Tapantí
National Park:
Travel
to Costa Rica
Tucked away to the south
of the Orosi Valley and north of Cerro de la Muerte,
lies this 5,090 hectare middle- to upper-elevation
rain forest. Although originally created as a National
Wildlife Refuge, Tapantí National Park is not
an easy place to see mammals, even though many species
inhabit the area. Observation of birds, butterflies,
and plant life will surely prove more rewarding pursuits.
Birds at this elevation
often forage in flocks containing a variety of species,
the most common ones being the Three-striped Warbler
and the Common Bush-Tanager, but the sharp-eyed observer
will also be able to pick out other species such as
Spotted Barbtail, Spotted Woodcreeper, Redheaded Barbet,
and Spangle-cheeked Tanager. Numerous hummingbird
species are also often quite active around clumps
of flowering epiphytes.
The rich diversity of
epiphytes (plants growing on the trunks and branches
of trees) found in this humid environment will provide
the plant enthusiast with endless surprises. Orchids
in particular are very diverse and abundant at Tapantí
and careful inspection will certainly result in finding
several species in bloom at any time of year.
Getting there: From San
José, take the PanAmerican Highway to Cartago,
drive through the town and follow Highway 10 to Paraíso
(the next town to the east). Here look for signs or
ask directions to Orosi, and once in Orosi do the
same for Tapantí which is still another 14
km. distant. The road between the town of Orosi and
the national park consists of more potholes than pavement,
so take it carefully. Ironically, once you leave pavement
(shortly before entering the national park) the gravel
road actually becomes much better; this is due to
its upkeep by the national electric company versus
the Municipality of Paraíso which supposedly
takes care of the "paved" portion.
By public bus from either
Cartago or Orosi you can only get as far as the village
of Río Macho, some 9 kilometers short of the
park entrance.
Fishing: The Orosi River
has been stocked with rainbow trout (an introduced
fish in Costa Rica), and with a valid fishing license
you can try your luck on this scenic stream from May
1 through January 31. There is a limit of five fish
per day, and a minimum allowable size of 25 centimeters.
Freshwater species other than trout are limited to
a total of five fish per day, again with a 25 cm.
minimum, and fishing for these species is permitted
from December 1 through July 31.
Climate: Most mornings
are sunny and very pleasant with mild temperatures.
However, it typically clouds over by midday, or early
afternoon at the latest, and the rains which fall
almost daily in this area are usually soon in coming.
Therefore, it is recommended that you get an early
start when visiting Tapantí and bring your
rain gear. A sweater or jacket will also be welcome
when the temperatures start to drop once the sun goes
behind clouds.
History: The combination
of Costa Rica's topography and numerous areas of high
annual rainfall result in a tremendous potential for
hydroelectric power production, which in fact is the
source of more than 90% of the country's electricity.
The upper Orosi River watershed is located in one
of the rainiest parts of the country, receiving as
much as 7 meters of rain per year. Given the relatively
close proximity to the Central Valley -- the area
of greatest energy consumption -- it was only natural
that the Costa Rican Electrical Institute (I.C.E.)
should decide to develop a hydroelectric project in
this forested region. And to be able to do so meant
first constructing a road into this previously inaccessible
area.
To protect the watershed's
forest cover and to preserve its wildlife from the
destruction that would accompany colonization along
the new road, Tapantí was created as a National
Wildlife Refuge in 1982. Only in 1994 did it gain
National Park status.
