Limón

Puerto Viejo Beach Costa Rica

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Location: between Cocles and Punta Uva beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Puerto Viejo Beach (Salsa Brava) GPS Coordinates: 9.658912, -82.751339 (9°39’32.08″N, 82°45’04.82″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Puerto Viejo Beach Costa Rica, Talamanca, Limon  Google Maps location Puerto Viejo Beach Costa Rica, Talamanca, Limon

Getting to Puerto Viejo Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, you can choose to visit any of it beaches like El Chino, El Parquecito or Salsa Brava.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

BY BUS

You can take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space.

BY PLANE

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Puerto Viejo beach, which takes about 40 minutes.

Puerto Viejo Beach nearby Restaurants: Bread and Chocolate, Creperie Sel et Sucre, Le Numu, Stashus con Fusion

Puerto Viejo beach nearby Hotels: La Isla Inn, Le Cameleon

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Puerto Viejo Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Cocles Beach Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Playa Cocles Costa Rica

Location: between Cocles and Punta Uva beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Cocles Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.652517,-82.738985 (9°39’09.06″N, 82°44’20.34″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

Getting to Cocles Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 3 km (2 miles) until you reach Cocles Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572), making the stop at Cocles Beach entrance, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Cocles Beach.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Cocles beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Cocles Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Chiquita Beach Costa Rica

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Location: between Cocles and Punta Uva beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Chiquita Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.637873, -82.709077 (9°38’16.34″N, 82°42’32.67″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Playa Chiquita Costa Rica

Chiquita Beach is a beautiful beach about 2 km long, with gold sands and crystal blue waters, surrounded by lush vegetation along its coastline, located just southeast of Puerto Viejo in Limon, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Chiquita Beach is an open-type beach, so heavy swells can be presented, but in the southern sector is protected by a promontory, where there are small colonies of coral, making it an ideal beach to practice some diving and snorkeling, or well just relax and enjoy the sea and sun, always taking precautions when bathing by strong currents.

Chiquita Beach is home to a small, quiet but colorful and naturally beautiful town, located along the coast and quite isolated, making it a perfect destination for those who want to get lost in the beauty of Costa Rica, where can find some hotels, resorts, supermarkets, restaurants and shops, among other things. However, for those looking for a little nightlife and fun, should remember that Puerto Viejo is just 15 minutes.

Chiquita Beach is ideal for a bit of hiking around and exploring the beauty of the region and culture. In addition, you can take some dolphin tours, practice a little surfing, horseback riding, canopy and ATV tours in the jungle. Also, from Chiquita beach, visitors can hike the stunning Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, a true paradise for nature lovers, thanks to the wide variety of tropical fishes and marine life that can be observed near the reef coral, and are also common dolphins and manatees, which are almost extinct in Costa Rica.

Getting to Chiquita Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 7 km (4 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Chiquita until you reach Chiquita Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572), making the stop at Chiquita Beach entrance, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Chiquita Beach.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Chiquita beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Chiquita Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Punta Uva Beach Costa Rica

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Location: between Chiquita and Grande beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Punta Uva Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.636132, -82.699740 (9°38’10.07″N, 82°41’59.06″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Punta Uva Beach Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa RicaGoogle maps location Punta Uva Beach Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica

Punta Uva beaches are considered among the most beautiful in the world, and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, characterized by its golden sands and crystal blue water with gentle waves, an amazing presence of coral reefs along its coast and surrounded by lush tropical forest, located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, just 7.2 kilometers from Puerto Viejo and 4.7 kilometers from Manzanillo in the province of Limón.

Punta Uva beach is a semi-bay type, which coast has two beaches separated by a headland called “Punta Uva”, hence its name, making it ideal for swimming in its calm waters, or to practice some diving, snorkeling, fishing from the edge of the reef and some beach games. There are tours to see wildlife in this nature reserve as monkeys, toucans, sloths and iguanas, as well as some marine tours, ideal for watching dolphins and manatees, which are almost extinct in Costa Rica, which will make your visit to Punta Uva unforgettable.

