While Monteverde gets most of the attention as Costa Rica’s cloud forest destination, there is another less visited option. Los Quetzales National Park (Parque Nacional Los Quetzales) offers travelers the same cool and fresh cloud forest climate. Moss-covered hardwoods, alpine plants, and highland birds thrive there. The main draw is the chance to spot the park’s namesake Resplendent Quetzal, an exotic crimson and iridescent green bird with flowing tail feathers. Los Quetzales National Park isn’t well-covered in the guidebooks so we wanted to share our experience to help you plan your visit.
Getting There
Though Los Quetzales National Park encompasses a massive 5,000 hectare (12,000 acre) swath of land in south central Costa Rica, most visitors access the park via the ranger station near the small town of San Gerardo de Dota.
This ranger station is located at mile marker 76 near Cerro de la Muerte on the Interamericana Highway (Route 2). It’s about 1.5 hours from San Jose, one hour from San Isidro de El General, and two hours from Dominical on the coast.
Here is an interactive map with the park’s location and nearby destinations
Four-wheel drive is not necessary to reach the ranger station, as the highway is smooth and nicely paved (though very windy and steep).
An important consideration if you’re visiting the park on a day trip is to arrive early. Visibility at the top of the mountain can be difficult in the afternoon when the rain and clouds roll in. You don’t want to be navigating the curvy highway at night in the fog so be sure to plan your trip accordingly. Read our Road Conditions post for more information about the drive.
If you’d like to plan a stop here in your itinerary, San Gerardo de Dota is a charming mountain town worth spending a couple of nights. For more information about area hotels and attractions, read our post, San Gerardo de Dota: A Hideaway in the Cloud Forest.
Trails
Los Quetzales National Park has five trails of varying length and difficulty. Not all of them are always open. Here are the two that are used the most.
Circular Trail
For a short visit, there is a circular trail that is only a quarter-mile long (400 meters). This trail is now paved. It’s fairly flat, except for some stairs, and used mostly by birders.
Ojo de Agua Trail
This is a longer, more rugged dirt trail at about 1.25 miles (2 km) long. It goes downhill and ends, so the way back up is more challenging (uphill). When we did this, instead of returning up the hill, we looped back up to the ranger station on the public road (Camino Público). This was a dirt road with a lot of trees all around. While it did climb back up the mountain, it was easier than going back up the Ojo de Agua Trail.
There were only a few cars using the public road during our walk. In total, the walk took us about four hours, walking slowly to try to see birds and animals.
Other Trails
If you are staying locally, there is also a much longer 5.6 mile (9 km) trail that runs from the ranger station all the way to San Gerardo de Dota. It’s best to ask the ranger or your lodge about the conditions beforehand. We have heard at times that it is closed.
Here is a trail map with more details.
What You’ll See
Due to its location high atop the Talamanca mountains, the park is typically entrenched in a haze of thick clouds. Since the park is 6,500-9,800 feet (2,000-3,000 meters) above sea level, the flora and fauna are a lot different from what you’ll see at lower altitudes. In the montane and pre-montane forest lives a multitude of birds and animals, many of which don’t exist anywhere else in Costa Rica.
Birds
More than 200 species of birds have been spotted in the park. On our visit, we weren’t lucky enough to spot a Resplendent Quetzal but did see beautiful trogons, hummingbirds, redstarts, wrens, and woodpeckers.
If you really want to see a Resplendent Quetzal, we recommend hiring a guide in San Gerardo de Dota. Quetzals are shy birds so it’s best to go with someone who knows where to find them. We did an early morning guided tour once and were able to see a gorgeous quetzal fairly close up. We have much more information in our post, Resplendent Quetzal Birds in Costa Rica.
Animals
Los Quetzales National Park is home to Baird’s Tapir (the largest land mammal in Central America), collared peccaries, tayras, coyotes, deer, monkeys, pumas, jaguars, and other big cats.
A highlight of our visit was a near-sighting of a Baird’s Tapir! We heard this giant creature clumsily tromping through the dense forest along the trail just meters from where we were walking.
