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La
Amistad International Park:
Travel
to Costa Rica
The name of this huge wilderness area
translates as the International Friendship Park and
derives from the fact that it extends into neighboring
Panama. The Costa Rican portion accounts for about half
of the total area and is in itself the largest protected
area in the country with more than 190,000 ha.
The majority of the park's territory
is in the province of Limón on the Caribbean
side of the Talamanca Cordillera. However, this sector
of the park is very difficult to reach, thus, all three
existing ranger stations are located on the Pacific
side of the ridge. Hiking into the park from any of
these entrances will bring you through a variety of
life zones as you continue uphill. Lower montane wet
forest, characterized by impressive oak forests where
Resplendent Quetzals dwell, is one of the principal
habitats encountered on the way up to the higher peaks
where low-growing paramo vegetation occurs on the highest
summits along the ridge. For the most part, though,
the trails through this region are not well-marked.
Given the immense size of the park and
the variety of life zones it contains, it has been estimated
that at least 60% of all the animal species in the country,
from termites to primates, can be found within its boundaries.
(The only problem is getting to the boundaries and then
beyond.)
Getting there: All three ranger
stations are located on the southern slopes of the Talamanca
Cordillera. From San José, take the PanAmerican
Highway south beyond the town of Buenos Aires to the
Paso Real ferry crossing over the Río Grande
de Térraba. Once across the river it is only
a few kilometers to the Potrero Grande turnoff which
leads eventually to the Helechales guard post, 14 km.
past Potrero Grande. Four-wheel-drive will likely be
necessary on this last stretch.
To get to the other two stations, ignore
the Potrero Grande turnoff and continue on the paved
road to San Vito. Drive northeast out of San Vito to
the Las Mellizas ranger station, about 40 km. There
is public bus service from San Vito to Las Mellizas.
The La Escuadra ranger station can be
reached by driving north out of San Vito toward the
village of Santa Elena (there is also public bus service
this far) and then hiking to the village of Agua Caliente
and the remaining 14 km. to the guard post.
Climate: The climate is cool
and damp at all three of the park ranger stations, and
gets colder as you hike up to the top of the ridges.
February and March are the driest months.
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