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Tapanti National Park

23 photos

Mountain forests, rivers, waterfalls, and wildlife is what this park offers. The Tapanti National Park is not very visited by tourists despite being only about 1/2 hour from San Jose and the Central Valley. This is an undiscovered jewel! With its natural mountain forests, the river, waterfall, and the wildlife that lives here. The park's extension is 6080 hectares and its altitude varies from 1220 meters to 2560 meters. The Rio Grande de Orosi crosses the park. There are several scenic trails (from 1 to 4 kilometers long) that visitors can take and enjoy the forests and river.

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Tapantí at a glance

What lives in the park?

The tourism board lists 45 mammal species, 260 bird species and 30 reptile species, with forests that include ancient oaks and alders. Other inventories give higher bird counts, so treat 260 as a minimum.

Dense forest covers a steep mountain slope above a river at the Rio Orosi in Tapanti, Tapanti
Dense forest covers a steep mountain slope above a river at the Rio Orosi in Tapanti.

A forested slope falls to the Orosi River, with rocks and shallow water visible at the bottom of the photo.

Which river runs through Tapantí?

The Grande de Orosi River crosses the area, fed by several tributaries. Its water produces hydroelectric energy and supplies part of the metropolitan area's drinking water. One waterfall is visible in the photo below as a thin white line far down a green valley.

A thin waterfall drops down a steep forested mountainside at Tapanti, Tapanti National Park, Costa
A thin waterfall drops down a steep forested mountainside at Tapanti.

La Picada de Calderón is a trail that the tourism board lists as a historical heritage site, still used by riders on horseback at certain times of year.

Can I visit whenever I want?

No. A news report from January 2023 said the park had closed in August 2022 because of rains and landslides, with no reopening date at that moment. Ranger stations, trail access and viewpoints can close after heavy rain, so check the SINAC page before traveling.

Related pages. For more on water, browse rivers and waterfalls. Bird lovers can start with birds of Costa Rica, and mammals are under mammals. The park is one of many national parks. Nearby, Orosi church shows the colonial side of the same valley. Photos were taken over many years.

Sources

Last reviewed November 6, 2026.