We also thought we found some puma (mountain lion) tracks, but upon further evaluation by a reader (see Taylor’s comment below), they were probably some type of dog or maybe a coyote.
Wondering how Los Quetzales National Park compares to other cloud forests? Our Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve post explains what to expect at this popular private reserve.
Planning Your Visit to Los Quetzales National Park
Hours
Los Quetzales National Park is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Park Admission
Visitors: $10 adults, $5 children ages 2-12
Citizens and Residents: ₡1,000 adults, ₡500 children ages 2-12
IMPORTANT: Tickets need to be purchased online in advance through the park service’s website. You need to register for an account first. English is available.
What to Wear
Temperatures in this mountainous region average 65-70° F (18-21° C) during the day and cooler at night. With the mist, it can feel downright cold so be sure to wear light pants and dress in layers.
Most importantly, don’t forget a rain jacket. Even if it looks bright and sunny in the morning, rain and mist can move in quickly.
The ranger station does have a changing room if you need it.
For footwear, we recommend sneakers or hiking boots.
Nearby Restaurants
While the park itself doesn’t offer any food or drink, there is a large cafeteria-style restaurant across the highway (Restaurante Los Chespiritos) from the ranger station. This is a great place to warm up with a cup of coffee and some authentic snacks or a quick meal.
For a sit-down restaurant, there’s Miriam’s Quetzals on the main road in San Gerardo de Dota. This local soda (small restaurant serving traditional Costa Rican food) has feeders set up out back that draw tons of different bird species. It’s a fun spot to see the many birds that live in this area and perfect if you’re interested in bird photography.
Conclusion
Los Quetzales National Park is a great addition to your Costa Rica travel itinerary. The cloud forest is unlike any other climate in Costa Rica and definitely worth a stop. Due to its location in south central Costa Rica, Los Quetzales is easy to get to from the popular beach towns on the central Pacific coast. And unlike Monteverde to the north, the Los Quetzales cloud forest is off-the-tourist trail for those seeking a more authentic travel experience.
Have you visited Los Quetzales National Park? Leave a comment below.
Looking for more information about this area? Check out these posts:
San Gerardo: A Hideaway in the Cloud Forest – This is the nearest place to stay near Los Quetzales National Park. This post includes what the town is like, along with hotel and restaurant recommendations.
San Gerardo Waterfall – For a rustic hike along a swift river, there is the San Gerardo Waterfall Trail.
San Isidro de El General – If you visit this park, you may drive through this locals’ city on the way to or from. It’s worth a stop to soak in the Costa Rican culture.
Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge – This private reserve near Dominical is a great lesser-known spot to explore the rainforest and see wildlife like monkeys.
National Parks: Costa Rica has so much protected land. Learn about 40+ more parks and reserves all around the country.
Things to Do: Looking for more activities for your trip? Our Things to Do articles give 150+ ideas for wildlife tours, hanging bridges, zip lining, beaches, and lots more.
Hi. I am planning a solo trip to Costa Rica and really want to visit some of the less frequented places you describe, but I have a disability that means I cannot drive. I am wondering if there is public bus or shuttle service to Los Quetzales/San Gerardo de Dota and also to Bijagua. Thanks!
Hi Katie, There is a bus that goes from San Jose and drops you off on the highway near San Gerardo. To then go on to Bijagua would involve many bus transfers and a lot of time. It would be easier to shuttle, but for less popular destinations like these, you usually have to do a private shuttle because shared is not available. These are more expensive. If you’re OK with the public bus, just try to design an itinerary very strategically based on bus routes. Here’s a link that has a fairly accurate schedule. If you’d like any help figuring out the itinerary, this is something we could do on a video call. Feel free to reach out if you’re interested. You can also get a general idea of pricing for private shuttles on our Shuttle Booking page.
Definitely not a mountain lion track there. Looks like a coyote or other canid. Thanks for the other info!
