The Complete Guide to Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica

Los Quetzales National Park in Costa Rica derives its name from a majestic looking bird, the Resplendent Quetzal. This endangered species of bird are found only in a select few places of Central America, including this National Park of Costa Rica. But the Quetzal is not the only attraction of its namesake national park. Los Quetzales National Park is characterized by cloud forests and a crisp climate at a high altitude. Here you will find plenty of other birds, butterflies and hundreds of species of plants, many of them endemic to the region. This post is a complete guide to help you plan your visit to Los Quetzales National Park.

How to reach Los Quetzales National Park?

Los Quetzales National Park is located in the Dota canton of San Jose province. Drive on the Ruta 2 highway towards Perez Zeldon. Los Quetzales comes on the way, in the Cerro de La Muerte region. Just look for the boards on the highway or follow Google Maps/ Waze.

From the Central Valley region, it takes less than two hours to reach Los Quetzales National Park. The distances from the major cities of Central Valley and from Cartago are as follows:

• San Jose: 78 km / 48 miles
• Heredia: 91 km / 57 miles
• Alajuela: 99 km / 62 miles
• Cartago: 59 km / 37 miles

After crossing Carrocerias Ramirez JyM, the broad highway becomes a narrow road winding up the mountains. The valley views surrounded by mountains make for a scenic drive. What we love the most about this drive is the sight of plenty of windmills. You get to see some from a distance, and some others really up close. Drive carefully as this area is often covered in rains and clouds, significantly limiting visibility on the curvy road.

How to buy tickets for the National Park?

You can purchase your tickets from the ticket counter at the entrance of Los Quetzales National Park.

Entry fees

• For foreign nationals: 10 USD
• For citizens and residents: 1000 CRC (~1.72 USD)

They do accept card payment.

Other important information

• Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• Parking: Yes. Free.
• Restrooms: Available. Near the ticket office.
• Food: No restaurant inside.

Additional measures for 2020

• There is a wash basin just outside the ticket booking office. You should wash your hands with soap before entering.
• Only 1 person is allowed at a time to enter the booking office.
• Staff are wearing masks and face shields.
• Card payment is contactless.

When is the best time to visit Los Quetzales National Park?

As the dry season in Costa Rica runs from December to March, number of tourists are higher during this period. But if you are willing to embrace rains and clouds, you can actually visit any time of the year, including rainy season. Even during rainy season, you can have sunny mornings before it starts to rain in the afternoon. If you ask us, cloud forests look even more enchanting when rain drops drip down from the moist mosses.

Best time for Quetzal spotting

However, if your sole objective of visiting Los Quetzales National Park is to see the Resplendent Quetzal bird, consider March to June. Resplendent Quetzals usually reside in the forest canopy. But during these months, they venture to the lower forests for breeding and nesting, thereby increasing your chances of spotting the elusive Quetzal.

If you are really serious about your quest for Quetzal, include the nearby town of San Gerardo de Dota also in your Costa Rica trip itinerary. We got the chance to observe a couple of Resplendent Quetzals in Dota, during their nesting period in the month of April.

What to wear for your trip to Los Quetzales?

The elevation of Los Quetzales National Park ranges from about 4,000 feet to 10,000 feet. Situated at this high altitude, surrounded by clouds or drizzled with rains, the temperature here is cool. Do carry a jacket for your visit. We visited Los Quetzales on a sunny morning. Even while walking up and down the trails, we did not feel the need to take off our jackets.

Put on your good walking shoes. Wear comfortable clothes, dressed in layers. Last but not the least, carry a raincoat. This is a must have for your Costa Rica packing list.

What to see at Los Quetzales National Park?

There are two main trails, the Circular Trail and the Ojo de Agua Trail. Each of them offers different kinds of sightings and experiences. The trails are short in length, but neither of them are looped. This means, for each, as you reach the end of the trail, you need to retrace the same path for coming back to the starting point.

Circular Trail

Do not go by the name of this trail. This is still not a loop. It is called Circular because of the curvaceous path that the trail follows, instead of a linear one. The Circular Trail is a newly laid one with paved paths, often connected with iron frame platforms and stair cases. This trail also has some seats installed along the way for you to rest.

The Circular Trail is only 400 meters long. But the forest in this section is at its charming best. Thick blankets of mosses and epiphytes adorn trees of various heights and shapes. The tall trees rise high up as if to provide a roof to the residents of the cloud forest. As we walked along the trail, the chirping of the birds and the blowing wind continually interrupted the silence of the forest.

The Circular Trail is the trail of choice for ornithologists and bird watchers. Although we did not spot any Resplendent Quetzal here, we did come across various other bird species. We spotted hummingbirds, swallows, woodpeckers and …., even when the dense forest foliage was covered with clouds. So, sunny early mornings should provide even better opportunities of bird sightings.

Ojo de Agua Trail

You need to exit the main gate of the National Park to take the Ojo de Agua Trail. Take a right, right after exiting the main gate. In about a hundred meters, you will see the sign board of Ojo de Agua Trail on your left. This trail follows a linear path along a dirt road, with occasional upward and downward slopes. Since this does not have a paved path, you will come across muddy patches formed due to rain water accumulation.

The Ojo de Agua Trail is almost 2 kilometers long. The cloud forest in this area also contains secondary forests. We did not get to spot much of wildlife here, but many of the trees on this trail bore colorful fruits and flowers. Student groups on educational tours use this trail for identification of flora and fauna.

Is it worth visiting Los Quetzales National Park?

Los Quetzales National Park is a fine place to spend a few hours in the company of nature. In fact, this is one of the top things to do in the San Gerardo de Dota region. The cloud forests of Monteverde are more popular on the tourist trail of Costa Rica, possibly because of its organized tourism infrastructure and adventure activities.

But for a cloud forest in a more raw setting, yet not too far away from the city, check out Los Quetzales National Park. Because of the park’s location, this also makes for an excellent day trip from San Jose. Whether you visit on a day trip or are staying in the region, Los Quetzales National Park is totally worth the time for the nature lover in you.

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