Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and evergreen forests. A number of low limestone hills provide lookouts over the park,
and the park's shallow, permanent lagoons are focal points for wildlife. The park derives
its name from its abundant
palo verde
(green tree), a small shrub that's green year-round.
Palo Verde has the greatest concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds in Central Amer-
ica, and over 300 bird species have been recorded in the park. Bird-watchers come to see
the large flocks of heron (including the rare black-crowned night heron), stork (including
the endangered jabirú), spoonbill, egret, ibis, grebe and duck; and forest birds, including
scarlet macaws, great curassows, keel-billed toucans and parrots, are also common. Fre-
quently sighted mammals include deer, coati, armadillo, monkey and peccary, as well as
the largest population of jaguarundi in Costa Rica. There are also numerous reptiles in the
wetlands, including crocodiles that are reportedly up to 5m in length.
The dry season (December to March) is the best time to visit, as flocks of birds tend to
congregate in the remaining lakes and marshes. Plus, the trees lose their leaves, allowing
for clearer viewing. There are also far fewer insects in the dry season, and mammals are
occasionally seen around the watering holes. Take binoculars or a spotting scope if pos-
sible. That said, the entire basin swelters during the dry season, so bring adequate sun pro-
tection. During the wet months, large portions of the area are flooded, and access may be
limited.
The park is also contiguous in the north with the 73-sq-km Refugio de Vida Silvestre Dr
Rafael Lucas Rodríguez Caballero and the Reserva Biológica Lomas de Barbudal.
Activities & Tours
To fully appreciate the size and topography of the park, it's worth organizing a boat trip
(US$45 to US$57) down the Río Tempisque, a wide, brown, brackish river contained on
either side by mangroves. Arrangements can be made through the Organization of Tropical
Studies (OTS) Palo Verde Biological Station. Travelers also recommend the guided bird-
watching tours (US$28 to US$30) that can be arranged there. Tour operators in San José
and La Fortuna run package tours to Palo Verde, but you'll save money by arranging
everything yourself.
You can also explore the park's four maintained trails on your own. La Venda (2.1km) is
the longest and runs adjacent to the lagoon. The best vegetation is visible from El Querque
(650m), and La Jacana is a short (200m) trail elevated above the lagoon that birders love.
