Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reserva Biológica Hitoy-Cerere
One of Costa Rica's most rugged and rarely visited reserves,
Hitoy-Cerere
( 2795-3170;
admission US$6; 8am-4pm)
is only about 60km south of Puerto Limón. The 99-sq-km re-
serve sits on the edge of the Cordillera de Talamanca, characterized by varying altitudes,
evergreen forests and rushing rivers. This may be one of the wettest reserves in the parks
system, inundated with 4000mm to 6000mm of rain annually.
Naturally, wildlife is abundant. The most commonly sighted mammals include gray
four-eyed opossums, tayras (a type of weasel), and howler and capuchin monkeys. There
are plenty of ornithological delights as well (with more than 230 avian species), including
keel-billed toucans, spectacled owls, green kingfishers and the ubiquitous Montezuma
oropendola, whose massive nests dangle from the trees like twiggy pendulums. The mois-
ture, in the meantime, keeps the place hopping with various species of poison-dart frog.
The reserve is surrounded by some of the country's most remote indigenous reserves,
which you can visit with a local guide.
Although there is a ranger station with bathrooms at the reserve entrance, there are no
other facilities nearby. A 9km trail leads south to a waterfall, but it is steep, slippery and
poorly maintained. Jungle boots are recommended.
Getting There & Away
By car (4WD recommended) from Puerto Limón, head south to Penshurst. Just south of
the Río Estrella bridge, head west on the signed road to Valle de la Estrella. Another sign
at the bus stop sends you down a dirt road about 15km to the reserve.
