Costa Rica » Alajuela

Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Nati — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:39:57 +0000

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The Tenorio Volcano National Park was created on April 27th, 1995, through Executive Order No. 24240-MIRENEM, in order to protect and conserve forests, biodiversity and cultural features that surround the slopes of Tenorio Volcano, located in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range between the cantons of Guatuso and Upala in Alajuela, and Cañas, Bagaces and Tilaran in Guanacaste.

Tenorio Volcano National Park was originally declared as the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range Forest Reserve on February 25th, 1976 by Executive Decree 5836-A. On April 24th, 1978, by Executive Order 8473-A, is reformed the previous decree and the Reserve is sectioned into three zones that comprise the land located around the Orosi, Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes. Later, in 1992 it changes to management category into Tenorio Protected Zone. Finally, on April 27th, 1995 by decree already mentioned it is set as Tenorio Volcano National Park, a category that currently has. This park is bound to the Tenorio Protected Zone which has an extension of 5530.98 hectares, forming a forest block of 18,402.51 hectares.

Tenorio Volcano National Park is known for its beautiful forest with a unique fauna, as well as the volcanic relief resulting from the different geology, hot springs and geysers, with a virgin forest that extends to the Tenorio volcano’s summit and Crater Lake. It consists of four volcanic peaks and two twin craters (a volcano called Montezuma). Both volcanoes are assumed to be dormant, as there are no eruptions in recent history. The park is covered by savanna in the lowlands, rain forest in the middle and cloud forest at high levels. From the west slopes flows the Frio and Tenorio Rivers; and from the south slopes the Tenorite and Martyrdom Rivers. From the top you can see the plains of Guatuso and San Carlos, Lake Nicaragua, Caño Negro Reserve and Arenal Lake.

Tenorio National Park is best known for the beautiful Celeste River, whose light blue waters are caused by the emanation of sulfur and the precipitation of calcium carbonates. In fact, among the biggest attractions, there is the Celeste River waterfall and dyers, panoramic views, steam and hot springs and streams within the forest. It also has a nature trail called “Mysteries of the Tenorio”, with a distance of 3,200 m and approximately three hours.

Tenorio Volcano National Park has a wide variety of climates, with an average temperature between 15°C (59°F) and 24°C (75°F) and an average annual rainfall of 3,500 mm (140 inches), since the area is influenced by the Atlantic and Pacific slope, which is reflected in the variety of environments, ecosystems and species, distributed in 8 different life zones ranging from montane – humid forest transition to basal forest to dwarf cloud forest. However, most of the park’s climate is influenced by Caribbean, with rainfall almost throughout the year by the orographic effect, being the months of March and April the driest; however, in certain sectors of the Atlantic slope conditions are presented with a dry season from January to May.

At a middle elevation dominate montane rain forest and cloud forest, providing perfect habitat for wildlife in the region. This volcanic landscape is also home to the bright tropical dry forest surrounding the monuments of lava.

Tenorio Volcano National Park is known for its beautiful forest which flora is very varied. At undergrowth level, stand out heliconia, palms, Costaceae, Marantaceae or Arrowroot family and the Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family. Among the epiphytes plants are common bromeliads, orchids, Araceae or Arum family and Gesneriaceae. Among the most common trees are the Aguacatillo (Persea vesticula), Cucaracho (Billia hippocastanum), Pilon (Hyeronima alchorneoides), Zapotillo (Couepia polyandra), Caobilla or Fine-leaf Wadara (Couratari guianensis), Guanandi or Cedro Maria (Calophyllum brasiliense), Oak (Quercus costaricensis) and Jicaro Danto or Pepino de Danta (Parmentiera valerii), which is endemic to this mountain range and is characterized by flowers and fruits attached to the trunk and it represents a major food diet of the Tapir.

Among the fauna present visitors can find a wide variety of mammals such as howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) and capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus), tapirs (Tapirus bairdii), tayras (Eira barbara), anteaters (Tamandua mexicana), collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), Red Brocket(Mazama americana), agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata), Central American Agoutis (Agouti paca), pumas (Felis concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margays (Leopardus wiedii), Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) and jaguars (Panthera onca). Among the birds that inhabit the park are the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata), Bare-necked Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis), Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens), toucans (Ramphastidae) and trogons. Similarly, the park has a wide variety of snakes such as the Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), Coral (Micrurus mosquitensis), the Lora or Parrot Snake (Leptophis ahaetulla), Picado’s Jumping Pitviper (Atropoides picadoi), Central American Bushmaster (Lachesis stenophrys), Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) and Fer-de-lance or Terciopelo (Bothrops asper).

Tenorio Volcano National Park also protects important filtration areas, aquifers and springs that supply water to surrounding communities, which can be classified into three groups depending on the direction of drainage: the Arenal Reservoir, the Bebedero River Basin and the North-Atlantic plains.

Moreover, the park also facilitates the integration of local, national and international comunities, into the non-destructive use and management of the area, in a compatible way with the conservation of resources through research, environmental education, ecotourism, volunteering, control and protection activities as well as the generation of environmental services. All this makes this park attractive for national and international tourists who have the opportunity to enjoy great scenic beauty as well as forestry and animal species native to the area.

Tenorio Volcano National Park has a ranger station at the foot of the volcano, providing information about the area; it also has restrooms, drinking water, food (by reservation), shop, laboratory, research station, lodging up to 20 people (researchers), first aid available and trails that lead to picnic and swimming areas, as well as trails to Tenorio and Montezuma Volcanoes through the serene cloud forest.

Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Miravalles Volcano Protected Zone, Las Camelias Lagoon Wildlife Refuge, Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park and Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Tenorio Volcano National Park:

Take the General Cañas highway towards San Ramón/Puntarenas. Keep driving on the Pan-American Highway to Cañas. About 10 km (6 miles) after Cañas, turn right to Bijagua. About 32 km (20 miles) past Bijagua, you will find the entrance to the Park. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway. Driving time from San José is about 3.5 hours.

From Liberia (Daniel Oduber Airport) take the road heading towards the city of Liberia. At Liberia’s intersection take the Pan-American Highway to Bagaces/Cañas. About 10 km (6 miles) before Cañas, turn left to Bijagua. About 32 km (20 miles) past Bijagua, you will find the entrance to the Park. Driving time from Liberia is about 1.5 hours.

An alternative approach is to take the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada also known as San Carlos, then drive toward to Upala. Turn left in Upala towards Bijagua, and follow the road approximately 48 km (30 miles) to the entrance of the Park. Driving time from San Carlos is about 2 hours.

By bus:

You can take a bus San José – Upala, through Bijagua which takes about 4 hours (Transportes Upala, 2221-3318).

You can also take a bus to Cañas (from various locations, including San Jose, Liberia, Fortuna and Puntarenas) and then another bus from Cañas to Upala, stopping in Bijagua.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Upala or the Arenal Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From the Arenal Airport you can rent a car and drive to the refuge, which is about 2 hours.

Location: 16 km northeast from Bijagua de Upala in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Upala GPS Coordinates: 10°53’46.97″N, 85°01’31.18″W
Size: 12,872 ha (31,800 acres).
Altitude: from 30m to 1916m (100ft to 6286ft) above sea level
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tenorio Volcano National Park Telephone: +(506) 2695-5908 o 2695-5180
Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area (ACA-T) Telephone: +(506) 2695-5908
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Tenorio Volcano National Park in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Las Camelias Lagoon Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Nati — Fri, 06 May 2011 05:47:54 +0000

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The Las Camelias Lagoon Wildlife Refuge was created on January 5th, 1994, in order to protect palustrine wetlands and forests which serve as a feeding area, shelter and breeding area for a wide variety of wildlife in the northern part of Costa Rica, near the Nicaraguan border in Upala, Alajuela. This refuge is part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area.

Las Camelias Lagoon Wildlife Refuge is a palustrine wetland that includes this lagoon bordered almost exclusively by Yolillo Palm (Raphia taedigera) and flooded forests. These forests serve as feeding and breeding area for some 240 species of birds, including endangered species such as Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) and the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), about 30 species of amphibians and reptiles, including a large number of caimans (Caiman crocodiles) and some 148 species of plants. Also serve as habitat areas to preserve the different species of wildlife such as jaguar, tapir, peccary and the rest of the biodiversity of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area (ACAHN).

Las Camelias Lagoon Wildlife Refuge aims to recover also the basins of the Pizotillo Gaucalito Rivers which feed the wetland, developing a management plan to reduce sediment and increase economic options and the technical capacity of local people to productive management of natural resources.

The area is influenced by climatic conditions in the Atlantic and, to a lesser extent, of Nicaraguan Lake, which has a regulatory function. The climate here can be classified as tropical rainforest, with annual rainfall between 3,000 and 4,000 mm, with an average temperature of 25ºC (77ºF) and high relative humidity between 85% and 90%.

There are no public facilities at Las Camelias Lagoon Wildlife Refuge. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Tenorio Volcano National Park, Miravalles Volcano National Park, Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park and Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Las Camelias Lagoon National Wildlife Refuge:

Take the General Cañas highway (Route #1) towards San Ramón/Puntarenas. Keep driving on the Route #1 and approximately 8 Km beyond the city of Cañas, Guanacaste; make a right at the intersection towards Upala (Route #6). Keep driving on the Route #6 for some 55 km until you get to Las Camelias Lagoon National Wildlife Refuge. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway. Driving time from San José is about 3.5 hours.

From Liberia (Daniel Oduber Airport) take the road (Route #21) heading towards the city of Liberia. At Liberia’s intersection take the road (Route #1) with direction to Bagaces/Cañas. Keep driving on the Route #1 and approximately 20 Km alter the city of Bagaces, make a left at the intersection heading towards Upala (Route #6). Keep driving on the Route #6 for some 55 km until you get to Las Camelias Lagoon National Wildlife Refuge. Driving time from Liberia is about 1.5 hours.

An alternative approach is to take the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada also known as San Carlos, then drive toward to Upala until reaching the refuge. Driving time from San Carlos is about 2 hours.

By bus:

You can take a bus San José – Upala, which takes about 5 hours (Transportes Upala, 2221-3318).

By plane:

Location: 220 km (137 miles) N of San Jose in Upala, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Upala GPS Coordinates: 10°53’46.97″N, 85°01’31.18″W
Size: 64 ha (160 acres)
Altitude: from 30m to 100m (100ft to 330 ft) above sea level
Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area (ACA-HN) Telephone: +(506) 2460-0055
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 22753-MIRENEM

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Las Camelias Lagoon National Wildlife Refuge in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Nati — Fri, 06 May 2011 04:44:33 +0000

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The Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge was created on January 20th, 1984 in order to protect the wetlands, rainforest and swamplands situated in the Northern lowland, near the Nicaraguan border. This is one of the most biologically diverse destinations, as well as one of the most important reserves for incredible observation of birds and wildlife in Costa Rica.

