PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK

Palo Verde National Park is located in the province of Guanacaste, between the river Bebedero and the river Tempisque; approximately 30 km west from the city of Cañas. It was created by Executive Order No. 11541-A of May 30, 1980 and ratified by Law No. 6831 of December 20, 1982. Has an extension of 16.804 hectares.

The National Park Palo Verde consists of a complex of different habitats flooded of plains, bordered by rivers and a row of limestone hills. This area is subject to seasonal floods of great magnitude. During the rainy season and due to the por natural darinage of the plain, the area is flooded by th effect of the combined action of the rain, tides and floods along the rivers Tempisque and Bebedero. Sometimes the whole are became a huge lagoon. The pens and old buildings are a reflection of the life of the savanna bajureño and are a very important element in the cultural heritage of the old Guanacaste.

Palo Verde is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the country; there are approximately 15 habitats that are created by the topography, soil conditions including the drainage, runoff from rivers and the effect of the tides. Among these habitats are lagoons and brackish and freshwater swamps, the zacatonales with brackish mangrove, mangroves, grasslands with a tree called chumico de palo or raspaguacal, coastal scrub forest, mixed deciduous forest, flooded forest and evergreen forest.

One of the most conspicuous specie and that gives the name to the place is the palo verde, a shrub with leaves, branches and trunk of a light green color, which can be found in the swamps and in other habitats. Among the largest trees are the espavel, the ciba, ron-ron, pot-bellied ceibo, guayabon, javillo, cocobolo, the medlar and panamá. In the swamps can be found aquatic plants such as tifa, trista, el gamalote grass and platanilla. In the hills can be found a large amount of cactus, a endemic specie to Costa Rica, there is the lignum-vitae, hardwood tree in danger of extinction. The natural hydrologic system of Palo Verde create the right conditions to create in the zone, the most important concentration of the country and of Central America of aquatic and wading birds, both resident and migratory. From September to march, thousands of egrets, herons, grebes, ibises, ducks and cockerels of water are concentrated in the lagoons and surrounded areas to feed and reproduce.

Birds observed both aquatic and terrestrial, are a total of 279 species, although this number could rise to 300, as at least of other 40 species, have been observed in neighboring places. Pájaros Island, has 2.3 hectares and is located in front of the park, is extremely important because have the bigger community of coroninegro hammer in the country and as a nesting area of glossy ibis, needle duck, pink heron, heron and cattle egret.

In the park nest the luckless suitor, endangered species and remains the only population of scarlet macaws in the Dry Pacific. Some of the most abundant mammals are the howler monkeys, the white-faced monkeys, coatis, deer, red squirrels, porcupines and coyotes. In the river Tempisque have been seen crocodriles up to 5 meters long.

Park facilities and hours
The Palo Verde Ranger Station is open for visitor attention from 8am to dusk, and has potable water and restrooms. There are hiking trails and scenic overlooks throughout the tropical dry forest of the park. The Las Calizas Trail, El Mapache, El Manigordo, and La Venada Trail.

www.costarica-nationalparks.com
http://www.infoweb.co.cr/turismo/parques/palo_verde.html

Our reception desk will be pleased to answer any questions you may have about these or other tours. Tours can be booked through our receptionists prior to or during your trip. 

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