Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CAR
The drive north from Neily is a scenic one, with superb views of the lowlands dropping
away as the road winds up the hillside. The paved road is steep, narrow and full of hairpin
turns. You can also get to San Vito from San Isidro via the Valle de Coto Brus - an incred-
ibly scenic and less-used route with fantastic views of the Cordillera de Talamanca to the
north and the lower Fila Costeña to the south.
PARQUE INTERNACIONAL LA AMISTAD
The 4070-sq-km Parque Internacional La Amistad is an enormous patch of green sprawl-
ing across the borders of Panama and Costa Rica (hence its Spanish name La Amistad -
'Friendship'). This is by far the largest protected area in Costa Rica. Standing as a testa-
ment to the possibilities of international cooperation and environmental conservation, the
park was established in 1982 and declared a Unesco World Heritage Site just eight years
later. It then became part of the greater Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which protects
a great variety of endangered habitats. Its cultural importance is also significant as it in-
cludes several scattered indigenous reserves.
Sound like an exciting place to visit? Well, not so fast. The vast majority of the park is
high up in the Cordillera de Talamanca, and remains virtually inaccessible. Although
there's no shortage of hiking and camping available for intrepid, independent travelers at
lower altitudes, tourist infrastructure within the park is virtually nonexistent. For their own
safety, trekkers are limited to specific areas, and strongly encouraged (in some places re-
quired) to go accompanied by local guides.
While tourists flock to Costa Rica's better-known parks in the hopes of having an eco-
adventure, La Amistad is truly as rugged as it comes. Tackling this pristine, potentially
treacherous environment is no easy task, but La Amistad is brimming with possibilities for
hard-core wilderness exploration - if your fear of growing old in an urban jungle drives
you to explore verdant ones, you'll find none wilder on the planet.
The primary jumping-off point by which visitors launch into the deepest parts of the
park is the tiny mountain town of Altamira, 25km northwest of San Vito. There are four
other official entrances to the park: one near Buenos Aires, one near Helechales, and two
near San Vito. But Estación Altamira is the only year-round, staffed facility.
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