Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Although most of Parque Internacional La Amistad is inaccessible terrain high up in the
Talamanca, the park is home to a recorded 90 mammal species and more than 400 bird
species. The park has the nation's largest population of Baird's tapirs, as well as giant
anteaters, all six species of neotropical cats - jaguar, puma (mountain lion), margay,
ocelot, oncilla (tiger cat) and jaguarundi - and many more common mammals.
Bird species (49 unique) that have been sighted - more than half of the total in Costa
Rica - include the majestic but extremely rare harpy eagle. In addition, the park protects
115 species of fish and 215 different reptiles and amphibians, as well as innumerable in-
sect species.
Sleeping & Eating
Only the ranger stations at Santa María de Pittier and Altamira have camping facilities (per
person US$6). There's also a basic hostel at the base of Cerro Kamuk (per person US$6).
All of these accommodations offer drinking water and toilets, and - in the case of Altamira
- electricity. All food and supplies must be packed in and out.
Asoprola also runs a simple lodge and restaurant in the village of Altamira and can
make arrangements for lodging in local homes in Altamira and Santa Elena de Pittier for a
reasonable fee (usually US$10 to US$15 per person). For an intimate look at the lives of
people living on the fringes of the rainforest, there is no better way than to arrange a
homestay.
Information
To make reservations to camp, call the park headquarters at Estación Altamira (
2200-5355; park fee per person per day US$10) directly. This is the best-developed area of the
park, with a camping area, showers, drinking water, electricity and a lookout tower.
The thickly forested northern Caribbean slopes and southern Pacific slopes of the Tala-
manca are protected in the park, but it is only on the Pacific side that ranger stations are
found.
Getting There & Away
If you have a tight schedule, a 4WD drive is required to get around this area - the buses
are unreliable, the roads are bumpy and things run on a very loose schedule. To reach
Altamira, you can take any bus that runs between San Isidro de El General and San Vito
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