The refuge lies close to the settlement of the Malekus, direct descendants of the Guatuso Indians that once lived in the area. The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is important as a wintering site for migrant waterfowl, as well as a year-round habitat for local wetland species. In fact, Caño Negro is considered by many to be the third most important wetland in the world and was named Wetland of International Importance in 1991.

The Frio River is the largest flowing river in the area and is the main water source of Caño Negro Lake, a 2,000 acre (810 ha) and 3m deep lake, made by alluvial sediments that plays a crucial role for the environment. During the rainy season, the rising water level invades the surrounding landscape. This natural phenomenon creates a perfect environment for birds to procreate, thus providing a bird-watchers paradise, reason why this refuge is gaining popularity amongst nature oriented tourists. But in the dry season, from December to April, the lake dries up, only exposing the dried out basin and the main channel of the Frio River, which surges from the slopes of the Tilaran Mountain Range.

From October to April, when the migrant birds are at the refuge, the variety of species and sheer quantity of individuals creates a spectacle that even non-birdwatchers will marvel at. More than 200 bird species can be found inside such as the curious Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), Green-backed Heron (Butorides virescens), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), Olivaceous Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), American Widgeon (Anas americana), Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), which is the largest bird, and seriously endangered, as well as storks, cormorants, ducks and egrets. One species that birdwatchers hope to see here, since refuge also protects the only permanent population in Costa Rica, is the Nicaraguan Grackle (Quiscalus nicaraguensis) an endemic bird of the Nicaraguan Lake Basin.

The delicate ecosystems found in Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge supply a plethora of different plants and animal life, many of which are rare or endangered. Some of the animals being protected here are pumas, jaguars, ocelots and caymans, as well as some more common species such as three species of howler, spider and white-faced monkeys, peccaries, raccoons, otters, sloths, tapirs, giant anteaters, deer, turtles, bats, iguanas, emerald basilisk and even Jesus Christ Lizards, as well as numerous tropical plants and diverse fish population such as snook, Wolf Cichlid or Guapote (Parachromis dovii), Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula), Drums or Hardheads, Garfishes (Belone belone) – half fish half mammal, with lungs gills and nose, the huge Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) which can weigh up to 90 kg, and even Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus leucas), giving to vacationing fishermen to have a good shot at reeling in some trophies during fishing season inside the Frio River, which extends from September to March.

The Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge daytime temperatures are quite warm and it is usually humid where temperature ranges from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF), with an annual precipitation average of some 120 inches. Although this refuge is on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica, it is far enough inland in the northern plains to have a weather pattern with a short but distinct dry season from December to April.

Throughout the dry months, the refuge can be easily accessed by road, as during this time many of the swamps and wetlands dry up. The resulting lagoon filled basin attracts thousands of birds flying overhead. During the rainy season boats are the main form of transportation as flooding causes many of the roads to be inaccessible for vehicles.

In order to visit Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, it’s necessary to join a day tour. These tours pick up guests from the Arenal area hotels at 7:30 a.m. to Los Chiles, a 1½ hour drive. Visitors are required to have a copy of their passport on hand, as the tour begins near a checkpoint with the Nicaraguan border.

Once guests arrive to Los Chiles they will board a boat and begin the tour. The tour consists of a four-hour floating safari along the Frio River, a slow-flowing river through canyons, tropical rainforest, pastures, and marshland on its way to the Caño Negro Lake. Once the tour is over, guests will re-board the bus and be back at their hotels by 4:30 p.m. Visitors are advised to bring light clothing, bug repellent, sun block, camera and binoculars. Also, it is important to make clear that the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge tour does not actually bring visitors within the refuge, only near it. However, the area just outside the park is just as spectacular as the area inside, so visitors needn’t worry about missing out on anything.

There are no public facilities at Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Las Camelias National Wildlife Refuge, Arenal Volcano Emergency Zone Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park and Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge:

Take the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada also known as San Carlos, then drive toward Los Chiles, near the Nicaraguan border. About 4 miles before you reach Los Chiles, you will see the turn-off to the new bridge to Caño Negro. In Los Chiles, a number of boats are kept at the town dock that can be hired for the approximately 15 km trip upriver to Playuelas on the northern edge of the refuge.

An alternative approach is to drive to Upala (especially for those coming from Guanacaste) and continue east on a gravel road for 36 km until reaching the village of Caño Negro. Here dugout canoes can be hired for exploration of the marsh area.

By bus:

You can take a bus San José – Los Chiles, which takes about 5:30 hours (Auto Transportes San Carlos, 2255-4318). Or, you can also take a bus San José – Upala, which takes about 5 hours (Transportes Upala, 2221-3318). There is a bus that runs from Upala to Caño Negro.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Los Chiles or Arenal Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From the Arenal Airpot you can rent a car and drive to the refuge, which is about 1.5 hours.

Location: 291 km (80 miles) straight north from San Jose, southeast of the town of Los Chiles, near the Nicaraguan border in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Los Chiles GPS Coordinates: 11°01’53.37″N, 84°42’44.42″W
Size: 9.969 hectares (25,100 acres)
Altitude: from 30m to 100m (100ft to 330 ft) above sea level
Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area (ACA-HN) Telephone: +(506) 2460-0055
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Cerro El Jardin Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

Nati — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:33:20 +0000

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Cerro El Jardin Forest Reserve was created on March 16th, 1994, in order to protect low forested areas and a remnant of moist forest that existed on the right bank of the San Juan River, near the border with Nicaragua. Now, this reserve is part of the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge, in order to be converted into a biological reserve with the main purpose of protecting the endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambigua).

