Los Cusingos
The farm and forest where the ornithologist Alexander Skutch lived and wrote for six decades, kept as a reserve.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Alexander Skutch bought this farm in the General valley in 1941 and lived on it until his death in 2004 at ninety-nine, writing the life histories of Central American birds in a body of work that shaped tropical ornithology, and keeping the forest on the property intact while the surrounding valley was cleared. Los Cusingos, named for the fiery-billed aracari, is now a reserve of around eighty hectares held by the Tropical Science Center: his house is preserved with his study and library, trails run through the forest to the Peñas Blancas river, and the bird list runs past three hundred species. Guided walks are the way to see it and birding is the point.
What you actually see
- Skutch's house - the preserved dwelling with his study and library.
- The forest trails - the routes through the reserve to the river.
- The bird list - the three hundred species recorded on the property.
- Fiery-billed aracari - the bird the reserve is named for.
When to go
December to April in the dry season for the trails; birding is good year round with early morning by far the best time. Guided walks should be booked ahead. The valley is hot at midday.
Honest expectations
Visits are guided and booked rather than open access. The reserve is small and the forest is an island in cleared farmland. Bird sightings need patience and binoculars. Facilities are minimal.
Nearby
San Isidro de El General lies northwest; Chirripo is north.
What to pack for Los Cusingos
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.