| Costa Rica Sports |
| Areas of Costa Rica |
 |
| Costa Rica Travel Guide Directory NATIONAL PARKS |
| TENORIO VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK & VICINITY |
 One km north of the Río Corobicí, a well-paved road (Hwy. 6) leads northeast 58 km to Upala in the northern lowlands via the low-lying saddle of Tenorio and Miravalles Volcanoes. The road is straight, fast, and (when last driven) free of potholes--a splendid, gentle roller-coaster ride that whisks you to the other side before you know it. The only town is Bijagua, a center for cheese-making 38 km north of Cañas, on the northwest flank of Volcán Tenorio, a steep-faced, archetypically conical cone rising to 1,916 meters. The volcano is lushly forested in cloud forest and montane rainforest protected within Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio. Local hiking is superb (albeit often hard going on higher slopes), notably one that leads to the Río Celeste, with a waterfall and fumaroles and boiling mud-pools nearby. Another arduous and slippery trail leads through cloud forest to Lago Las Dantas (Tapir Lake), where it is common to see tapirs drinking at dusk in the waters that fill the volcanic crater. Cougars and jaguars tread the forests. And monkeys abound. A dirt road leads east from Bijagua two km to Bijagua Heliconia (see below), an ecotourist lodge and biological station that was started by local farmers intent on saving what forest remained on their property with the hope of stimulating local development through education and ecotourism. The project is supported by various international aid organizations. The lodge sits at 700 meters elevation on the slopes of Tenorio abutting Tenorio Volcano National Park. Trails lead into prime rainforest and cloud forest; it's a 90-minute walk by well-maintained trail to the summit. There's even a children's trail. Guided hikes and nature excursions are offered ($20-40). The station has a small butterfly and insect exhibit, plus horseback riding. Another dirt road that begins five km north of Bijagua leads to the main park entrance, with a ranger station. About 200 meters farther is another side road leading to the U.S.-owned La Carolina Lodge (see Accommodations, below), a ranch and stables with trails into the forests of Tenorio National Park; to the Rio Celeste waterfall, where you can swim in a teal-blue lagoon; and to Los Chorros thermal springs. Horseback rides are also offered. Just south of Bijagua, a dirt road leads west to Miravalles Protected Zone (Zona Protectora Miravalles). Los Tigres is a private reserve on the Caribbean side of the saddle protecting 800 hectares of premontane rainforest and its denizens: sloths, howler and white-faced monkeys, agoutis, ocelots, toucans, tanagers, and many other bird species. There are no accommodations, but you may be able to camp near a small waterfall with special permission. Wildland Adventures (see the North American Tour Operators appendix) offers 13-day nature tours that include visits to Los Tigres, Palo Verde, and Arenal. |
National Parks |
ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK | BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK | BRAULIO CARRILLO NATIONAL PARK | CAHUITA NATIONAL PARK | CHIRRIPÓ NATIONAL PARK | CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK | GUANACASTE NATIONAL PARK | IRAZÚ VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK | JUAN CASTRO BLANCO NATIONAL PARK | MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK | PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK | PIEDRAS BLANCAS NATIONAL PARK | PLAYA GRANDE MARINE TURTLE NATIONAL PARK | POÁS VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK | RINCÓN DE LA VIEJA NATIONAL PARK | SANTA ROSA NATIONAL PARK | TENORIO VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK & VICINITY | TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK | WHALE MARINE NATIONAL PARK | SEA TURTLES | MAP |
How to contact us Toll Free
1.877.786.6826 Costa Rica Travel Guide - Hotel Directory & Reservations |
| Telephone number and e-mail is to Wild Jaguars, Inc. We are a Travel Agency authorized to represent all described services and properties and we are available to facilitate your reservation process. Please note direct access to hotels or services in this country will not be made available. We can arrange and customize your travel vacation. we are not an online-travel agent. but we do give personal service. Just give us a call. |
