resources for both, frugivores and insectivores in Monteverde. On a global scale, the cloud forests of Monteverde are home to ten species of birds that are considered to be endangered by the Birdlife International Organization, due to their very restricted habitat worldwide.

Resting roughly at 1400 meters above sea level, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is misty and windy, with a mean annual temperature of 18°C (64°F) and an annual rainfall averages around 3,000 mm (118 in), where humidity oscillates between 74% to 97%.

Early in the 50’s, a group of quakers from the United States and their families arrived to Costa Rica. Led by Hubert Mendenhall, John Cambell, Howard Rockwell, and Wilford Guindon, they settled in Monteverde, when colonization in the region was just beginning.

It was in 1972 that biologist George Powell joined Wilford Guindon, one of the Monteverde Quaker pioneers, to promote the establishment of the natural preserve now known as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, an area of extraordinary beauty and biodiversity; it is today the best-known private reserve on the Central American. The establishment of the reserve was fully backed by the Quaker community. During the first years they helped to obtain financing, and during the construction of “La Casona”, they received scientists and visitors as guests in their homes.

After the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve creation, the Tropical Science Center continued to secure the financial and human resources necessary to expand, consolidate and properly protect and manage the non-profit reserve.

The spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve feels like walking in a grandiose green Cathedral, where poorly drained areas support swamp forests while parts dissected by numerous crystal clear streams tumbling over rapids and waterfalls. With its unique cloud canopy, Monteverde Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve Hanging Bridges in Puntarenas, Costa RicaCloud Forest Reserve is a paradise for nature lovers and avid photographers. It comes as no surprise that people who visited Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve rank it as one of the most beautifully, stunning and breath taking nature reserves in the world.

The number of visitors to the preserve has risen consistently from 471 visitors  in 1974 to 70,000 in 2005, so the income derived from entrance fees and charges for scientific research provides the budget to cover the cost of all administrative, managerial, security and educational expenses.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve offers ideal facilities for research, education and ecotourism. It has a lodging mountain “La Casona” with capacity for 47 persons with an agreeable service of cafeteria and restaurant, a room of audiovisuals and a sale of tickets, a center for environmental education, a scientific laboratory with a classroom of study, administrative offices and a shop of crafts and souvenirs. Other nearby Costa Rica reserve includes the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.

Getting to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve:

From San Jose take the Pan-American highway North to kilometer 133, then turn right towards Sardinal, 1 km after the Aranjuez River and Cuenca Restaurant, until you reach Santa Elena (about 29 Km). Once you reach Santa Elena, continue for another 6 km following the signs. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the same directions to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. From Sardinal to Monteverde, you will need a 4×4 car, even during the dry season, since some 20 km correspond to a gravel road.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south on the Pan-American Highway through Liberia, Bagaces, Cañas and Las Juntas to Sardinal. Here, turn to the left at the gas station to Santa Elena (about 29 km). Once you reach Santa Elena continue for another 6 km following the signs. From Sardinal to Monteverde, you will need a 4×4 car, even during the dry season, since some 20 km correspond to a gravel road.

By bus

Take a bus San Jose – Monteverde, which takes about 5 hours (Transmonteverde S.A, Phone: +506 2222-3854). We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.

You can also take a bus Puntarenas – Monteverde, which takes about 2 hours (Transmonteverde S.A, +506 2222-3854). There is also a bus service leaving from downtown Santa Elena to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Location: 6km (3.7 miles) southeast of Santa Elena, district: Monteverde, canton: Puntarenas, province: Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 60109.
Santa Elena GPS Coordinates: 10.317369,-84.824386 (10°19’2.53″N, 84°49’27.79″W)
Size: 17.000 ha (42.000 acres)
Altitude: 1,200 m to 1,600 m
Schedule: from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. all the year round.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Telephone: +506 2645-5122 / +506 2645-5579
Fax: +506 2645-5034
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Puntarenas, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Cacyra Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cacyra Costa Rica

Location: southeast from Carara National Park, canton: Turrubares, in San Jose province, Costa Rica.
GPS Coordinates: 9.769392, -84.5277 (9°46’09.81″N, 84°31’39.72″W)
Size: 37ha (91 acres)
Central Pacific Conservation Area (ACOPAC) Telephoe: +506 2416-7068
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Turrubares, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Cacyra Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on 1995 as a private refuge to protect tropical forest areas near the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Also, this refuge was created in order to serve as a biological corridor between the Carara Biological Reserve, now the Carara National Park, and the Turrubares Hills Protected Area. That is why its biodiversity is very similar that the one you can find in Carara National Park.

Almost the entire area of the refuge is covered by secondary growth rain forests, so they are very common pioneer species such as balsa (Ochroma pyramidale), the guarumo (Cecropia sp), the guácimo (Guazuma ulmifolia) and buzzard (Schyzolobium parahyba), among others, as the life zone is tropical wet forest, with transition to premontane forest. The climate is humid, very hot, with a long dry season. The grounds are covered in tacotales and secondary forests that were transferred by IDA to be devoted to shaping the biological corridor.

Other nearby Costa Rica National Parks includes the Fernando Castro Cervantes Wildlife Refuge and the Carara National Park. There are no public park facilities at this wildlife refuge.

Getting to Cacyra Wildlife Refuge:

From downtown San Jose takes about 1 hour, take the Prospero Fernandez Highway, which starts at the National Gymnasium in La Sabana. From there continue directly through the towns of Escazu, Santa Ana, Ciudad Colon and Puriscal. From Puriscal is about 40 minutes to reach San Juan de Mata de Turrubares. Turrubares also has other alternative routes such as the canton of Orotina southwest and the canton of Atenas southeast.

From Puntarenas downtown, Caldera or Jaco, you should reach Orotina. Of there are 7 km, approximately 15 minutes.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Quepos by Puriscal which takes about 2 hours, (Transportes Delio Morales, +506 2223-5567). From here you can take taxi to Cacyra Wildlife Refuge.

You can also take a bus from the route San Jose – Puriscal which takes about 1 hour, (Comtrasuli, +506 2258-3903). From here you can take taxi or take another bus Puriscal – San Juan de Mata, to Cacyra Wildlife Refuge.

For any of the routes we recommend consulting the respective schedules to make connections. Similarly, it is advisable to arrive early to be sure you get a seat.

La Cangreja National Park Costa Rica

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Location: district: Chires, canton: Puriscal, province: San José, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 10409.

WAZE location La Cangreja National Park Costa Rica  Google Maps location La Cangreja National Park Costa Rica

Puriscal GPS Coordinates: 9.847961,-84.309414 (9°50’52.66″N, 84°18’33.89″W)
Size: 2240ha (5533 acres)
Altitude: 350m (1050ft) to 1305m (3915ft)
Entropica Foundation telephone: +506 2416-6359
Central Pacific Conservation Area (ACOPAC) Telephone: +506 2416-7878
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

La Cangreja National Park Costa Rica: virgin forest declared protected area in 1984 (Protected Areas in Costa Rica are areas with special regulation to protect the hydrographic and terrestrial resources and are meant to keep the environment).  On June 5th,  2002, the World-Environment-Day, the government declared La Cangreja as a National Park, to protect the last stronghold of primary forest areas in Puriscal, Costa Rica. The preservation of La Cangreja was inspected by the Ecotropica Foundation with a special meaning, not only for the protection of the biodiversity, but also for the profit it involves for the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. Thanks to this, the government also enlarged the area up to 2240 hectares; mainly to prize the realized efforts of the Ecotropica Foundation and a big amount of coworkers who helped.

The name La Cangreja refers to the caracteristic shape of the “La Cangreja Hill”, with 1305m high. If you look at this hill from above, it gives the impression of an enormous crab (“cangrejo” in Spanish) of which the ridges leaving from the top seem to be the animal paws.

On the other hand, the Indian history talks about a giant crab, which placed itself on the top of the hill during earthquakes and blocked passage for the villagers who wanted to go to the nearby hamlets. At a certain moment, a brave warrior stood up against the crab and managed to cut off one of the animal paws. For this reason the crab got furious, but finally it surrendered by changing itself into a rock. This is why the highest part of the hill still is rocky.

Now La Cangreja National Park forms a precious heritage for the canton of Puriscal and the entire region. Its administration and protection is by the authority of the MINAE. This obviously doesn’t mean that the local community and municipality not longer take part in the development and protection of the park.

