San Gerardo de Dota, Los Quetzales National Park , Subalpine Paramo and Bosque del Tolomuco
San Gerardo de Dota is a small community located in Savegre Valley, humid and cold climate year round makes this tropical cloudforest special for a huge variaty of vegetation, creating the perfect habitat for highland fauna. This is home of one of the largest populations of the Resplendent Quetzal, the most iconic bird in higher altitudes.
High altitude regional endemics shared with western Panama, Collared Trogons, Chlorophonias, Silky Flycatchers, Northern Emerald Toucanets, Black Guans, Talamanca and Fiery-throated Hummingbirds are also some of the specialties of this area which it is part of an important biological corridor known as Los Santos Forest Reserve.
Los Quetzales National Park was created on 2006, with an area of 4,117 hectares. This is one of the most recent protected areas in Costa Rica, some of the attractions are two different trails “Circular and Ojo de agua” stunning vegetation including orchids, bromelias and the giant oaks.
Cerro de la muerte subalpine paramo reaches elevations of 3,491 m, Chusquea bamboo and grasses are the type of vegetation that dominate the area. The access by car is easy and it’s a great spot to observe Timberline Wren, Volcano Hummingbirds, Thrushes and more.
Bosque del Tolomuco is a private 22 hectares reserve that offers a combination of highland and middle elevation species, open areas and forest edges where good mixed flocks concentrate. This nice elevation of 1700 m.a.s.l. makes birding delightful and produce good species like Red-headed Barbets, Tanagers, Hummingbirds including the Snowy-bellied and Green-crowned Brilliant.
