National park · Costa Rica
Los Quetzales National ParkParque Nacional Los Quetzales
Go for a half day off Highway 2: walk the 4 km (2.5 mi) Ojo de Agua dirt trail early (before 9:00) for quetzals, or the short paved loop if it is raining; skip it as a destination on its own and pair it with San Gerardo de Dota.Go for a half day off Highway 2: walk the 4 km (2.5 mi) Ojo de Agua dirt trail early (before 9:00 AM) for quetzals, or the short paved loop if it is raining; skip it as a destination on its own and pair it with San Gerardo de Dota.Go for a half day off Highway 2: walk the 2.5 mi (4 km) Ojo de Agua dirt trail early (before 9:00) for quetzals, or the short paved loop if it is raining; skip it as a destination on its own and pair it with San Gerardo de Dota.Go for a half day off Highway 2: walk the 2.5 mi (4 km) Ojo de Agua dirt trail early (before 9:00 AM) for quetzals, or the short paved loop if it is raining; skip it as a destination on its own and pair it with San Gerardo de Dota.
- 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
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
approximate
Established
2006
Best months
Jan–Apr
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
- 50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
- About 5,000 ha (50 km²) of the Los Santos Forest Reserve was carved out to create the park in 2006; the surrounding reserve is far larger (check).
- Established
- 2006
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Cartago
Los Quetzales National Park protects about 50 km² of high cloud forest on the Pacific slope of the Cordillera de Talamanca, carved out of the much larger Los Santos Forest Reserve in 2006 and sitting on the northeast edge of Highway 2, the Carretera Interamericana Sur, 59 km south of Cartago. It is a small, single-gate park: a ranger station, a short paved loop and the 4 km Ojo de Agua dirt trail, with the Savegre valley and San Gerardo de Dota below it. The draw is the resplendent quetzal and the wider highland bird list — over 200 species recorded in the area — but the birds are not confined to the park boundary, and most quetzal walks run on private reserves and lodge land in the valley rather than inside the park itself. Treat it as a half-day stop on a Highway 2 crossing or a base for two nights in San Gerardo de Dota, not as a standalone destination.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2006.
Size and age
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²) · national park since 2006
About 5,000 ha (50 km²) of the Los Santos Forest Reserve was carved out to create the park in 2006; the surrounding reserve is far larger (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Cartago.
Why go
- A high-elevation cloud forest on the Pan-American Highway, 59 km (37 mi) south of Cartago — no 4WD track needed to reach the gate.A high-elevation cloud forest on the Pan-American Highway, 37 mi (59 km) south of Cartago — no 4WD track needed to reach the gate.
- Resplendent quetzals are the draw, and the park sits inside the wider Los Santos Forest Reserve, so the forest continues well beyond the boundary.
- Two trails only: a short paved loop and a 4 km (2.5 mi) dirt trail, so you can decide in ten minutes how much time to give it.Two trails only: a short paved loop and a 2.5 mi (4 km) dirt trail, so you can decide in ten minutes how much time to give it.
- Cool air at 2,000–3,000 m — a break from the heat of the coast and the Central Valley.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctAvoid
- NovCaution
- DecGo
- JanDriest window; clear mornings, cold nights
- FebDry, bright; quetzal nesting season
- MarDry and clear; best birding
- AprDry tail; quetzal chicks fledge
- MayRains return; trails greasy
- JunWet; fog most afternoons
- JulWet; occasional dry spells
- AugWet; mud on the dirt trail
- SepWettest month; heavy rain, poor visibility
- OctWet; landslides possible on Highway 2
- NovRains easing; still muddy
- DecDrying out; cold, often clear mornings
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resplendent quetzalAll year · Present year-round; most visible in the dry months when they nest and feed in fruiting trees (check). | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Highland birds (trogons, hummingbirds, tanagers)Dec–Apr · Best on clear, dry mornings. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Venomous snakes and poison-dart frogsAll year · Present in the forest; watch hands and feet. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| MosquitoesMay–Nov · Worse in the wet months; long sleeves help. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | 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 Cartago
Drive south on Highway 2 (Carretera Interamericana Sur) toward Pérez Zeledón; the park road is on the right.
1.5 h
Open the page →
From San José
Highway 2 through Cartago and over Cerro de la Muerte; no public bus stops at the gate, so drive or take a shuttle.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From San Gerardo de Dota
Twisty mountain road up to Highway 2, then a short drive to the entrance.