Cerro El Jardin Forest Reserve is part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area, in the northern part of Costa Rica, about 80 miles (130 km) north of San José, to the east of Boca Tapada. The best way to get to know the reserve is to take a boat on the San Juan River and go along one of the countless rivers and streams that crisscross the area and discharge into this river. Furthermore, these areas have a high strategic value of biodiversity, as they are important passing breaches that provide connectivity for species of very large range between the Central Volcanic Mountain Range Conservation Area and the Indio-Maiz Biological Reserve.

The reserve has the remnant of a previously extensive moist forest that existed alongside the San Juan River. It is possible to view this forest comfortable and in silence and listen to the countless sounds of the creatures of the jungle due to the presence of two navigable rivers (the San Carlos and the San Juan) and of several channels such as El Jardin and El Recreo.

Cerro El Jardin Forest Reserve has a tropical rainforest, with an average temperature of 78°F (26°C), ranging between 69°F (21°C) and 86°F (30°C). The rainfall pattern that characterizes the region presents a short dry season which occurs between the months of March and April, with the wettest months being between June and November, when rainfall exceeds 300 mm per month, with an average annual precipitation between 2,800 to 3,600 mm.

This is why the vegetation here consists of tall forest trees such as enormous Silk Cotton or Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra), Guácimo colorado (Luehea seemannii) and Wild Almond tree (Dipteryx panamensis), as well as a large number of endemic trees such as the the Oil Tree (Pentaclethra macroloba), the Sangrillo (Paramachaerium gruberi), the Botarrama (Vochysia allenii), the Tostao (Sclerolobium costaricense), the the Guarumo or Trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata), the Bastard cedar or Light virola (Virola koschnyi), the “Naranjito” (Capparis pittieri), the Sotacaballo (Zygia longifolia), the Burío (Heliocarpus appendiculatus), Caobilla (Carapa nicaraguensis), the Turkey Berry or Tabacon (Solanum torvum), Malabar chestnut (Pachira aquatica) and the Achiotillo (Vismia baccifera). Moreover, in the area there are many tree species threatened and endangered such as the “Repollito” (Eschweilera calyculata), the “Cuero de sapo” (Licania kallunkii), the Chiricano (Vantanea barbourii), the Coquito (Astrocaryum alatum), the Zapotillo (Pouteria uniloculares), the Cola de Pavo (Hymenolobium mesoamericanum), the Areno (Qualea paraensis), the Cipresillo (Podocarpus guatemalensis) and the Cativo (Prioria copaifera).

El Jardin Forest Reserve also has a wide variety of mammals such as monkeys (white-faced or capuchin, howler and spider), tapirs, peccaries, agoutis, spotted pacas, kinkajous, ocelots, jaguars, pumas and jaguarundí, as well as some 20 species of amphibians and about 23 species of reptiles.

Also, many species of birds indicate that the area of El Jardin Forest Reserve is a site of great importance bird conservation, for more than 340 species of birds such as endangered species like the Green Macaw (Ara ambigua) and the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and rare species like the Great Curassow (Crax rubra) and Guan (Penelope purpurascens).

There are no public facilities at El Jardin Forest Reserve. Other nearby Costa Rican parks include Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge, La Cureña Forest Reserve and Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Cerro El Jardin Forest Reserve:

Take the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada. Continue for approximately 18 km (11 miles), and then turn right looking for a town called Pital, as Boca Tapada is accessed most easily from there. Once you reach Pital, go straight to the gas station and continue for 2.5 km more, where you will arrive at a Y intersection, go Right and continue for approximately 9 km to another Y intersection. Follow the signs to Boca Tapada. After another km or so, you will reach another gas station, where you will continue straight. Here you will see a sign for Mi Pedacito de Cielo. Continue straight through the town of Saino and follow the signs for Boca Tapada (Boca Tapada is about 28 km from Pital). Continue straight through Boca Tapada going down the hill, following the road back up the mountain and continue for about another 3 km to Maquenque Eco-lodge, which will be on your left side. To arrive at the lodge by car, you must cross the San Carlos River in Maquenque Eco-Lodge rivate ferry (a pick up from Pital or Boca Tapada can be coordinated if necessary).

By bus:

You can take a bus from the route San José – Pital, which takes about 4 hours and then take a bus Pital – Boca Tapada, which takes about 2:30 hours. Or you can also take a bus San José – Cuidad Quesada which takes about 2:30 hours, then Cuidad Quesada – Pital, which takes about 1.30 hours and Pital – Boca Tapada, which takes about 2:30 hours.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Arenal Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From here you can rent a car and drive to the refuge, which takes about 4 hours.

Location: just north of Boca Tapada, near the Nicaraguan border in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Pital GPS Coordinates: 10.451586, -84.273422 (10°27’05.71″N, 84°16’24.32″W)
Size: 1.426 ha (3,530 acres)
Altitude: about 200m above sea level
Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area (ACA-HN) Telephone: +(506) 2460-0055
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO El Jardin Forest Reserve in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

La Cureña Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

Nati — Thu, 05 May 2011 18:51:34 +0000

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La Cureña Forest Reserve was created on April 7th, 1994, in order to protect the largest remnant of moist forest on the right bank of the San Juan River, near the border of Nicaragua on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Now, this reserve is part of the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge, in order to be converted into a biological reserve with the main aim of protecting the endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambigua).