The town of Punta Uva is a small community with a few hotels and restaurants, known for the friendliness of its people. Importantly, part of Punta Uva beach is within the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, dedicated to protect the coral reef and the lowlands of the southern Caribbean coastal region of Costa Rica, which has allowed preserve the natural beauty and flora and fauna. The shelter itself is a paradise for nature lovers, thanks to the great variety of marine life with lots of tropical fish that can be seen near the coral reef.

Getting to Punta Uva Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 8.5 km (5 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Chiquita until you reach Punta Uva Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

BY BUS

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572), making the stop at Punta Uva Beach entrance, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Punta Uva Beach.

BY PLANE

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Punta Uva beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Punta Uva Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Grande Beach in Limon, Costa Rica

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Location: between Punta Uva and Manzanillo beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Grande Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.634660, -82.684444 (9°38’04.77″N, 82°41’03.99″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Playa Grande Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa RicaGoogle Maps location Playa Grande Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica

Getting to Grande Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 10 km (6 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Chiquita and Punta Uva, until you reach Grande Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572), making the stop at Grande Beach, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Grande Beach.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Grande beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Grande Beach Nearby Hotels:

Congo Bongo Hotel

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Grande Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

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Manzanillo Beach Costa Rica

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Manzanillo Beach Limon Costa Rica

Location: between Grande Beach and Punta Manzanillo in Limon, Costa Rica.
Manzanillo Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.6328645, -82.6582748 (9°37’58.31″N, 82°39’29.79″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Manzanillo Beach Costa Rica in Cahuita, Talamanca, Limon  Google Maps location Manzanillo Beach Costa Rica in Cahuita, Talamanca, Limon

Manzanillo Beach is one of the most beautiful and picturesque beach of Costa Rica, approximately 4 km long with whitish sandy, few waves and gentle slopes, bordered by countless coconut palms and coral reefs that extend 200 m offshore, located south of Puerto Viejo between Punta Uva to the north and Punta Manzanillo to the south, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the canton of Talamanca in the province of Limon.

Manzanillo Beach is all a tropical paradise, very conducive areas for bathing as well as being the perfect spot for diving and snorkeling thanks to the presence of corals, as it boasts an amazing coral reef a short distance from the coast, which makes it one of the most scenic areas of the country. Also, if you want you can take a dolphins tour off the coast and take a look at three species of dolphins that live in the waters around, or if you want to walk, you can climb Punta Mona and observe some of the monkey species native of Costa Rica in their natural habitat.

Manzanillo Beach takes its name from an ancient Manzanillo tree that was planted in the center of town in the early 1940s. Today, Manzanillo is a quiet little fishing village with a relaxed, cultural and unique atmosphere with friendly people and delicious cuisine. The whole place is very influenced by the Afro-Caribbean traditions and customs, perfect for a romantic getaway or with friends. However, tourism has developed in the area and is now a major source of income for residents, so now it has very colorful markets and many restaurants and cafes that serve one of the best seafood from around the country, with a variety of fish, crabs, prawns and lobsters making it known for its good food. Also, you will find different hotels and accommodation for all tastes and budgets, but do not look for night life here. Tourists looking for some Caribbean style nightlife should opt for Puerto Viejo as your destination, located about 10 km north, where you will find lots of live music and party!

Importantly, Manzanillo Beach is located within the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, dedicated to protect the coral reef and the lowlands of the southern Caribbean coastal region of Costa Rica. The refuge itself is a paradise for nature lovers and underwater enthusiasts, thanks to the wide variety of tropical fish that can be seen near the coral reef, and are also common dolphins and manatees, which are almost extinct in Costa Rica.

Getting to Manzanillo Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 14 km (8.5 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Chiquita and Punta Uva, until you reach Manzanillo Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572), making the stop at Manzanillo Beach, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Manzanillo Beach.

