If you are a birdwatching aficionado you cannot miss visiting the latest Costa Rican National Park! Los Quetzales National Park was created on April 25^th 2006 with the sponsorship of the ACEID (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, the Spanish Agency of International Development Cooperation) through the Araucaria Programme with the goal to protect the natural resources and biological diversity of the Savegre river basin, an important water source for the communities of the area.

The park is located in the province of San José very near the border with the province of Cartago, on the eastern slope of the Cordillera de Talamanca (the Talamanca mountain range), it currently has an extension of 4,117.09 hectares.Park ranger A. Agüero

The maximum altitude is 3,190m above the sea level and the minimum is 1,240m. The dry season is mostly between the months of December to April and the rainy season from May to November; the average rainfall is of 4667mm. The area is extremely humid and temperatures vary from 0°C to 20°C.

Depending on the altitude you can find two main types of forests in Los Quetzales: rain forest with primary oak woods (Quercus costaricensis), and the páramo (high plateau vegetation.) There are several páramo ecosystems with endemic species in the Cordillera de Talamanca between Costa Rica and Panama, the one in the Park can be found between 2,800m and 3,200m.

One of the main bird species endemic to Talamanca is precisely the Resplendent Quetzal which gives the name to the Park. According to Mr. Arsenio Agüero, forest ranger in charge of the Park, the highest concentration of quetzales in Talamanca is to be found there.

The Park administration along with the neighbouring communities agreed on an eight points conservation strategy for the area, the protection of:

• The Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
• The Black-faced Solitaire (Myadestes melanops) and the Yellow-bellied Siskin (Carduelis xanthogastra)
• The Collared Peccary (Tayassu tsajacu) and the Paca (Cuniculus paca)
• The Aguacatillo tree (Persea vesticula)
• The Palmito tree (Euterpe precatoria)
• The oak woods and the rain forest
• The Páramo
• The river Savegre and it streams

Rain forestBy following this strategy the Park then protects thousands of species (animals and plants) inhabiting the zone.

Among the mammals protected by the Park you can find: tapirs, red brocket deers, white-tailed dears, cottontails, spider monkeys, white-faced monkeys, sloths, tamanduas (anteaters), shrew mice, coatis, squirrels, tree porcupines, etc.

Thanks to motion sensor cameras the rangers were able to prove the existence in the Park of jaguars, pumas, ocelots, jaguarundis and some coyotes. This should not dissuade the visitors in anyway since in general the felines tend to avoid humans.

Mr. Agüero related his experience of running into one of those big cats: “...I saw one once, 10m or 15m away, he looked at me. Well... You go your way and I'll back off! You have to be respectful of animals. ”

You can find the Resplendent Quetzal practically any time during the year; depending on the season the birds will move around the Park, looking for trees that will feed them. They will even eat berries if that is the only thing available.

Los Quetzales National Park was officially open to the public in 2008. It is a big favourite with hikers that come during the weekend and walk for 4-5 hours.

There are trails for all sorts of hikers:

• a mini trail for those who wish to see orchids and what the páramo vegetation is like.
• a small circular trail, less than a kilometre long, where you get the feel of the rain forest, and with a little luck see some birds.
• regular trails that are between 7-10 km like the Ojo de Agua Trail and San Gerardo Trail, you can request a guide for those.
• a special trail, used for educational purposes, that requires one of the park rangers to accompany you.
• and then there is the trail for Pros: The Playa Rey Trail! It goes from Los Quetzales Park to the Manuel Antonio Park. It is a 7 day trail, you walk between 10-15km a day guided by a especially trained guide. This trail is done 8 or 9 times a year, mostly during the rainy season.

Paramo vegetationThe Park at this time (September 2010) offers few services: parking space, restrooms, drinkable water, a small area for picnics, and an information centre where they can recommend the right trail for you. The entrance is free.

The guides are local young people, trained and tried in the area . You need to contact the Park Ranger Station at least a day in advance and request a guide. A guided tour costs from $5 to $15 per person, depending on the number of people and what they want to do.

The Park is open all year round from 7 am to 4pm, and you can reach the park ranger station by phone at 2200-5354.

For more pictures of Los Quetzales National Park, please click here and visit our gallery.