20–30 min
From Central Valley plan
Where this park fits with Poás, Tapantí and the other highland stops.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 2 entrance and ranger station | Gate, small parking area, trailheads and the start of both walks. | Open with a ticket; no shop or cafe. |
| Ojo de Agua trail | The 4 km (2.5 mi) dirt trail through primary forest, with streams and a small waterfall.The 2.5 mi (4 km) dirt trail through primary forest, with streams and a small waterfall. | Open on foot; slippery after rain. |
| Paved loop | A short, easy paved path near the entrance for a quick look at the forest. | Open on foot; suitable for most visitors. |
| Savegre valley and San Gerardo de Dota | The village and lodges below the park, on the Savegre River. | Open; private land, lodges and reserves. |
Sketch map
- 1Park entrance on Highway 2 · Gate≈9.586, -83.907Approximate; the gate sits on the northeast edge of the park.Map ↗
- 2Ranger station and trailheads · Headquarters≈9.586, -83.907Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Ojo de Agua trail · Trail≈9.580, -83.910Approximate; 4 km (2.5 mi) dirt route through the forest.Approximate; 2.5 mi (4 km) dirt route through the forest.Map ↗
- 4San Gerardo de Dota · Village≈9.550, -83.800Approximate; lodges and the Savegre valley below the park.Map ↗
- 5Cerro de la Muerte high point · Summit≈9.560, -83.750Approximate; the highway crosses the high ridge south of the park.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 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.
Approximate positions around the Highway 2 entrance and the Savegre valley, for orientation only.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (foreign adult) | CRC 1,000–2,000 | person | 2026 estimate; Costa Rican residents pay less. Confirm the current rate at the gate (check). |
| Park entry (foreign child) | CRC 500–1,000 | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Guided quetzal walk from San Gerardo de Dota | CRC 25,000–45,000 | person | 2026 estimate; usually a 5:30–6:00 start with a local guide (check). |
| Parking at the trailhead | CRC 0–2,000 | vehicle | Small roadside lot; sometimes free, sometimes a few hundred colones (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Guided birding walk no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CRC 1,000–2,000
- CRC 500–1,000
- CRC 25,000–45,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on SINAC — Parque Nacional Los Quetzales before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on the trails
- The forest is dense and easy to get lost in; both marked trails are short and signed.
- No feeding or approaching wildlife
- Keep distance from quetzals and other birds; do not use playback to pull them in.
- No drones
- Not allowed without permission from the park authority (check).check
- No camping or fires
- There is nowhere to sleep inside the park and no store; bring water and take rubbish out.
- Cold and rain gear
- Elevation keeps temperatures cool and rain is common; a coat and boots are the practical kit.
Where to stay
Near the park
San Gerardo de Dota lodges and cabins
Eco-lodges and cabins a few kilometres off Highway 2 on narrow mountain roads; the usual base for quetzal walks.
Near the park
Roadside cabins on Highway 2
Simple rooms and campgrounds close to the park boundary for a one-night stop.
Safety
Slippery, muddy trail medium
Cold and wet weather medium
Snakes and toxic frogs low
Highway 2 driving medium
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
- The short paved loop near the entrance is the realistic option for limited mobility; the rest is dirt and uneven.
- No shuttle or wheelchair service inside the park; the ranger station area is the flattest ground.
Visiting lightly
- Hire local guides from San Gerardo de Dota so the valley keeps a stake in the forest.
- Do not use recorded calls to draw quetzals closer; it disrupts nesting.
- Carry out everything you bring in — there are no bins or shops at the park.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Los Quetzales National Park?
Expect roughly ₡1,000–2,000 (about US$2–4) per foreign adult, with children paying less, as a 2026 estimate. Costa Rican residents pay a lower rate. Rates change, so confirm at the ranger station when you arrive.
What are the best hikes in Los Quetzales National Park?
There are two. The Ojo de Agua trail is a 4 km dirt route through primary forest, moderate and muddy after rain, taking 2–3 hours. The paved loop near the entrance is a 30–45 minute easy walk and the better choice in heavy rain.
When is the best time to visit Los Quetzales National Park?
January to April is the driest window and the best birding, with quetzals nesting and feeding in fruiting trees. September and October are the wettest months, with fog, heavy rain and possible landslides on Highway 2.
Can I see a resplendent quetzal?
It is possible year-round but never guaranteed. Quetzals are most often found at first light in fruiting trees, and a local guide from San Gerardo de Dota greatly improves your odds. Do not use playback recordings to draw them in.
Do I need a guide or a permit?
No permit or guide is required for the two marked trails; you pay the entry fee at the ranger station. A guide is optional and useful mainly for finding quetzals.
Is there anywhere to stay or eat in the park?
No. There is no lodging, shop or cafe inside the park, so bring water and food. Lodges, cabins and campgrounds are nearby in San Gerardo de Dota, several kilometres off Highway 2.
How do I get to Los Quetzales National Park?
Drive south from Cartago on Highway 2 toward Pérez Zeledón; the park entrance is on the right, about 1.5 hours from Cartago and 2–2.5 hours from San José. Public buses do not stop at the gate, so a car or shuttle is the practical option.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go