Manzanillo Beach Hotels:

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Manzanillo Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Braulio Carrillo National Park Costa Rica

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Quebrada Gonzalez Sector Location: 20km (12 miles) northeast of San José, going through the San José-Guápiles Highway.
Barva Volcano Sector Location: 21 km (13 miles) Northeast of San Jose, between Irazu and Poas Volcanoes in Heredia, Costa Rica.
Quebrada Gonzalez Sector GPS Coordinates: 10.066692,-84.005939 (10°04’00.09″N, 84°00’21.38″W)
Barva Volcano Sector GPS Coordinates: 10.119942,-84.122278 (10°07’11.79″N, 84°07’20.20″W)
Size: 46,000ha (113,666 acres)
Altitude: 36m (118ft) to 2906m (9535ft) at the summit of the Barva Volcano
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Braulio Carrillo National Park Ranger station telephone: +506 2268-1038 / +506 2268-1039
Central Volcanic Cordillera Conservation Area (ACCVC) Telephone: +506 2268-1587 / +506 2268-8091
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Quebrada Gonzalez Sector Braulio Carrillo National Park Costa Rica WAZE locationQuebrada Gonzalez Sector Braulio Carrillo National Park Costa Rica Google Maps location

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

When it was decided to build a new highway from San José to Puerto Limón on the Caribbean coast via Guápiles, environmentalists were concerned that the virgin rain- and cloud-forest on the eastern watershed of the Central Valley would be under threat. It would be easy to imagine ribbon development of motels, sodas (similar like American diners), filling stations and settlement lining the road and running the environment. In 1978 it was therefore decided to set up the Braulio Carrillo National Park, named after one of the country’s 19th-century presidents.

The park includes a range of five altitudinal life zones and holds a tremendous variety of fauna and flora. The new highway effectively cuts the park in two, but gives an excellent opportunity to get a flavor of the area, with luxuriant vegetation draped with epiphytes and lianas visible through the mist, along with foaming waterfalls and vast tracts of Gunnera, which, with its massive leaves, is known as “the poor man’s umbrella.” As the road nears the Caribbean coastal plain, look out for the Rio Sucio Bridge (Dirty River Bridge). The view upstream shows the confluence of the Rio Sucio and the Rio Hondura, which is a crystal clear mountain stream. The Sucio, on the other hand, has its headwaters on the ash-covered slopes of the Irazú Volcano, turning the water a reddish brown.

Braulio Carrillo National Park contains 84% of primary forest and altitude-wise it ranges from 36m (118ft) at La Selva to 2906m (9535ft) at the summit of the Barva Volcano, the greatest altitudinal range of any Costa Rican national park. Rainfall and temperature correspondingly vary greatly. The range of wildlife is staggering. It is estimated that the forest contains around 6000 species of plants, with 600 trees, providing a habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including rarities such as the Resplendent Quetzal, King Vulture, most of the toucan family, the Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Flame-throated Warbler, Black-crowned Antpitta, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, (Ptilogonys caudatus), Golden-browed Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia callophrys) and a vast range of hummingbirds, trogons, eagles and parrots. Among the common mammals there are numerous felines such as Jaguar, Ocelot and Puma, and there are also Baird’s Tapir, Pacas, Raccoons, Peccaries and three types of monkeys.  Butterflies abound inside the park and you would be unlucky not to see a Blue Morpho, a Magnificent Owl, a Zebra Longwings (Heliconius charithonia) and the Swallowtails. Hikers should beware of snakes because the park contains two of the most venomous:  the Bushmaster or “Matabuey” (Lachesis)  and the feared Fer-de-lance or Terciopelo snake (Bothrops asper).

For administrative purpose and because of its size, the Braulio Carrillo National Park is divided into two sections: the Quebrada González Sector and the Barva Volcano Sector (explaining that while many think that the Barva Volcano is an independent National Park, this belongs to the Braulio Carrillo National Park).

The Quebrada González sector is the part of the park that is bisected by the Guápiles Highway. There are two ranger stations, the Zurquí station – just past the road tunnel of the same name – with an information center and three short trails, varying from 1 to 3km (0.6 to 1.9 miles) in length; and the Carrillo ranger station that is further 22km (14 miles) along the road, close to the toll booth in the center of the road. Here there are two further trails. One, named La Botella (the bottle) leads to waterfalls and a view down the Patria Canyon.

In the other hand, the Barva Volcano sector has to be approached from a different direction. The road from San José winds through coffee plantations and dairy farms to the village of Sacramento, where paved roads ends.  From here there is a rough track to the station. A 3km (1.9 mile) trail leads up through deciduous forest and cloud forest to the summit of the Barva Volcano, which is extinct, but there is an impressive crater filled with a blue-green lake. Unlike the Poás and the Irazú volcanoes, the crater rim has epiphyte-laden cloud forest trees, with a range of highland forest birds, including those named above.  For the really intrepid hiker there is a 30km (19 miles) trail from the top of the Barva Volcano to La Selva Biological Station, involving a descent of some 3000m (9843ft). This could take about four days and hiring a guide is strongly recommended.

Last but not least, if you’re already in the Braulio Carrillo National Park, it’s definitely worth visiting the Aerial Tram, located at the end of the protected area (towards Guápiles). This unique tram lets visitors travel in one of its twenty cable cars and to go through the forests’ canopy in order to spot flora and fauna that would otherwise be hidden from view. Visitors must realize that it isn’t a zoo, where animals will be spotted at all times, but even if tourists don’t see many creatures, the visit is still worth it. The Aerial Tram also offers a restaurant and a visitor’s center. (Tel. +506 2257-59-61 or fax 2257-60-53).

The Braulio Carrillo is one of the easiest parks to access from San José, but its tropical splendor and magnificence set it apart from the rest of the country. After only a thirty or forty minute drive from San José, you will encounter this amazing place, which reminds people of what ¾ of the country used to be like, only fifty years ago. Whenever you go to this park you will find that the vast majority of people are just passing through.  Weather is not a major consideration (March and April are slightly drier). You can expect afternoon shower year round and should always be ready for a downpour.

Getting to the Quebrada González Sector:

To the Quebrada González sector take the Guápiles Highway toward Limón from San José. This highway winds through the Park, and passes by two ranger stations; the Zurquí sector and the Carrillo (Quebrada Gonzalez).

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Guápiles – Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, which takes about 1.5 hours (Empresarios Guapileños, +506 2222-2727 / +506 2222-0610). It is important to note that you must warn the driver that you are going to the park, because otherwise it will not stop. Visitors who don’t want to travel by bus, might take a cab (the approximate cost from San José is $40)

Getting to the Barva Volcano Sector:

To the Barva Volcano sector, drive through Heredia, then turn north and drive through Barva, San José de la Montaña, and Sacramento. The last 4 km to the ranger station is generally only accessible by hiking. The station is two miles (3 km) northeast of Sacramento on a jeep trail.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Heredia, which takes about 45 minutes (Rapiditos Heredianos, +506 2233-8392 / Busetas Heredianas, +506 2261-7171 / Transportes Unidos La 400, +506 2222-8986) and then take another bus Heredia – Sacramento – Volcán Barva , which takes about 2 hours.

Chirripó National Park Costa Rica

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Location: 20km (12 miles) northeast of San Isidro. Covers parts of San José, Cartago and Limón provinces.

WAZE location Chirripó National Park Costa Rica  Google Maps location Chirripó National Park Costa Rica

GPS Coordinates: 9.325236,-83.608769 (9°19’30.85″N, 83°36’31.57″W)
Size: 50,150 ha (123,918 acres)
Altitude: from 900m (3000ft) rising to 3820m (12,533ft)
Schedule: the ranger station just south of San Gerardo de Rivas in Canáan is open 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Crestones Base Camp

WAZE location Crestones Base Shelter Chirripo National Park  Google Maps location Crestones Base Shelter Chirripo National Park

Chirripó National Park Telephone: 905-244-7747 (905-Chirripo) / +506 2742-5348
Pacific La Amistad Conservation Area (ACLA-P) Telephone: +506 2771-4836 / +506 2771-3155
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO San Isidro del General, San Jose, Costa Rica at Google Maps
Chirripó National Park Costa Rica is one of the Costa Rica’s wilder parks which protect a number of important ecosystems. Chirripó refers to both the name of the highest mountain in Costa Rica, which reaches 3820m (12,533ft), and the name of one of the National Parks. Chirripó takes its name from the Talamanca Indian word meaning “Place of Enchanted Waters”. The park is located approximately 30 km northeast from the city of San Isidro del General, which covers 50150ha (123,918acres). This park include parts of San Jose, Limón and Cartago, three provinces in Costa Rica, and contains miles of trails that wind through more ecological zones than you will find in most entire countries, in fact, five different ecosystems are differentiated largely by altitude like the lowland tropical wet forest, premontane tropical wet forest, lower montane wet forest, montane wet forest and subalpine wet forest (páramo, a strange area of high moorland with clumpy grassland and stunted dwarf trees, a habitat that is vulnerable to fire caused by the drying winds). At lower levels, there are oak, mixed and cloud forest sections, with an understorey of ferns and bamboo, which are rich in flora and fauna. The park climate has only two seasons, a dry one approximately from December to April and a wet one from May to November.