I’m so glad I found this. We’re going surfing near Puntarenas the third week of March, and as a birder when I saw the name of the park knew I’d better take advantage of the opportunity to see the magnificent Quetzal bird. A lifer (bird) for me.
I will follow your instructions in seeking a guide to find the bird, and coincidentally going doing breeding season.
Thanks! LL
We will be driving back from Sierpe (from Darke bay) starting around 9am to San Jose and thought about stopping and hiking at Los Quetzales NP that day.
A few hour hike after noon before park close at 4pm would be wonderful however I would love some pointers on where to go for a trail head?
San Gerardo or the main park entrance that appear to be near the Hwy 2 on a different road a bit North.
Would you have some recommendation for a guide for such 2 to 3 hour hike?
We will be traveling on April 24th and read above that the road to San Jose was closed in 2019. Is it opened again, and shall we worry about not being able to drive Hwy 2 North to San Jose late April?
Thank you
Hi Jean-Marc, The entrance to the national park is right on Highway 2. I think we have the KM marker number right in this post. Yes, it would be a good option for a 2-3 hour hike on the way from Sierpe to San Jose. Some of the trails may not be open but at least one will be. It’s a nice, scenic hike, and a good way to break up the drive. No worries about the highway being closed in April. It only closes during rainy season when it is really rainy (Sept/Oct) and they get it repaired quickly.
Hi folks – We’ll be CR for 8 days in Feb, travelling with a 12 year old. Considering a loop with Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Quetzales and Orosi before heading back to San Jose. Does this itinerary sound good? Any recommendations on where to stay for the second half?
Hi Thomas, Yes, that sounds like a great plan. The order makes sense and you’re not trying to do too much. You’ll also be able to see different areas of the country.
For recommendations on where to stay near Los Quetzales, read our San Gerardo de Dota post. We haven’t spent much time yet in the Orosi Valley but there are supposed to be some nice lodges there. Hope your family has a great trip!
We are currently taking this loop the other way- I’d recommend Turrialba instead of Orosi if you can fit it in, with a Econaturales raft trip on the Pacuare and a stay at Turrialtico lodge- we did this yesterday and it was fabulous! We’re in Orosi today because my husband is a rock climber – but if you don’t climb, there’s not much else going on and there are more bugs here than anywhere else we’ve been in over a week!
Hi!
We rented a 4WD vehicle the last time we visited Costa Rica as we went to Monteverde, Tenorio, etc. and it was very useful. Would we need a 4WD to drive from SJO to Los Quetzales, and then on to Uvita in August/September? It sounds like the area around San Gerardo is paved in the park, but we can’t find any info on road conditions from there to Uvita. Would love to book a cheaper rental car if we can get away with it!
Thanks so much 🙂
Madison
Hi Madison, You should check with your accommodations in Uvita to find out if 4×4 is necessary because many hotels/Airbnbs in that area are located up steep dirt mountain roads. The main roads between those destinations are all paved. The road from the highway to San Gerardo de Dota is also paved but has huge potholes and is very curvy. Not 4×4 required but a vehicle with higher clearance is good to have. Hope that helps! Be sure to check out our Rental Car Discount as you’re shopping around for a car.
Hi J&M,
Your website is really a great source of information for us….
We (couple of enthusiastic hikers used to hike long stretches in the mountains) are planning a 10-day trip in CR at the end of November. After reading all the travel guides we interested to come to San Gerardo de Dota and hike from there along the rio Savegre all the way down to Manuel Antonio. We found some lodges along the way (Tami lodge, Albergue Montana El Rio, Los Campesinos Eco lodge, Posada Turismo El Silencio). From paper this seems an interesting hike which we hope can be accomplished in 6 days from San Gerardo.
Can you recommend this hike? Can it be done in about 6 days without a guide? Should we reserve for overnight stays in San Gerardo and the other places at the end of November? Are their detailed maps available in San Gerardo or are the trails well signed out?
Any tips are welcome!
Kind regards, Raoul & Bernadette (Amsterdam/The Netherlands)
Hi Raoul, We wouldn’t recommend that hike without a guide since conditions are fairly extreme and we aren’t sure it’s well marked at all since it’s not a popular hike, so you could get lost. We have some friends who do long hikes in Costa Rica and they go through a rural tourism organization. I think it’s this group.
I am planning on visiting Costa Rica in early August. Would I be able to leave San Jose at 5 am, get to Quetzales at 7 am, meet a tour guide (preplanned) Do a short hike (hopefully seeing interesting animals) and then go to Manuel Antonio in the evening to a new hotel (another 2-hour drive)? Is there a place to leave luggage, or would a van be able to park there while we hike? Also, are the hikes challenging? I am an older lady and not in the best shape for long hikes uphill. Usually, just a few miles is enough for me.
Hi Linda, That is probably possible but we’d only recommend it if you’re really set on going and you have a van/driver for transport. The road between San Jose and the national park has been closed off and on lately due to landslides. We wouldn’t want you driving it yourself in the afternoon after your hike when it could very well be raining and clouded in. The drive time between the park and Manuel Antonio is actually more like 3-3.5 hours too.
The other thing to keep in mind is that not many animals are typically seen at this particular park, it’s mostly birds. If you take a van, they could just wait for you in the parking area while you’re hiking. As for level of difficulty, the main loop isn’t too hard. It’s probably easy to moderate.
Just so you know, those are definitely not puma/mountain lion tracks.
They are canine tracks – of which type, I’m not sure – but could be dog or some other canine living in the area. If you look up the differences between canine and feline tracks, you’ll see what I mean. Distinctive marks are the orientation of the toe pads (dog toe pads are much more condensed into a square as these are – feline toe pads are more spread out along a line instead of one in front of another); and felines’ claws are retractable, which means in most substrates they don’t show; whereas canine claws are always “out”, so show in the print, as these ones do.
Thanks for all the really good advice on how and when to see Los Quetzales NP!
Haha, thanks Taylor, good to know. The ranger must have just been being encouraging 🙂
As a CO local who’s seen plenty of Mountain Lion tracks, I was hoping to educate everyone. All cats retract their claws, always a dead giveaway!
My wife and I will be driving from San Jose to Uvita and would like to do some hiking here. We are fairly proficient hikers and bird watchers. I know it would make for a long day but if we were able to get there by 9 AM, we could hike for a few hours and then make it to Uvita with some daylight left, it sounds like. If we wanted a guide, could we get one from a local lodge if we weren’t staying the night there?
Hi Matt, Yes, if you plan to get to the park around 9 am, you will have a few hours to explore before needing to get back on the road. One of the lodges in San Gerardo would probably help you book a tour even if you weren’t staying there but we’d arrange this in advance since it’s such a small town. Maybe try one of the bigger lodges like Trogan Lodge.
Is it possible to get here without a car? I am looking to travel with my 14yr old son and trying to figure out a good trip without having to drive. I really want to have a nature adventure and see the diversity of Costa Rica without traveling all over the country.
thanks
HI Dom, Yes, you can reach the national park by public bus from San Jose. There is a lodge or two near the park on the main highway but most accommodations in this area are in the small town of San Gerardo de Dota (you would need at least an overnight after). You need a car to get there but could probably arrange for one to pick you up near the highway. The public bus or a private shuttle are really the only options unless you rent a car. Shared shuttles do not go this way.
Hi Jenn and Matt! Thank you so much for your blog. It’s been so helpful as I plan my trip! My husband and I are traveling to Costa Rica at the end of July and will be ending our stay in Manuel Antonio and Uvita. We thought Los Quetzales would be great to see before we head back to the San Jose Airport since we feel pretty nervous about driving to Monteverde and like to be as off the beaten path as possible anyway. Would you say it would be better to stay in a lodge nearby rather than take a day trip from the coast? Any lodging or tour guide recommendations up near there? Also, do you think Los Quetzales has just as much cool wildlife and sights as Monteverde? Does it have features like hanging bridges yet, or just trails? We’re also looking at stopping at Los Angeles or Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park when we’re up that way, but aren’t sure if those are really cloud forest experiences either. Any extra advice you have is much appreciated!