La Cureña Forest Reserve is part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area, in the northern part of Costa Rica, about 80 miles (130 km) north of San José, to the east of Boca Tapada. The best way to get to know the reserve is to take a boat on the San Juan River and go along one of the countless rivers and streams that crisscross the area and discharge into this river.

The reserve has the Cureña and Cureñita Rivers, which before disembogue into the San Juan River, form extensive lagoons and marshes crops. In fact, the Cureña River forms the Maquenque Lagoon. One of the main problems of these rivers is the same sedimentation as in ponds and marshes.

In the reserve outcrop lahars, mainly composed of heterogeneous volcanic materials, with a matrix comprising clay, sand and gravel. These deposits are characterized by an extended flat topography and rolling hills, known in the region as “lomo de cerdo” (Pork loin). These hills are surrounded by lower grounds, thus generally run rainwater, streams, or even “yolillales” and small marshes, surrounded by forest.

This reserve has a tropical rainforest, with an average temperature of about 26°C (78°F), ranging between 21°C (69°F) and 30°C (86°F). The rainfall pattern that characterizes the region presents a short dry season which occurs between the months of March and April, with the wettest months being between June and November, when rainfall exceeds 300 mm per month, with an average annual precipitation between 2,800 to 3,600 mm.

This is why the vegetation here consists of tall forest trees such as enormous Silk Cotton or Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra), Wild Almond tree (Dipteryx panamensis), “Guácimo colorado” (Luehea seemannii) and “Guayabo de charco” (Terminalia bucidioides), as well as a large number of endemic trees such as the “Tostao” (Sclerolobium costaricense), the “Naranjito” (Capparis pittieri) and botarrama (Vochysia allenii). Moreover, in the area there are many tree species threatened and endangered such as the “Repollito” (Eschweilera calyculata), the “Cuero de sapo” (Licania kallunkii), the Chiricano (Vantanea barbourii), the Coquito (Astrocaryum alatum), the Zapotillo (Pouteria uniloculares), the Cola de Pavo (Hymenolobium mesoamericanum), the Areno (Qualea paraensis), the Cipresillo (Podocarpus guatemalensis) and the Cativo (Prioria copaifera).

In secondary early forests of the Cureña Forest Reserve can be found the Bastard cedar or Light virola (Virola koschnyi), the Botarrama (Vochysia ferruginea), the Burío (Heliocarpus appendiculatus), the Oil Tree (Pentaclethra macroloba), the Guarumo or Trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata), the Turkey Berry or Tabacon (Solanum torvum), the Achiotillo (Vismia baccifera), the Manga Larga (Laetia procera) and the Jacaranda. In the lagoons and marshes are commonly found species of the family Amaryllidaceae, Araceae, Cyperaceae, Melastomataceae, Onagraceae and Papilionaceae, while the flooded forests mainly consist of Caobilla (Carapa nicaraguensis), Sangrillo (Paramachaerium gruberi), Malabar chestnut (Pachira aquatica) and Sotacaballo (Zygia longifolia).

On the other hand, La Cureña Forest Reserve also has a wide variety of mammals such as white-faced or capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, peccaries, tapirs, agoutis, kinkajous, spotted pacas, pumas, ocelots, jaguars and jaguarundi. Also, there have been reported some 20 species of amphibians and about 23 species of reptiles.

Furthermore, many species of birds indicate that the area of La Cureña Forest Reserve is a site of great importance for more than 340 species of birds conservation, such as endangered species like the Green Macaw (Ara ambigua) and the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and rare species like the Great Curassow (Crax rubra) and Guan (Penelope purpurascens).

There are no public facilities at La Cureña Forest Reserve. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge, El Jardin Forest Reserve and Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to La Cureña Forest Reserve:

Take the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada. Continue for some 18 km (11 miles), and then turn right looking for Pital town, as Boca Tapada is accessed most easily from there. Once you reach Pital, go straight to the gas station and continue on for 2.5 km more, where you will arrive at a Y intersection. Go Right and continue for approximately 9 km to another Y. Follow the sign to Boca Tapada to the right. After another km or so, you will reach another gas station, where you will continue straight and stay to the left. Here you will see a sign for Mi Pedacito de Cielo. Continue straight through the town of Saino and follow the signs for Boca Tapada (Boca Tapada is about 28 km from Pital). Continue straight through Boca Tapada going down the hill, following the road back up the mountain and continue for about another 3 km to Maquenque Eco-lodge, which will be on your left side. To arrive at the lodge by car, you must cross the San Carlos River in Maquenque Eco-Lodge private ferry (a pick up from Pital or Boca Tapada can be coordinated if necessary).

By bus:

You can take a bus San José – Pital, which takes about 4 hours and then take a bus Pital – Boca Tapada, which takes about 2:30 hours. Or you can also take a bus San José – Cuidad Quesada which takes about 2:30 hours, then Cuidad Quesada – Pital, which takes about 1.30 hours and Pital – Boca Tapada, which takes about 2:30 hours.

By plane:

Location: just north of Boca Tapada, near the Nicaraguan border in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Pital GPS Coordinates: 10.451586, -84.273422 (10°27’05.71″N, 84°16’24.32″W)
Size: 6.307 ha (14,800 acres)
Altitude: about 200m above sea level
Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area (ACA-HN) Telephone: +(506) 2460-0055
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO La Cureña Wildlife Refuge in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Maquenque Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Nati — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:27:17 +0000

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Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge was established by executive decree in June 13th 2005, thanks to the initiative of Eduardo Artavia, his wife and six children, to maintain and conserve the wildlife habitat, protecting different types of ecosystems, such as the fragile wetlands and the tropical rainforest endagered species. This refuge is located to the north of Boca Tapada in San Carlos, Alajuela.

Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area and an intermediate strip of Nicaragua-Costa Rica Border Corridor National Wildlife Refuge, in the northern part of Costa Rica, some 130km from San Jose, 30km fromm Pital and only 21km from the Río San Juan, the natural border with Nicaragua.

This property is surrounded by virgin nature, which includes a lagoon complex and swamp ecosystems of the tropical wet forest ecoregion, characterized by high biodiversity and the livelihoods of endangered species such as the Great Green Macaw (Ara ambigua), vulnerable species like the Manatee (Trichechus manatus) and other important species such as the Jaguar (Panthera onca) and the Gaspar Fish (Atractosteus tropicus), which makes the Maquenque Wetland unique in the country.

Also, the wetland plays an important hydrological function to the surrounding watershed. Inside the refuge 4 wetlands have been identified: Maquenque, Tambor, Colpachí and Canacas.

The refuge is a proposal to bring together a number of existing Nature Reserves, Wildlife refuges and Forest Reserves to form a new National Park, covering the areas between the San Carlos River, the Sarapiquí River and other areas near the Nicaraguan border. Among the existing reserves that would be consolidated would be Cerro El Jardin Forest Reserve, La Cureña Forest Reserve, Lacustrino Maquenque Wetlands and the Palustrino Tamborcito Wetlands.

Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge is a mix of habitats on both sides of the San Carlos River, with sections of former pasture lands that are now being reforested. There are about 40 hectares of secondary forest bordering the western edge, while to the east, the refuge borders a neighbor that holds hundreds of hectares of some of the oldest forests in northern Costa Rica.

Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge is home to a rich biodiversity of animals and plants, with large amounts of Almond trees, which can’t be found in any other national park or protected area of Costa Rica and is a favored food source of the Great Green Macaw, which has led the World Parrot Trust, among other organizations, to campaign to create this national park.

The refuge has a tropical rainy climate with an average temperature of 27ºC (81ºF), which rainiest months are between May through December, and occasionally, this can extend until February. This region has some of the best habitat for the Great Green Macaw and there is a big number of nests in the area. ALso, among the species of accounted animals, there are approximately 139 mammals, 135 reptiles, 80 amphibians and 424 birds, since wetlands are of great importance as habitat for water birds, many are seen near the large lagoon and along the San Carlos River, such as the Scaly-throated Leaftosser (Sclerurus guatemalensis), Blue Dacnis or Turquoise Honeycreeper (Dacnis cayana) and Black-and-yellow Tanager (Chrysothlypis chrysomelaena).

The refuge is also of vital importance as it is the core of San Juan – La Selva Corridor. This corridor allows connections between ecosystems (both public and private) in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, making it an important part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. It is also located in a zone designed to protect the whole group of native species and fulfill basic corridor functions of connectivity, while maximizing compatible sustainable forestry uses and benefits from environmental services.

For years, Maquenque Wetland has been competing with other wetlands, located throughout the world, to enter the listing on the Ramsar list, abbreviated name for the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, which was an agreement signed February 2, 1971 in the city of Iran, Ramsar.

Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge offers guided hikes as well as guided canoe tours of the San Carlos River. A butterfly garden is also currently being developed. Meals are home cooked with fresh organic vegetables grown in the family’s garden. The cheese and meat are fresh too, as the family still maintains a small number of cows. Besides, due to its proximity to the San Juan River, it also offers the possibility of making extensions to Nicaragua, including the Bartola Refuge, Indio Maiz, El Castillo and more.

Other nearby parks in the area include Cerro El Jardin Forest Reserve, La Cureña Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park and an intermediate strip of Nicaragua-Costa Rica Border Corridor National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Maquenque Wildlife Refuge:

Take the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada. Continue for approximately 18 km (11 miles), and then turn right looking for Pital town, as Boca Tapada is accessed most easily from there. Once you reach Pital, go straight to the gas station and continue for 2.5 km more, where you will arrive at a Y intersection. Go Right and continue for approximately 9 km to another Y. Follow the sign to Boca Tapada to the right. After another km or so, you will reach another gas station, where you will continue straight and stay to the left. Here you will see a sign for Mi Pedacito de Cielo. Continue straight through the town of Saino and follow the signs for Boca Tapada (Boca Tapada is about 28 km from Pital). Continue straight through Boca Tapada going down the hill, following the road back up the mountain and continue for about another 3 km to Maquenque Eco-lodge, which will be on your left side. To arrive at the lodge by car, you must cross the San Carlos River in our private ferry (a pick up from Pital or Boca Tapada may be able to coordinate if necessary).

By bus:
You can take a bus from the route San José – Pital, which takes about 4 hours and then take a bus Pital – Boca Tapada, which takes about 2:30 hours. Or you can also take a bus San José – Cuidad Quesada which takes about 2:30 hours, then Cuidad Quesada – Pital, which takes about 1.30 hours and Pital – Boca Tapada, which takes about 2:30 hours.

By plane:
You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Arenal Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From here you can rent a car and drive to the refuge, which is about 4 hours.