Chirripó was considered a sacred mountain by the pre-Colombian Indians, although it is believed that only the tribal leaders and shamans were allowed to the summit. In fact, some curious rock formations known as Los Crestones were treated as a shrine. Some 25000 years ago the summit was covered with glacial ice and the highest levels today are marked by bare rock with glacial features such as U-shaped valleys, ribbon lakes and moraine deposits, with biting winds and temperatures that frequently drop to minus 10°C, belying the fact that this is a mere 9° north of the Equator. Some of the oak trees are magnificent specimens reaching 30m (100ft). There are thought to be healthy numbers of Baird’s Tapirs and Jaguars in the forests, although they are rarely seen, in fact there is one extremely remote part of the park that is known as the “Savannah of the Lions” – a reference to the large number of Pumas known to exist here. Over 400 species of bird have been recorded and there are good numbers of woodpeckers, woodcreepers and trogons. As well Spider Monkeys are more obvious.

The number one attraction in Chirripó National Park is climbing the Cerro Chirripó, the highest peak in Costa Rica. Although it is a very wild park is relatively accessible by foot. If you wish to climb Cerro Chirripó, you will need to contact the National Park Service to book a place and have to do some advance planning, as only a certain number of people are allowed on the trail each day and the climb is very popular in the dry season, so it’s a possibility that you may be told that there is a long waiting list. You should register with the ranger station arrival. Although the climb is straightforward and does not require any rock-climbing skills, it is a long uphill drag and the complete hike there and back normally takes two or three days. Camping is not allowed in the park and fires are banned. The hike begins at around 1229m (4000ft), passing through pastureland and then thick cloud forest. About halfway to the huts is an open-sided rest station, which should only be used for accommodation in an emergency. After 14km (8.7 miles) the accommodation huts are reached, surrounded by a swampy, treeless grassland. Accommodation needs also to be booked at the simple refuge huts. Bear in mind the climate and adopt a layered approach to clothing. It can be quite hot at lower levels and rain can be expected anywhere, even in the dry season.

The summit can be extremely cold, so a good sleeping bag is needed (it snowed lightly on New Years Eve on the peak). But with the clear air, a sun block is indispensable because the park is close to the equator, and at this altitude, you can get badly burned and end up in the hospital. Also take sunglasses, first-aid kit, insect repellent and a torch – the refuges have no lights, so sufficient food and water must be taken too. The following morning, it is a 90 minute walk to the summit of Cerro Chirripó. You will have a chance to see the epiphytic ecosystem up close and personal, an even better experience than a canopy tour, because your feet are planted firmly on the ground and you can spend as much time as you want for free. There is a choice of spending the day around the summit area and returning to the huts for the night or making the descent on the same day. There are some times that you may want to avoid Chirripó National Park because there are a large number of national hikers, and the refuges can fill up. These can be on the dry season weekends, especially Easter weekend, which can be very crowded. Otherwise whenever is a good time to go, even in the rainy season, it rarely rains before early afternoon, so if you are up with the sun you can be pretty exhausted before you have to duck for cover.

Considering that Chirripó is the 38th most prominent peak in the world, this journey is a once in lifetime experience for most tourists and with luck there will be clear visibility and views of both the Pacific and the Caribbean.

Getting to Chirripó National Park:

Take the Pan American Highway East out of San José to Cartago, go over Cerro de la Muerte until you reach San Isidro del General after a total of 153 km (92 miles) approx. 3 1/2 hours. From here on Chirripó National Park is some 20km (12 miles) northeast of San Isidro. There are several entrance stations.

There are no paved roads into the park. Access is generally by horse or foot from one of the four entrance stations (4WD required to reach each of them).

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – San Isidro de El General and Chirripó National Park, which takes 3.5 hours (MUSOC, +506 2222-2422). We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

You can also take a bus San Jose – Quepos which takes 3.5 hours (Transportes Delio Morales, +506 2223-5567) and then take another bus Quepos – Buenos Aires (Gafeso).

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Quepos airport, either with Sansa, TravelAir or Aerobell Airlines, both with daily flights. From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to Chirripó National Park, passing through Dominical and San Isidro del Genereal, which is about 1.5 hours.

La Amistad International Park in Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Parque Internacional La Amistad en Costa Rica

La Amistad International Park in Costa Rica is the largest and most remote National Park in Costa Rica. This 194000ha (479000 acre) park area represents a dual effort from Costa Rica and Panama, which is equally split between them. Is the largest nature reserve in Central America and together with a 15 km buffer zone, it represents a major biodiversity resource at a regional (20% of the regions species diversity) and global level. The name of this vast area translates as the International Friendship Park and derives from the fact that it extends into Panama. Together with a number of other parks, reserves and Indian reservations, it forms the 600,000ha (1,482,000 acres) La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of the park is unexplored, and has more virgin forest than all of the other parks. La Amistad International Park has eight different life zones from tropical lowland rainforest to cloud forest and the tundra-like páramo. The park is surrounded by other parks and reserves for the indigenous peoples like Chirripó, Talamanca, Tayni, Ujarrás, Telire, Abagra and Salitre.

Because of the remote and virgin landscape, the wildlife statistics (mostly “estimated”) are incredible. In fact it is thought that up to two-thirds of all Costa Rica’s species are found at La Amistad, including a large number of its endangered species and many endemics. This makes for hikers and backpackers a hugely rewarded experience with all six neotropical cats, like the Jaguar, Jaguarundi, Ocelot, Puma, Oncilla and Margay, along with the rare Baird’s Tapir, monkeys, Giant Anteaters and Coatis.

More than 600 species of birds have been identified, including the country’s largest number of Resplendent Quetzals, the amazing Three-wattled Bellbird and the rare Umbrellabird. This may also be the last stronghold of the Harpy Eagle, although many ornithologists consider that it may extinct in Costa Rica. There are also 115 species of fish, 300 reptiles and amphibians and over 900 flowering plant species – and more are being discovered all the time. In La Amistad you can find approximately 1,000 fern species, 500 tree species and 130 different types of orchids. Compared to other parks and reserves of similar size around the world, the diversity found here is unequaled.

The park covers much of the Talamanca mountain range, rising from 150m (490ft) on the Caribbean side to 3550m (11,660ft) at the highest point. There are a few trails, but they are often overgrown and poorly marked. It would be foolhardy to venture far into the park without a guide.

Tres Colinas Sector

Visitors require excellent physical condition, as the travel time is 6 days with cold and rainy weather. There are local guides, private transportation services and camping areas. The community of Tres Colinas offers cabins to stay.

Getting to Tres Colinas Sector:

From Buenos Aires, follow the route to San Vito, take the exit in Paso Real and continue for 6 km. Take the exit to the community of Potrero Grande, where you take the road to Tres Colinas, approximately at 23km. Travelers will need a four-wheel drive vehicle, because it is a gravel path to Coto Brus. From Buenos Aires the whole trip takes about 2 hours.

Pittier Sector

It has natural trails for adventure hiking and wildlife watching, as well as camping areas. The travel time is approximately 4 hours. This sector has research facilities.

Getting to Pittier Sector:

Take the Pan-American Highway south to Paso Real, where you must be diverted to San Vito and then continue 45 km to the Pittier Biological Station. At the end of the path you will need a four wheel drive vehicle becuase of the road conditions. There is no bus service to here so it is necessary that visitors bring their own vehicle, or take a taxi for your transportation.

Biolley Sector

It has guides for entrance to Sabanas Esperanza and Valle del Silencio. For Valle del Silencio travel a good physycal condition is required as it takes about 8 hours to get (13 km). This site features a rustic lodge equipped with a living room, kitchen area, bathroom and beds. It is an excellent place for bird watching as well as tapir and jaguar tracks. This site provides facilities for research.

To enter to Sabanas Esperanza visitors requires the accompaniment of a local guide. The Los Gigantes del Bosque trail is located near the Altamira Biological Station, PILA administrative campus.

