Tapantí National Park

Parque Nacional Tapantí

One of the rainiest and most biodiverse reserves in the country, protecting dense cloud forest, waterfalls and rushing rivers. It's a haven for birdwatchers and hikers seeking pristine wilderness near San José.

Things to do

• Sendero Oropéndola — Walk this popular loop trail leading to river pools where you can swim in the crisp mountain water.
• Birdwatching for endemics — Spot resplendent quetzals, hummingbirds and over 260 species in one of Costa Rica's richest cloud forests.
• Mirador La Pava overlook — Follow the short trail to a lookout with sweeping views over the Orosi Valley and forested canyon.
• Sendero Cataratas waterfall viewpoint — Hike to a viewpoint gazing across the valley at a tall waterfall cascading down the mountainside.
• Trout fishing season — Cast for rainbow trout in the park's rivers during the permitted dry-season fishing months.
• River and stream exploration — Explore the Río Grande de Orosi and its many tributaries that make this the rainiest zone in the country.
• Nature photography — Capture ferns, mosses, orchids and dramatic mist among some of Costa Rica's most pristine cloud forest.

Food to try

• Casado — A hearty plate of rice, beans, plantains, salad and meat found in sodas around nearby Orosi.
• Trucha (trout) — Locally caught rainbow trout served grilled or fried at restaurants in the Orosi Valley.
• Café de Orosi — Sip fresh coffee grown on the surrounding valley slopes, one of the region's signature crops.
• Tamales — Corn-dough parcels filled with pork and vegetables, wrapped in banana leaf and popular in Cartago homes.
• Chorreado coffee with pan casero — Traditional cloth-filtered coffee paired with homemade bread at rural sodas near the park.

Local customs & good to know

• Bring rain gear always — This is one of Costa Rica's wettest parks, so expect downpours even in the dry season and pack waterproofs.
• Arrive early from San José — The park opens at 8am and best wildlife activity is in the morning, so leave the capital before dawn.
• Stay in Orosi village — The nearby colonial town of Orosi offers lodging, hot springs and the country's oldest working church.
• Cash and no services inside — There are no shops in the park, so bring water, snacks and colones for the entrance fee.

Nearby

• Orosi Colonial Church — 12 km
• Orosi Valley — 12 km
• Ujarrás Ruins — 15 km
• Lankester Botanical Gardens — 18 km