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Protected Areas
La Amistad International Park
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Photos: Roger González
The park is considered the most biologically diverse protected wilderness area in the country, due to its wide range of altitudes, highly varied climate and its variety of soils, which favor diverse ecosystems and high endemism.
La Amistad International Park is the largest protected area in Costa Rica and, since its territory continues into Panama, the country’s only binational park. It is known for the majestic trees of its oak forests and cloud forests, as well as páramo plains and alpine wetlands like turberas, or peatlands.
It is home to a network of short, medium and long trails, which can be a window into the species richness of the area, with several species that are endemic to Talamanca. In particular,
Extension
199 147 hectares of land
(166 980 ha in the Caribbean
y 32 167 ha on the Pacific side).
Location
It is located in the Talamanca mountain
range, in the south of Costa Rica, extending to the Panamanian border. To get to the park, you can drive from San José by road to the center of the town of Cerro Punta (one hour), and then drive 5 km to the park’s administrative headquarters in the town of Las Nubes.
the diversity of birds in the area is a significant tourist attraction.
Another attraction of La Amistad International Park is the scenic beauty of its natural environment as well as of the adjacent rural and indigenous communities, where visitors can find guides, food and lodging, thus contributing to local development through Rural Community Tourism. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views from the mountains and open natural areas, with majestic sunrises and sunsets, a varied agricultural landscape and a clear sky full of stars.
The park is a privileged location for a visit, with international recognition as a Ramsar Site, World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve.
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Importance
The park is called “International” because it extends into the neighboring country of Panama, which protects an additional 207,000 hectares. The park is surrounded by the Chirripó, Tayní, Telire and Talamanca Indigenous Reserves on the Atlantic side, and by the Ujarrás, Salitre and Cabagra Indigenous Reserves on the Pacific side of the Cordillera de Talamanca. In 1982, UNESCO declared the La Amistad Biosphere Reserve and in 1983, designated it as a World Heritage Site due to its exceptional universal value both from a scientific, conservation
and natural beauty perspective.
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