Location: just north of Boca Tapada, near the Nicaraguan border in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Pital GPS Coordinates: 10.451586,-84.273422 (10°27’05.71″N, 84°16’24.32″W)
Size: 60 ha (148 acres)
Altitude: about 200m above sea level
Telephone: + (506) 2479-8200 / 2479-7785
Fax: + (506) 2479-8219
Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area (ACA-HN) Telephone: +(506) 2460-0055
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
Website: www.maquenqueecolodge.com

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Maquenque Wildlife Refuge in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Nati — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:03:58 +0000

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La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge is on the southern slope of Poas Volcano, where La Paz River forms one of Costa Rica’s most breathtaking waterfalls, La Paz Waterfall. This park aimed at preserving and exhibiting the country’s diverse flora, fauna and history through its many observatories and gardens.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge is the most visited privately owned ecological attraction in Costa Rica, featuring the best hiking near San José, the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica, rescued wildlife preserve with over 100 species of animals and an environmental education program.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge has over 3.5 km of walking trails and 10 animal exhibits to enjoy where you can see the magic of the cloud forest and rain forest with lush vegetation with a large exhibit of orchids, heliconias and bromeliads, flowing clear rivers, five spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies and much more.

In fact, the park has the closest waterfalls to San Jose and Poas Volcano, being La Paz Waterfall the most famous waterfall in Costa Rica. However the best waterfalls, El Templo, Magia Blanca, Encantada and Escondida, are actually above the La Paz waterfall along a steep canyon, all with access to various platforms with afforded views from above, below and in front of falls, giving the opportunity for great waterfall photo opportunities. In addition to lush waterfalls, the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge has:

Butterfly Garden

The park is home to the world’s largest butterfly sanctuary, with a laboratory that serves as a breeding ground for more than 25 species of butterflies from Costa Rica. This will provide an interesting perspective into the stages of development of the most colorful species, where you can closely watch how butterflies emerge from their cocoons as well as other growth stages and forms of mating. Here visitors will feel part of nature, with more than 4,000 of these beautiful creatures in all colors and sizes, some larger than the palm of your hand, flying around at the same time.

Hummingbird Garden

The Hummingbird Garden at La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge attracts around 26 different species of hummingbirds from Costa Rica, more species than anywhere else in the country and quite possibly the world. Here you can stand just inches away from the feeders, and if you arrive before 9 am or after 4 pm you can feed them by hand with their specially designed hand feeding flower, as this hummingbirds have no fear of humans, making this garden, the best place in the world to photograph hummingbirds close up.

Aviary

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge Aviary is a refuge for wild birds that have been captured illegally by hunters and confiscated by the government, making it a bird watcher’s paradise, as you will see some of the most exotic and colorful birds of Costa Rica without binoculars, such as toucans, scarlet macaws, grosbeaks, tanagers, wild turkey and more fly freely around you!

Monkeys

Everybody wants to see monkeys when visiting Costa Rica, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge has the best natural habitats in which to photograph monkeys and interact with them. The park has White Faced monkeys and Spider monkeys, not forgetting the visitor from Brazil, the White Tufted Eared Marmosets. The park provides educational information insight into the behaviors, reproduction and future survival of these monkeys in Costa Rica (all of these monkeys were donated by the MINAE, the Costa Rican Ministry of Wildlife, and were confiscated from people who held them illegally).

Jungle Cats

Here you can also see face to face five out of the six endangered species of wild cats in Costa Rica, such as the Jaguarundi, margays, pumas, ocelots and jaguars.

Serpentarium

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge Serpentarium exhibits 30 of the most beautiful and deadly snakes of Costa Rica. Here you will come face to face with such famous snakes as the Bushmaster, Terciopelo, Green Vinesnake, Golden Eyelash Viper and the colorful but venomous sea snake found off the Pacific Coast of Central America.

Frogs (Ranarium)

Without doubt, the La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge Ranarium is the best place to see frogs in Costa Rica, including the endangered poisonus dart frog, where the frogs roam freely throughout their enclosure landscape. Because you are not looking at them through glass it is the perfect environment for taking photos of the frogs.

Casita de La Paz

This unique historical Costa Rican farmhouse reproduction was built using only the tools available to the average farmer a century ago, such as axes, hand saws, hand planers, picks and chisels. Here you can travel back in time and taste typical foods of Costa Rica including sample freshly made corn tortillas and fresh milk (right from the cow), take a ride in an ox-driven cart, in addition to be able to see how the Ticos lived and worked on rural farms, ejoying life as it was a hundred years ago in Costa Rica.

Since La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge is located within a cloud forest and a rain forest, it’s to imagine that the rain is a daily thing, receiving from 3500 to 3800 mm per year. This is why their paths were designed so that during the walk visitors can stop and also covers. However, La Paz Waterfall Gardens offer raincoats and umbrellas for sale! (Keep in mind that the park ranges in altitude from 5,200 feet to 4,200 feet so it can get chilly when the clouds roll in.).

Please note that La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge is completely against the capture or trade of illegally confiscated animals and one day we will seek to release the offsprings of our cats into protected zones if a safe and reliable training program can be developed to do so.

Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Poas Volcano National Park, Cerro Dantas National Wldlife Refuge, Jaguarundi National Wildlife Refuge and Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Getting to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge:

Take the Pan-American Highway towards the Juan Santamaria International Airport and then take the Alajuela exit. Continue straight on this road for 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 3 miles. The hotel is on the left.