Getting to Biolley Sector:

Take the Pan-American South road and take the exit at km #221, in a place called Paso Real, and then continue for 15 km on the road to San Vito, up to the community of Las Tablas de Potrero Grande, where you take another turn and continue along a gravel path for 20 km. This road is passable all year round in four-wheel drive vehicle and in dry season any vehicle can make it. From the community of Altamira, you can only use a four wheel drive vehicle due to the characteristics of the access road to the Altamira Biological Station. From Perez Zeledon it takes about 3 hours.

Santa Maria Sector

Visitors will need the company of a local guide to enter this sector of the park, which leads to a hill covered by moors over 3000m in elevation. The way from Santa Maria takes about 5 hours, but the Chamber of Tourism of the community has a very rustic lodge near the boundaries of the park where you can stay. During the tour you can observe the Caño Island, the middle basin of the Térraba River and a wide variety of birds, among which highlights the quetzal.

Getting to Santa Maria Sector:

Take the Pan-American Highway South from San Isidro de Perez Zeledon to Buenos Aires until you reach the town of Santa Marta de Brunka located in km #184, then turn north on a gravel road until you reach the community of Santa Maria, located 15 km from Santa Marta. Access can be done in four-wheel drive vehicle all year.

Getting to La Amistad International Park in Costa Rica:

Take the Pan American Highway East out of San José to Cartago, go over Cerro de la Muerte until you reach San Isidro del General after a total of 153 km (92 miles) approx. 3 1/2 hours. From here on La Amistad is on your left 15 miles (25 km) southeast away until you reach the Panamanian border. There are several entrance stations.

There are no paved roads into the park. Access is generally by horse or foot from one of the four entrance stations (4WD required to reach each of them). Altimira Station is the park headquarters, and is located 12 miles (20 km) north of Guácimo. Other entrances are from Tres Colinas Station at Helechales, and in the Las Tablas region, Pittier Station at Progresso, and La Escuadra Station northeast of Santa Elena.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – San Isidro de El General and Chirripó National Park, which takes 3.5 hours (MUSOC, 2222-2422). We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

You can also take a bus San Jose – Quepos which takes 3.5 hours (Transportes Delio Morales, 2223-5567) and then take another bus Quepos – Buenos Aires (Gafeso).

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Quepos airport, either with Sansa, TravelAir or Aerobell Airlines, both with daily flights. From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to La Amistad International Park, passing through Dominical and San Isidro del Genereal, which is about 1.5 hours.

Location: Talamanca Cordillera, extending over the border into Panama.
GPS Coordinates: 9.324061-83.21025 (9°19’26.62″N, 83°12’36.90″W)
Size: 194000 ha (479,000 acres)
Altitude: 150m (430ft) rising to 3554m (11,660ft)
La Amistad International Park Telephone: +(506) 2200-5355 / 2730-0846 / 2742-8090
Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area (ACLA-C) Telephone: +(506) 2795-1446
Pacific La Amistad Conservation Area (ACLA-P) Telephone: +(506) 2771-4836 / 2771-3155
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

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

Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Reserva Forestal Cordillera Volcánica Central Costa Rica

Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve Costa Rica was created on June 26th, 1975, by Executive Decree No. 4961-A, in order to conserve and manage the hydrological and ecological potential that surrounds the National Parks Braulio Carrillo, Poas Volcano, Irazu Volcano and Turrialba Volcano, in the Central Volcanic Cordillera.

The objectives of its creation were based on the need to protect watersheds, to maintain hydropower production and to ensure safe handling and use of forest resources. In general, it should be noted that the Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve has an important hydrological network, as with the Braulio Carrillo National Park are the main recharge area that supplies water to the Central Valley and a considerable drainage network, which flows into the plains of the North Atlantic region of the country.

Originally the Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve comprising an area of 104.300 hectares, however, in the course of time was segregated and giving land to the Braulio Carrillo National Park among others, so that today covers 60.100 hectares. In fact, nowadays, this reserve is distributed by sectors surrounding the areas of Varablanca and Sacramento in Heredia, and the areas of Turrialba and Guápiles in Cartago and Limon.

