Tapantí

Tapantí sits at the head of the Orosi valley on the Caribbean slope of the Talamancas, and it holds the distinction of being among the wettest places in the country, with rainfall measured in metres per year across much of it. The result is a cloud forest so saturated that the trees are furred with moss and bromeliads and the slopes are cut by dozens of small rivers, which is why the park supplies a large share of the water and hydroelectric power for the central valley. Bird diversity is very high, with about 260 species recorded including the resplendent quetzal, and the trails are short, steep and almost always wet.

What's there

• The cloud forest - moss and bromeliads on every surface.
• The rivers - dozens cutting the slope, feeding the valley below.
• Birdlife - about 260 species including quetzals.
• The waterfall lookout - across the valley from the main trail.

When to go

December to April is relatively drier, which here means it may only rain in the afternoon. Mornings are the only reliable window. Bird activity is best at first light. Waterproofs are not optional in any month.

Before you go

It rains, constantly, and visitors who arrive without proper waterproofs have a miserable time. Trails are short, steep and slippery. The park is often in cloud, so views are a matter of luck. It is much less visited than Monteverde, which is both its appeal and the reason facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Orosi is half an hour down the valley; Cartago is beyond.