From Heredia take the main road passing the National University and follow the signs for the town of Barva. Upon reaching Barva follow the signs for the Poás Volcano – Varablanca – Sarapiqui. Proceed 25 miles following the signs for Poás Volcano until you reach the town of Varablanca. At the gas station make a right towards Sarapiqui and continue on this road for 3 miles until you see the hotel on your left.

By bus:

You can take a bus San Jose – Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí by Varablanca (Empresarios Guapileños, 2222-0610 / 2222-2727), which takes about 2 hours, making the stop at La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge.

Location: 3 miles from Varablanca gas station in Heredia, Costa Rica.
GPS coordinates: 10.205097,-84.162233 (10°12’18.35″N, 84°09’44.04″W)
Size: 28 ha (70 acres)
Altitude: from 5,225 ft to 4,200 ft.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge Phone: +(506)2482-2720
Reservations Office Phone: +(506)2482-2100
Fax: +(506) 2482-1094
From U.S. Phone: +(954) 727-3997
From U.S. Fax: +(954) 727-3999
Schedule: open year round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Peace Lodge Hotel: www.costaricaweb.cr/hotels/the-peace-lodge-hotel
Website: www.waterfallgardens.com

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park and Wildlife Refuge in Heredia, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

Nati — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:09:16 +0000

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The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve 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. The reserve also has a canopy tour with pulleys and cables running between platforms. 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, 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, 2222-3854). There is also a bus service leaving from downtown Santa Elena to Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.

Location: 5km (3 miles) north of Santa Elena town, between Puntarenas and Alajuela provinces, Costa Rica.
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)
Toll Free: 1-888-456-3212
Telephone: +(506) 2479-8811
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
Website: www.monteverdeinfo.com

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

Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Nati — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:30:29 +0000

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The Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge was declared a refuge on June 30th 1988, to protect tropical forest areas bordering the north side of Carara National Park, on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It’s for this reason and that it is locatedbetween the dry northern forests and the wet southern forests, that results it’s wide diversity. Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge shares a biodiversity similar to the Carara National Park, so it is easy to see monkeys, scarlet macaws, parrots, raccoons, snakes, toucans, herons, coaties, sloths and other species. There are no public park facilities at this national wildlife refuge.

Getting to Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway north passing through Atenas up to Orotina. Take the Tárcoles and Jaco exit and follow the coastal highway for about 13 km (8 miles). Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge is located north of Carara National Park. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway (route 27), taking the same exit to Tárcoles and Jaco and following the same directions until you get to Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge. The Caldera trip takes about 1 hour from San Jose while the other takes about 2 hours.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south on the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas. From there, take the new Caldera Highway (route 27) and take the exit of Tarcoles and Jaco and follow the coastal highway for about 13 km (8 miles). Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge is located north of Carara National Park.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Jaco, which takes about 1 hour to Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge (Transportes Jaco, 2223-1109).

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Daniel Oduber Airport to the Quepos Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Finca Hacienda La Avellana Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 1 hour.

Location: north from Carara National Park, district: Coyolar, canton: Orotina, province: Alajuela, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 20904.
Orotina GPS Coordinates: 9.912058,-84.519497 (9°54’43.41″N, 84°31’10.19″W)
Size: 508ha (1255 acres)
Central Pacific Conservation Area (ACOPAC) Telephone: +(506) 2416-7878
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

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

Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge

Nati — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:13:26 +0000

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Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge was created on February 15th, 1194 to give protection to the forest, as well as to recuperate it from past degeneration, since in this area logging the forest reduced it to critical levels.

It crosses the entire range of life zones, from Pacific Coastal, rainforest and mountains, to the Caribbean coastal zone, which extends as a biological corridor of 2,000m wide along the border with Nicaragua, from Punta Castilla, in the Caribbean, to Salinas Bay on the Pacific. It is an important biological corridor that connects the Tortuguero Conservation Area with the Maquenque and Tamborcito wetlands, the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, El Jardin and Cureña Forest Reserves and the Guanacaste Conservation Area. This refuge, partially disturbed, includes beaches, dry forests, wetlands, rain forests and coastal lagoons, so the refuge has a big number of research programs of different disciplines.

Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge has a large variety of ecosystems such as tropical broadleaf forests, tropical moist broadleaf forests, Central American Atlantic moist forests and tropical dry broadleaf of the Central America Pacific region. Similarly, this area has the highest biodiversity indices for trees and shrubs, with endemic species such as Capparis pittieri, Dussia macrophyllata, Costa Rican Sclerolobium and Vochysia allenii.

With its variety of ecosystems, Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua National Wildlife Refuge has a great variety of wildlife with large populations of jaguars, deers, coyotes and peccaries, as well as wading and waders birds. On the other hand, in the San Juan River the Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) and two species of sawfish (Pristis pectinata and Pristis perotteti) are easily observed, while in the Remolinos and Caño Tambor sector, in the same river, are the most important populations of manatees (Trichechus manatus) and garfish (Belone belone).

This zone hosts many research projects of the varying disciplines, as well as university monitoring programs. For more information on research projects in the area, contact MINAE.

There are no public facilities in Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica – Nicaragua Wildlife Refuge. Other Costa Rica Parks near the northern borderlands include Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Guanacaste National Park, Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge and Tortuguero National Park.

Location: extends along the border with Nicaragua, from the Pacific Coast to the Caribbean Coast in Costa Rica
Size: 59,276 ha (146,000 acres)
Tortuguero Conservation Area (ACTO) Telephone: +(506) 2710-2929
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Los Chiles, Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps