Costa Rica Outdoors & Waves

 Cloud Forest & Highlands  

Cloud Forest

The Cloud Forests of Costa Rica are located at the top or at the middle of its mountain ranges, at elevations between 1400 meters (4600 feet) to 2750 meters (8200 feet), right on the continental divide, where they receive moist winds from the Caribbean Sea year-round, creating a lush and rich forest.

The Cloud Forest are generally covered by low hanging clouds that blanket these ecosystems in a misty fog, sometimes referred to as horizontal rain. Occasionally these layers of fog are so abundant, that even the intense tropical sun has hard times breaking through these thick cloud barriers, and this gives the trees and plants the opportunity to absorb the rich moisture.

The cloud forests are ecosystems rich in fungi, orchids, lichens, ferns and towering trees. Vibrant habitats for insects, birds, amphibians, mammals and reptiles. In Costa Rica, cloud forest´s reserves alone, offer the chance to see 400 species of birds, a must visit ecosystem on any birdwatching itinerary.

Highlands

Although the highlands are similar ecosystems to the Cloud Forest, they are located at higher elevations, starting at 3000 meters (9850 feet). In Costa Rica the Talamanca Mountain Range offers the highest peaks in the country, such as Cerro de la Muerte and Chirripó National Park. This mountain range continues into western Panama, creating an extensive biological corridor named La Amistad International Park, a transboundary protected area managed by the governments of Costa Rica and Panama. This National Park was included by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1983.

The lush highlands are covered in montane forest with a high presence of giant oak trees, bromeliads, orchids, ferns and wild avocado trees that feed a healthy population of Resplendent Quetzals, while at the highest elevations of the Talamanca mountain range, a treeless Paramo is the dominant ecosystem.

The Talamanca highlands are a wonderful refuge from the hot and humid lowlands of the Caribbean coast and from the tropical dry heat of the pacific coast, expect cool days and chilly evenings while you visit this region.

The most popular area for birding in the highlands is San Gerardo de Dota, however Providencia and Copey are birding hotspots too. In this region of Costa Rica most lodges are located between 2100 – 2400 meters (7000 -8000 feet), so altitude is not an issue for wildlife photographers and birdwatchers.