The study of a young American student, Ann-Marie Parsons, and other formal studies, confirmed that La Cangreja contains the last virgin natural areas that exist in the region of Puriscal. The forest is also the most important water supply for nearby communities and serves as well as climate stabilization. The presence of two different life zones, Tropical Humid Forest and Pre-Montane Humid Forest, a varied topography, heavy humidity and more than 160 inches annual precipitation, create an area with extremely diverse flora and fauna.

This area of Costa Rica is of particular interest to biologists. Researchers have already found several new species unique to the area.  The site bears a striking resemblance to the forests of the Osa Peninsula, with a marked predominantly South American species. The climate is very humid and hot with a moderate dry season. The dry season runs from December to April and the rainy season from May to November. The precipitation and temperature annual average is 3435 mm and 27°C, respectively.

Preliminary studies until 1993 were identified approximately 800 plant species. However, some of the most diverse groups as ferns, orchids, aroids and bromeliads have been little studied. Several species have been identified endemic or restricted in the country, Plinia puriscalensis Myrtaceae family and Mastatalensis Ayenia Sterculiaceae family, have only has been collected at this site. Some other species like Unonopsis theobromifolia a Anonaceae and Ternstroemia multiovulata, family Theaceae were described for the flora of the country in this area protective, although subsequently been collected in other areas including the Osa Peninsula. In a study on the floristic composition done in 1998 (Acosta, 1998) was achieved identify 193 species of trees, which are distributed in 126 genera and 56 families. Of identified species 84 are new records for this protected area.

It also presents 17 species of timber widely used commercially in Costa Rica, some of which are in danger of extinction like the hide of a bull (Tachigalia versicolor), garlic (Caryocar costaricense), the quira (Caryodaphnopsis burgeri), the IPE (Tabebuia guayacan) rum rum (Astronium graveolens), Nazarene (Peltogyne purpurea), cachimbo (Couratari guianensis), Christopher (Platymiscium pinnatum) and balsam (Myroxylon balsamum).

Among the highlights fauna, white-faced monkey (Cebus capucinus), sloth (Choloepus hoffmanii), armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus), coyote (Canis latrans), raccoon (Procyon lotor), paca (Agouti paca), coati (Nasua narica), hairless fox (Didelphis marsupialis), lion jaguarundi (Herpailuris yaguaroundi) Caucel (Leopardus felis), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and a large number of bat species. The birds that have reported the gallina de monte (Tinamou), the bell bird (Procne tricarunculata), the quióro or Curre black (Ramphastos swainsonii), the Toucanet (Pteroglosus frantzii) and several species of owls.

La Cangreja can be retained by means of a plan of preservation, protection and sustained use, of which the task is the protection of La Cangreja and its buffer zone, by means of long term plans, to preserve the forest and to inspire to a sense of understanding, connection and responsibility with regards to the forest, to the people and to the adjoining communities. Other nearby Costa Rica parks include Fernando Castro Cervantes Wildlife Refuge, Carara National Park and Cacyra Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to La Cangreja National Park

Take the highway out of San Jose, Costa Rica towards Ciudad Colón and Puriscal (Santiago).  From Santiago de Puriscal, you need to follow the old road to Parrita. Turn left, where signposting is indicated. The park is situated in the village of Mastatal, 45 kilometers southeast of Santiago de Puriscal. During the rainseason, this road is only accesible for 4×4 cars. In the dry season you can also reach La Cangreja with other vehicles.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Quepos by Puriscal which takes about 2 hours, (Transportes Delio Morales, Phone: +506 2223-5567). From here you can take taxi to La Cangreja National Park.

You can also take a bus from the route San Jose – Puriscal which takes about 1 hour, (Comtrasuli, Phone: +506 2258-3903). From here you can take taxi or take another bus Puriscal – Mastatal, which takes about 2 hours to La Cangreja National Park.

From Quepos, you can bus from the route San Jose – Quepos by Puriscal which takes about 2 hours, making the stop at Santa Rosa (Transportes Delio Morales, Phone: +506 2223-5567). Be sure to tell the driver you will get off there, and make sure you are on the bus that goes through Puriscal. From here you can take taxi or take another bus Santa Rosa – Mastatal which takes about 45 minutes to La Cangreja National Park.

For any of the three routes we recommend consulting the respective schedules to make connections. Similarly, it is advisable to arrive early to be sure you get a seat.

Address map: Click here to view directions from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO Puriscal, San Jose, Costa Rica at Google Maps