Palo Verde National Park

The Palo Verde National Park is located in the Tempisque river basin, between the Tempisque and Bebedero rivers. The park was created in 1978 and is comprised of 45,492 acres. The park is bordered by the north with the Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez Caballero Wildlife Refuge and the Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve.

The park earned its name due to the abundance of the Palo Verde tree. Palo Verde in Spanish literally means green stick and the tree is named so due to its green colored trunk and branches.  The best time of year to visit is between November and June to avoid rainy season and to catch a glimpse of flowering trees. At certain times of the year and especially during the heavy rains of the rainy season this area converts into a huge lagoon.

The park is also a hiker’s paradise with numerous trails. One leads to the Tempisque river, and the others La Cantera, La Roca, and Guayacan lead to look out points hanging over the  wetlands, forest and the river. From each of them you can enjoy an amazing sunset, but the vest view at dusk is on La Roca.

Because the Palo Verde National Park has been protected for so many years, it is one of the few remaining examples of the tropical dry forest, limestone ridges, prairie, flood plains, and marshland in all of Central America and therefore has a unique topography and several species of vegetation, aquatic plants, and the following tree species:

• Ron ron
• Cieba
• Guyabon
• Espavel
• Nispero
• Javillo
• Pochote
• Cibo barrigon
• Cocobolo
• Panama
• Evergreen
• Cardones
• Guayacan
• Platanilla
• Tifa
• Zacate gamalote
• Trista

If you are a bird lover bring your binoculars because Palo Verde offers the opportunity to spot around 300 species of birds.  During the months between September and March the birds are actively feeding and reproducing in this area. Palo Verde & Isla de Pajaros (Island of the Birds) are spectacular places to see bountiful populations of unusual bird species including:

• Herons (standard, real, green-backed, black-crowned night, & pink)
• Anhingas
• Sea gulls
• Bises
• Lapas rojas (red parrots)
• Garcetas
• Ibis morito
• Ducks
• Zambullidores
• Water roosters
• Galan sin ventura
• Spoonbill
• Garzon
• Pato aguja
• Great currasow
• Chocuaco
• Garcilla (bueyera & green)
• Yellow –naped parrot
• Egrets
• Wood storks
• Jabiru stork
• King vulture

You can also arrange a boat tour to the Tempisque river, where you are going to see huge crocodiles, frogs, squirrels, peccaries, howler & white-faced monkeys, deer, porcupines, coyotes, coatimundis, and countless bird species.  You will also notice insects such as myriad bees, wasps, butterflies, and large moths.With all of the wetness and animal presence you are bound to run into patches of pesky mosquitoes so be sure to have bug spray on hand and dress appropriately.

The park has two accommodations. One is the ranger’s station run by the government, and the other one is a biological station run by the Organization of Tropical Studies. Both provide potable water, food, restrooms, and lodging, but it is better if you make a reservation before visit them. There is also a camping area in the park that is a perfect spot to watch mammals at night.

How to get there:

Palo Verde National Park is 28 kilometers south of Bagaces. On the Interamericana Highway, enter to the road next to the Bagaces Clinic situated on the left when coming from San José (in front of a Gas station). This unpaved road leads you to both Palo Verde and Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, so pay attention to the detour signal to Palo Verde. After 30 km (18.6 miles) you will find a gate in the administrative buildings at the park entrance which opens from 7 am to 6 pm (remember to leave the park with enough time to be at the gate before 6 pm…) where you can pay your entrance fee, and then continue for 7 km (4.4 miles) to reach both the wetland and the OTS station and after 1 more km (0.6 miles) you find the ranger station.

Inclusions:

• Roundtrip transfers from most Guanacaste hotels
• Ecology tour guide
• Lunch
• Entrance Fee to National Park

Exclusions:

• Gratuities

Please Note:

• We suggest bringing: light clothing, bathing suit, towel, comfortable shoes, light jacket, hat, sunblock and camera.
• Minimum of 2 passengers is required for the tour to run; if the minimum size is not reached, the tour is subject to cancellation and all tickets are refunded or rescheduled.

Departure Point:

• Available from select hotels in the following Guanacaste areas: Conchal Beach, Flamingo Beach, Langosta Beach, Tamarindo Beach.

Redemption Instructions:

• Please confirm your tour 72 hours prior

For reservation, please contact info@flamingocostarica.com or call +506 2654 6666!