Hi Taylor, Los Quetzales is about 2.5 hrs from Uvita so it’s better done with an overnight. We have done it as a day trip from Dominical, which is closer, but it was a very long day. If you’re traveling during the rainy season, we definitely wouldn’t recommend it since it will likely be raining and foggy on the drive back. Better to stay overnight in San Gerardo de Dota. Our post about that little town has some good lodging recommendations. And your lodge will be able to help you with a guide if you would like one.
The Los Quetzales area is a lot different than Monteverde. It’s a lot smaller and more rustic, and the park only has trails. The hiking is still really nice, though, and the wildlife is similar. We aren’t familiar with the Los Ángeles hanging bridges, but the ones at Místico are in tropical rainforest not cloud forest. There are only a few true cloud forest habitats on Costs Rica, with the most notable being the two we have been talking about. Hope that helps with your plans!
Hi! My husband and I will travel to CR for one week July 28th. We have enjoyed and benefited from your site, will even rent Our car through here! Our plan is La Fortuna half of the time and MA the other half. We originally wanted to do Monteverde in between so we can experience the forest in the clouds but the expense of an SUV are too high. We are thinking of doing Monteverde as a day trip from La Fortuna riding a shuttle. Would that be worth it? I just saw this information about Los Quetzal NP and an thinking we could do this instead since it seems we can go in a 2wd (right?). Are we trying to fit too much in one week or can we do a cloud forest somehow with a 2wd? Thank you for any help and advice!
Hi Abby, Because it’s such a long ride, we don’t recommend doing Monteverde on a day trip from La Fortuna. You would have very little time to enjoy the area. Los Quetzales is a better option. It is too far to do in a day trip from Manuel Antonio, though. You could either stop for an overnight in San Gerardo de Dota on the way back to the airport, or stay near Dominical, which is around 2 hrs from Los Quetzales and 45 min. from Manuel Antonio. If you do the Dominical option, you will want to leave MA very early so that you’re not driving after dark after your hike. You only need a 2wd to access the park, but the road is very curvy, narrow, mountainous, and often gets clouded in. It will also be rainy season so that’s why we say to drive only during daylight hours. Getting from the highway where the park is down to San Gerardo is better in a 4wd but we think it can be done in a 2wd. Thanks for renting the car through our site!
We want to visit los Quetzals Np with our kids (7 and 8). Do you need to book a guide in advance or is it possible to get a guide at the entrance of the park. We want to see the quetzal. Do you need a guide to see those birds or can we see them on our own.
Thanks for all the advices.
Hi Judith, Los Quetzales isn’t a very busy park so there aren’t usually guides set up there waiting to do tours. Definitely best to arrange in advance. If you’re staying in San Gerardo, it is easiest to arrange through your hotel.
Unless you’re visiting during breeding season when the Quetzals are most active (March-April), it is very difficult to spot them in your own. Guides know where they have been spotted lately and know where they nest.
Dear Jenn and Matt,
My boyfriend and I are staying in Quepos for a few days and are dying to hike in a cloud forest. I’ve done some research, but can’t seem to find if there is a west entrance to the park, or if we have to enter the park through the ranger station.
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Julie, The ranger station near San Gerardo de Dota is the only way to enter the park, unfortunately. It is a big park that stretches towards the coast, but a lot of the land isn’t accessible. You have to have the high altitude to get the cloud forest anyway so even if you could access it from near Quepos, it wouldn’t be what you’re looking for.
If you’re heading back to San Jose afterwards, one idea is to stop for an overnight in San Gerardo on your way to SJ. You really only need one night there so it is totally doable if your schedule allows it. Hope that helps!