Forests in this forest reserve are of extraordinary importance, not only for the protection they provide to the vast system of river basins that exists here, but also because it is a biological corridor that connects the Braulio Carrillo, Poas Volcano, Irazu Volcano and Turrialba Volcano National Parks. Two species characteristic of these forests are tree ferns (Cyathea fulva) and Poor Man Umbrellas (Gunnera insignis), with enormous size leaves. Some roads from Sacramento and Rancho Redondo let in a little bit in the southern part of this reserve.

The Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve has several life zones that correspond to tropical wet forest, montane rain forest, lower montane rain forest and montane rain forest. Thanks to this variety of life zones, the Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve has a vast collection of flora and fauna. It can be determine that 62% of the reserve is covered by forests, with a 3% in the process of recovery, while the area occupied by crops, grasses and trees covers approximately 14% of the reserve, such as the Aguacatillo (Persea caerulea), Oak (Quercus seemannii), Cedar (Cedrela salvadorensis), Cabbage Tree or Carne Asada (Andira inermis) and Cristobal (Guatteria oliviformis), Lengua de Diablo (Anthurium scherzerianum), Cacho de venado (Oreopanax standleyi) and Quina (Ladenbergia brenesii), among others. Similarly, the reserve has a variety of bromeliads, orchids, ferns, epiphytes and mosses.

Among the mammals that abound the reserve are the howler and white faced monkeys, tapirs, raccoons, sloths, porcupines, coatis, pacas, coyotes, peccaries, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, pocket gophers, juaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays and the jaguarundi. In addition, the Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve has some 500 species of resident and migratory birds, among which highlights the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), Bare-necked Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis), Black-crowned Antpitta (Pittasoma michleri), Golden-browed Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia callophrys), Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher (Ptilogonys caudatus), Flame-throated Warbler (Oreothlypis gutturalis), as well as variety of hummingbirds, toucans, eagles and parrots.

There are no public facilities at the Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes the Braulio Carrillo National Park, Poas Volcano National Park, Turrialba Volcano National Park and Tapiria National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve:

To get to the Varablanca surrounds Sector, from San Jose, take the Pan-American Highway towards the Juan Santamaria International Airport and then take the Alajuela exit. Continue straight on this road for 19km (12 miles) following the signs for Poás Volcano. At the dead end three-way intersection, where you see Jaulares Restaurant, take a right. Proceed for 1 mile to the town of Poasito and make another right at the intersection where it says Heredia – Varablanca – Sarapiqui. Make a left at the gas station in Varablanca and proceed for 5km (3 miles). Driving time from San José is about 1.5 hours.

To get to the Sacramento surrounds Sector, from San Jose, drive through Heredia, then turn north and drive through Barva, San José de la Montaña, and Sacramento. Driving time from San José is about 1.5 hours.

To get to the Guapiles surrounds Sector, from the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km in direction to San Jose. On your right hand the Hospital Mexico will appear.After the Hospital Mexico, you must take the exit to La Uruca (on the rotonda, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and follow to San José (keep the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to Shell gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit Guapiles-Limon and follow the road (nr. 32) to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.. Driving time from San José is about 3 hours.

To get to the Turrialba surrounds Sector, from San Jose, drive to Cartago and continue on Highway 10 following signs to Turrialba, which is about 40 km west of Cartago. Pass through the towns of Paraiso, Cervantes and Juan Viñas. Driving time from San José is about 3 hours.

Location: in Heredia, Cartago and Limon provinces, Costa Rica.
Varablanca GPS Coordinates: 10.168117, -84.156164 (10°10’5.22″N, 84°09’22.19″O)
Sacramento GPS Coordinates: 10.109086, -84.123036 (10°06’32.71″N, 84°07’22.93″O)
Guapiles GPS Coordinates: 10.202261, -83.795883 (10°12’8.14″N, 83°47’45.18″O)
Turrialba GPS Coordinates: 9.905747, -83.683928 (9°54’20.69″N, 83°41’2.14″O)
Size: 60,100 ha (150,000 acres)
Altitude: from 450m to 1,800m (1,480ft to 5,900ft) above sea level
Central Volcanic Cordillera Conservation Area (ACCVC) Telephone: +(506) 2268-8087/2268-9150
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Central Volcanic Cordillera Forest Reserve in Heredia, Cartago and Limon, Costa Rica at Google Maps