Costa Rica National Park La Amistad

La Amistad means "the friendship", what maybe is a hint to the friendship with the great flora and fauna of the park. This international park with big parts located in Panama, has about 193.000 hectares in Costa Rica and 440.000 hectares in Panama. It is located in the south of the country, the so called "Cordillera de Talamanca", the most undeveloped area of Costa Rica.

Until today, only a small part of the park is explored, which consists out of rainforest and cloud forest and is the home of several indian reservations. Even if only a part of it got explored, people found more than 1000 kind of orchids and more than 10.000 tropical plants already. Scientists found 120 species of fishes and 220 different reptiles and amphybias.

Highest point in the park is "Cerro Kamuk" near the border of Panama with about 10700 feet. Approximately 30 % of all existing animals in the park are endemic, which means they only exist in the park. If you hire an experienced guide, you may see tapires, ant bears, jaguars, jaguarundis, tiger cats, pumas, margays and ozelots during your walk.

There are more than 50 endemic species of birds living in the trees besides the other 450 species. Also the famous Quetzal with it´s long multicolored feathers still lives in the park.

Because of the endangered nature, the park got declared to a special protected zone in 1982 by UNESCO. The infra structure is undeveloped and this is the way it shall stay. Mainly scientists from all countries come to visit the park to study animals and plants.

If you are interested in nature and want to visit the park, you can choose one out of four entrances with ranger stations. Station Tres Colinas, 20 miles north east of San Vito - La Escuadra, 10 miles north east of Agua Caliente - Las Colinas, 8 miles north east of Portrero Grande - and La Amistad, 16 miles north east of Guacimo. The streets to the entrances are unpaved and in bad condition.

Park is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, entrance fee is US$ 6 per person. Ask for the weather before you visit, bring rain clothes and hire a guide. You will see that it is worth, even if he speaks Spanish only. At least he will show you some plants and animals which you would have passed for sure without even realizing. If you are down there, visit Indian Reserve Boruca with it´s friendly people.