Los Quetzales NP was the highlight of my last trip to CR. I hired Michael Granados Romero. He is a fantastic guide who specializes in this park. Very knowledgeable about all the species… especially the Resplendent Quetzal. He knew EXACTLY where to find them. He even trained his scope on a nest & we watched the male go in & out of the hole in the tree. We stayed with this magnificent bird for well over an hour… it was spectacular! For me, seeing the Quetzal was a dream come true! The 2 of us were the only people in the park that day. I love that it’s off the beaten trail… no gift shop, no snack bar, no tourists! There are places where the trail is practically non-existent… but if you’re an avid bird watcher, like me, this is the place to go! Here is Michael’s contact info: michaelguiag@gmail.com Tel: 86038209 Facebook: Aves del Parque Nacional Los Quetzales. Enjoy!
Isn’t a good guide amazing? You can see so much more with someone who knows what they’re doing. Glad you had a good time and saw a lot of birds in Los Quetzales. We love this park too for many of the same reasons – it’s almost always empty and still feels so wild. Thanks for the tips on the guide. We’ll keep him in mind next time we’re back in San Gerardo.
Hi Jill, I recently (Sep 2024) read your April 2016 post and tried to contact the guide (Michael Granados Romero)h you highly recommended for finding Quetzales in the Los Quetzales National Park. Unfortunately his email address failed. I’m in Australia and haven’t tried to phone him yet.
Do you have any more current contact details for him?
Hello Jenn and Matt
We are planning to cross Quetzales NP this June/July on our bicycles. Our map (from OpenStreetMaps) shows a nice dirt road/track from Copey, south over some 2800 m terrain, which unfortunately stops at around N9° 32.068′ W83° 50.508′ where we could camp. It would be great if there was a track/passage either to San Gerardo or even better further southeast towards Angeles. The trail picks up again about 4 km (air) from N9° 30.308′ W83° 49.410′ but we have no idea if the terrain is passable. We would be glad also to have a guide with us (on a bicycle though!). Do you know who we could ask? ALso, assuming it is feasible, are we allowed to enter the park from North (Copey). Is there en entrance there as well or should we arrange the permits elsewhere? Many thanks for any info. Gianguido
Hi Gianguido,
Sounds like an amazing adventure that you are planning! Unfortunately we don’t know much about the surrounding trails in the Copey and San Gerardo area. Not sure if you have already found this site (http://www.wikiloc.com/trails/outdoor/costa-rica) but it has some hiking, biking, and off-road trails that might help you connect the dots. We typed in Copey and San Gerardo and a few things came up. The other thing would be to contact some of the lodges in the areas that you are passing and see if they have any contacts who do mountain bike tours or at least have knowledge about the trails. Hope this helps, have a great time out on the trails!
We are planning on visiting in this park Mid Nov. 2014. we will have our own car. How do we find a local tour guide over the internet?
Thank you.
Hi Judy, your best bet is going through one of the lodges in San Gerardo de Dota that organizes tours. Suria Lodge has info on their website: http://hotelsuria.com/los-quetzales-national-park-tour.html, and so does Dantica: http://www.dantica.com/en/activities/tours.html. Hope that helps. Enjoy your visit!
This is on my list of places I’d like to visit. How are the trails? Would rubber boots be advisable, or would light hiking shoes be good enough? Thanks for sharing your adventures here in CR, it’s given me a couple new ideas for places to visit.
Hi Sigg, The trails are nicely cleared but something with good traction and waterproof would be recommended (depending on the latest weather of course), so you might want boots this time of year. When we went in the dry season, the beginning of the main trail was pretty muddy because the rangers had driven down it and made some ruts. There are also some steeper areas on the Ojo de Agua trail that can get a little slick because of wet leaves. We went down that trail and took the main road back up which was a nice gravel road and much easier than trying to climb back up the steeper, slick spots. Hope this helps plan your visit, let us know how it goes!
Hi, I wish I had read this before our aborted visit to Los Quetzales You might be amused to read about it on my blog!
Roger, sounds like you had a tough time finding the park, that’s too bad. At least you had a great adventure though. Los Quetzales is a little hard to find especially when it’s covered in clouds so a lot of people have that problem. The key is the mile/kilometer marker on the highway. Hope you make it back someday. Cheers!