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| THE
TOUR FROM GUANACASTE |
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After the pick up at your hotel the drive will start until
reaching Liberia and following the panamerican highway toward the Lagarto River.
From there you will start a bumpy ride to the get to the continental divide
where Monteverde is located.
Once at Monteverde you will drive directly to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
The hike will be done with a naturalist tour guide at a slow pace and you will
be learning about the natural history, the birds, insects and mammals that you
could see at the moment.
Duration:
Full day!!
Wear:
Long pants, comfortable shoes and rain gear.
Bring:
Binoculars, camera and insect repellent..
Included:
Air-conditioned, round trip transportation, lunch, naturalist english speaking
guide.
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| ABOUT
THE RESERVE |
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The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve traverses the Tilarán
Mountain Range, which is part of the Continental Divide. The area has been most
appropriately named Monteverde, “Green Mountain”, since that is
what travellers find at the end of the hour and 30-minutes ride up a long and
steep gravel road that winds up the mountain range due northeast of the Panamerican
Highway. The Preserve is a 5,000 hectare wildlife sanctuary, with plentiful
tree, bird and insect life.
The unique geographic, topographic and climatic conditions
in the Preserve have resulted in a surprisingly high level of biodiversity.
The Four Life Zones found in the Preserve are home to more
than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 500 species of butterflies,120
reptile and amphibian species, 2,500 plant species (among them 420 different
types of orchids and 200 fern species), 500 species of trees and thousands of
insect species.
Among the 400 species of birds, some of the best known species
are: The Quetzal, the Bird Bell, the Black Turkey Bird, the Mot-Mot, the Orange-bellied
Trogon, and the Bare-neck Umbrella Bird. Among the mammals are found the Collared
Wild Pig, the Small Deer, the Margay, the Spider and Howler Monkey, the Coatimundi,
the Kinkajou, the Olingo, the Agouti and the Paca, the Two-toed Sloth, the Armadillo
and the Weasel.
The Preserve is part of a block of protected areas, both private
as well as public, that share borders. On the eastern side, and part of its
northern and southern boundary, the Preserve limits with a protected area known
as Bosque Eterno de los Niños, (Children´s Eternal Forest).
At the entrance to the Preserve, the elevation is 1,500 meters
(4,900 ft). The high point on the Continental Divide is a place known as La
Ventana (The Window) at an altitude of 1,560 meters (5,115 ft.). The highest
point in the Preserve is the Cerro Los Amigos, at an altitude of 1,842 meters
(6,042 ft.). The lowest point is the Valley of Peñas Blancas at 800 meters
(2,624 ft).
At the entrance to the Preserve, the elevation is 1,500 meters (4,900 ft). The
high point on the Continental Divide is a place known as La Ventana (The Window)
at an altitude of 1,560 meters (5,115 ft.). The highest point point in the Preserve
is the Cerro Los Amigos, at an altitude of 1,842 meters (6,042 ft.). The lowest
point is the Valley of Peñas Blancas at 800 meters (2,624 ft).
The Preserve is located on the Pacific Watershed of the Tilarán
Mountain Range. This area experiences a wet or rainy and a dry season. During
the dry season, the country experiences high tourist numbers. This season runs
from December through April, while the rainy season occurs from May to November.
The rainiest months are June, September and October. Temperatures vary year-round
from 45 to 75 F (10 to 25 C) and the months of December and January are the
coldest months. From December to March the climate is windy and cloudy, and
frequently there are light rain showers. The climate changes rapidly and ocassionally
turns cold and humid. In contrast, the Atlantic Watershed, to the east of the
Preserve, has a very short and less pronounced dry season than the Pacific side.
The Pacific Watershed gets some 2500 milimeters (100 inches)
of rain per year, while on the Atlantic side, rainfall may reach 6,000 milimeters
(240 inches). Visitors must bring with them rain gear, strong walking shoes,
warm clothes, and be prepared to wear raincoats part of the time.
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