Ecoterra Costa Rica Hiking Juan Castro Blanco National Park

Juan Castro Blanco National Park sits on the plains of San Carlos, ninety minutes by road from La Fortuna, at more than two thousand metres above sea level. At that altitude, cloud forest covers the slopes and temperatures stay between sixteen and twenty-two degrees through most of the year. The park is the origin point for the main rivers of Costa Rica's northern region, which is why it carries the informal name Parque Nacional del Agua — the National Park of Water.

The guided hike follows a three-kilometre trail and takes around two hours. A naturalist guide leads the walk, explaining the ecology of this highland forest and its role in supplying freshwater to the region. The trail is a reliable place to look for the resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), a large bird with iridescent green and red plumage that lives in cloud forest at this elevation. March and April are the months when quetzal sightings are most consistent, as the birds are active during the breeding season.

At the end of the hike, participants eat lunch inside the park before the return journey to La Fortuna. Departure and return are both from La Fortuna, so no separate transport arrangement is needed.