National park · Costa Rica
Aguacate Mountains Biological CorridorCorredor Biológico Montes del Aguacate
Enter the corridor for a day hike: drive from San José to the trailhead (≈1 h), walk the Butterfly Gate trail (≈2 h) for $0 entry, or join a guided bird‑watch tour (≈3 h, $50) in the dry season; avoid July‑September rains.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²)
approximate
Established
2001
Best months
—
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 10Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Costa Rica ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Costa Rica's immigration authority (Migración) or a Costa Rican consulate; proof of onward travel is commonly required.
- Costa Rica ↗Rental cars require mandatory local liability insurance, often not included in online quotes: check the full price before booking.
- Costa Rica ↗Do not feed wildlife, including monkeys and coatis; it is illegal and harmful.
- Costa Rica ↗Buy national park tickets (Manuel Antonio, Poás, Irazú and others) online from SINAC before you go; several parks do not sell at the gate and cap daily numbers.
- Central Valley ↗SJO (Juan Santamaría) is in Alajuela, about 20–30 min from central San José; most international arrivals land here.
- Central Valley ↗The valley floor sits around 1,100–1,200 m; nights are cool (10–15 °C) and rain is common May–November.
- Central Valley ↗San José traffic is heavy on weekdays; drive outside 07:00–09:00 and 16:00–18:30 when you can.
At a glance
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Area
- 200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²)
- Exact area not published (check).
- Established
- 2001
- Best months
- —
- Permits
- Not needed
- Base
- San José
The Aguacate Mountains Biological Corridor, established in 2001, links several protected zones in central Costa Rica, offering mixed rainforest, cloud forest and agricultural landscapes where visitors can see primates, sloths, felids and abundant birdlife, especially hummingbirds, while supporting local communities.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2001.
Size and age
200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²) · national park since 2001
Exact area not published (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: San José.
Why go
- Explore a mixed landscape of rainforest, cloud forest and agricultural mosaics.
- Spot a variety of primates, sloths and over a dozen hummingbird species.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- Jandry, cooler
- Febdry, cooler
- Mardry, start of heat
- Aprdry, warm
- Mayearly rains possible
- Junrainy season begins
- Julheavy rains, mud
- Augheavy rains, mud
- Seprainy, possible landslides
- Octdry, cooler
- Novdry, pleasant
- Decdry, cooler
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White‑faced capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeysAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Three‑toed and two‑toed slothsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Jaguar, puma, ocelotAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Hundreds of bird species, including >12 hummingbirdsMar–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From San José
Drive via Route 27 and Route 126; park at the trailhead near Berlin de San Ramón.
≈1 h
Open the page →
From Guanacaste (Liberia)
Drive north on Route 1 then east on Route 126; longer route, ≈4 h.
≈4 h
Open the page →
From Public bus
Take a bus to San Ramón, then a local taxi or bike to the trailhead.
≈2–3 h total
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Trailhead near Berlin de San Ramón | Access point for Butterfly Gate and Mea Culpa trail network. | Open to public; parking limited. |
| Cerro Tinajita Natural Reserve | Bird‑watching area with guided walks. | Guided tours only. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates taken from Wikidata for the corridor centre; trail points from listed sources.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (no formal gate) | Free | person | No fee for self‑guided hikes; guided tours charge separately. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Entry permit no permit
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without SINAC permission.check
- Camping
- Not permitted in the corridor; use nearby towns or designated camps.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use stoves.
Where to stay
Near the park
Vista Mundo Retreat Center
Eco‑lodge with rooms and meals, 10 km (6.2 mi) from trailhead.Eco‑lodge with rooms and meals, 6.2 mi (10 km) from trailhead.
Near the park
Helvetico Chalets
Simple cabins on Route 713.
Safety
Rain‑induced mud on trails medium
Heat at altitude low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Trailhead parking accessible by car; trails are uneven and not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Support local farms by buying coffee at the coop.
- Use guided tours that follow SINAC‑approved routes.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Aguacate Mountains Biological Corridor?
There is no formal entry fee; self‑guided hikes are free, while guided bird‑watch tours cost about $50 per hour.
What are the best hikes in Aguacate Mountains Biological Corridor?
The Butterfly Gate Trail (≈2 h, easy) and the Mea Culpa network (4–6 h, moderate) are popular; Cerro Tinajita offers guided bird‑watch walks.
When is the best time to visit Aguacate Mountains Biological Corridor?
The dry months (January–April and October–December) provide the most reliable trail conditions.
How do I get to the corridor from San José?
Drive north on Route 27 then east on Route 126 (≈1 h); park at the Berlin de San Ramón trailhead.
Are there any permits or restrictions I need to know about?
No entry permit is required, but drones need SINAC permission and camping is not allowed inside the corridor.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go