While Monteverde gets most of the attention as Costa Rica’s cloud forest destination, there is another less visited option. Los Quetzales National Park (Parque Nacional Los Quetzales) offers travelers the same cool and fresh cloud forest climate. Moss-covered hardwoods, alpine plants, and highland birds thrive there. The main draw is the chance to spot the park’s namesake Resplendent Quetzal, an exotic crimson and iridescent green bird with flowing tail feathers. Los Quetzales National Park isn’t well-covered in the guidebooks so we wanted to share our experience to help you plan your visit.
Getting There
Though Los Quetzales National Park encompasses a massive 5,000 hectare (12,000 acre) swath of land in south central Costa Rica, most visitors access the park via the ranger station near the small town of San Gerardo de Dota.
This ranger station is located at mile marker 76 near Cerro de la Muerte on the Interamericana Highway (Route 2). It’s about 1.5 hours from San Jose, one hour from San Isidro de El General, and two hours from Dominical on the coast.
Here is an interactive map with the park’s location and nearby destinations
Four-wheel drive is not necessary to reach the ranger station, as the highway is smooth and nicely paved (though very windy and steep).
An important consideration if you’re visiting the park on a day trip is to arrive early. Visibility at the top of the mountain can be difficult in the afternoon when the rain and clouds roll in. You don’t want to be navigating the curvy highway at night in the fog so be sure to plan your trip accordingly. Read our Road Conditions post for more information about the drive.
If you’d like to plan a stop here in your itinerary, San Gerardo de Dota is a charming mountain town worth spending a couple of nights. For more information about area hotels and attractions, read our post, San Gerardo de Dota: A Hideaway in the Cloud Forest.
Trails
Los Quetzales National Park has five trails of varying length and difficulty. Not all of them are always open. Here are the two that are used the most.
Circular Trail
For a short visit, there is a circular trail that is only a quarter-mile long (400 meters). This trail is now paved. It’s fairly flat, except for some stairs, and used mostly by birders.
Ojo de Agua Trail
This is a longer, more rugged dirt trail at about 1.25 miles (2 km) long. It goes downhill and ends, so the way back up is more challenging (uphill). When we did this, instead of returning up the hill, we looped back up to the ranger station on the public road (Camino Público). This was a dirt road with a lot of trees all around. While it did climb back up the mountain, it was easier than going back up the Ojo de Agua Trail.
There were only a few cars using the public road during our walk. In total, the walk took us about four hours, walking slowly to try to see birds and animals.
Other Trails
If you are staying locally, there is also a much longer 5.6 mile (9 km) trail that runs from the ranger station all the way to San Gerardo de Dota. It’s best to ask the ranger or your lodge about the conditions beforehand. We have heard at times that it is closed.
Here is a trail map with more details.
What You’ll See
Due to its location high atop the Talamanca mountains, the park is typically entrenched in a haze of thick clouds. Since the park is 6,500-9,800 feet (2,000-3,000 meters) above sea level, the flora and fauna are a lot different from what you’ll see at lower altitudes. In the montane and pre-montane forest lives a multitude of birds and animals, many of which don’t exist anywhere else in Costa Rica.
Birds
More than 200 species of birds have been spotted in the park. On our visit, we weren’t lucky enough to spot a Resplendent Quetzal but did see beautiful trogons, hummingbirds, redstarts, wrens, and woodpeckers.
If you really want to see a Resplendent Quetzal, we recommend hiring a guide in San Gerardo de Dota. Quetzals are shy birds so it’s best to go with someone who knows where to find them. We did an early morning guided tour once and were able to see a gorgeous quetzal fairly close up. We have much more information in our post, Resplendent Quetzal Birds in Costa Rica.
Animals
Los Quetzales National Park is home to Baird’s Tapir (the largest land mammal in Central America), collared peccaries, tayras, coyotes, deer, monkeys, pumas, jaguars, and other big cats.
A highlight of our visit was a near-sighting of a Baird’s Tapir! We heard this giant creature clumsily tromping through the dense forest along the trail just meters from where we were walking.
We also thought we found some puma (mountain lion) tracks, but upon further evaluation by a reader (see Taylor’s comment below), they were probably some type of dog or maybe a coyote.
Wondering how Los Quetzales National Park compares to other cloud forests? Our Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve post explains what to expect at this popular private reserve.
Planning Your Visit to Los Quetzales National Park
Hours
Los Quetzales National Park is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Park Admission
Visitors: $10 adults, $5 children ages 2-12
Citizens and Residents: ₡1,000 adults, ₡500 children ages 2-12
IMPORTANT: Tickets need to be purchased online in advance through the park service’s website. You need to register for an account first. English is available.
What to Wear
Temperatures in this mountainous region average 65-70° F (18-21° C) during the day and cooler at night. With the mist, it can feel downright cold so be sure to wear light pants and dress in layers.
Most importantly, don’t forget a rain jacket. Even if it looks bright and sunny in the morning, rain and mist can move in quickly.
The ranger station does have a changing room if you need it.
For footwear, we recommend sneakers or hiking boots.
Nearby Restaurants
While the park itself doesn’t offer any food or drink, there is a large cafeteria-style restaurant across the highway (Restaurante Los Chespiritos) from the ranger station. This is a great place to warm up with a cup of coffee and some authentic snacks or a quick meal.
For a sit-down restaurant, there’s Miriam’s Quetzals on the main road in San Gerardo de Dota. This local soda (small restaurant serving traditional Costa Rican food) has feeders set up out back that draw tons of different bird species. It’s a fun spot to see the many birds that live in this area and perfect if you’re interested in bird photography.
Conclusion
Los Quetzales National Park is a great addition to your Costa Rica travel itinerary. The cloud forest is unlike any other climate in Costa Rica and definitely worth a stop. Due to its location in south central Costa Rica, Los Quetzales is easy to get to from the popular beach towns on the central Pacific coast. And unlike Monteverde to the north, the Los Quetzales cloud forest is off-the-tourist trail for those seeking a more authentic travel experience.
Have you visited Los Quetzales National Park? Leave a comment below.
Looking for more information about this area? Check out these posts:
San Gerardo: A Hideaway in the Cloud Forest – This is the nearest place to stay near Los Quetzales National Park. This post includes what the town is like, along with hotel and restaurant recommendations.
San Gerardo Waterfall – For a rustic hike along a swift river, there is the San Gerardo Waterfall Trail.
San Isidro de El General – If you visit this park, you may drive through this locals’ city on the way to or from. It’s worth a stop to soak in the Costa Rican culture.
Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge – This private reserve near Dominical is a great lesser-known spot to explore the rainforest and see wildlife like monkeys.
National Parks: Costa Rica has so much protected land. Learn about 40+ more parks and reserves all around the country.
Things to Do: Looking for more activities for your trip? Our Things to Do articles give 150+ ideas for wildlife tours, hanging bridges, zip lining, beaches, and lots more.
