Palo Verde National Park

The first thing that needs to be said about this incredibly diverse national park is that it is a birders paradise. Palo Verde National Park is located at the head of the Gulf of Nicoya, 18 miles from Cañas. This bird specie plagued National Park lodges resident and migrating waterfowl as well as forest birds. Inland birds such as scarlet macaws, great curassows, keel-billed toucans, and parrots may also be seen. A plethora of birds visit this spectacular National Park annually, especially in the dry season when a lot of the North and Central America species travel away from the winter season. Approximately 300 bird species have been recorded in the Palo Verde National Park. Palo Verde homes the only permanent colony of scarlet macaws in the dry tropics. Large flocks of herons including Costa Rica largest nesting colony of black crowned night herons arrive to Pajaros Island in Palo Verde Park. The only nesting site of the locally endangered jabiru stork is found inside this bird heaven Costa Rica Park. Other bird species to be found at Palo Verde are spoonbills, egrets, ibis, grebes, Black-necked Stilt, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Snail Kite, American Widgeon, Northern Shoveler, and Blue-winged Teal.

This interesting National Park simultaneously holds habitats of wetlands and tropical dry forest. The type of tropical dry forest found at Palo Verde Park is one of the very few remaining in the world. The habitat simultaneity found at Palo Verde is caused by the floods the Tempisque River carries over the dry tropical forest. It is said that this diverse national park contains about 15 different habitats mostly created by the unique topography it has, from the floodwaters, natural drainage, the overflow of the rivers around it, and the tide effects it receives. Some of the areas this beautiful national park has are: deciduous and evergreen tropical dry forest, lagoons, seasonal grasslands, brackish and fresh water wetlands, mangrove swamps, and tidal estuarine ecosystem of the lower Tempisque River.

The best time to visit this unusual and astonishing national park is during the dry season, especially from the months of September to March when huge flocks of migratory and endemic birds visit it. The dry season also increases the possibilities of sighting birds and other wildlife animals as they all tend to gather around the remaining lakes and marshals. It will only take some patience, stillness, and quietness of your part in order for you to sight incredible bird and mammal species on this magical area of Costa Rica. Birds are to be found in great numbers during the rainy season, but the downside is that large portions of the park are flooded. This Costa Rica Park has well maintained trails that lead to tropical forests, marshals, and overlooks to lagoons. Other trails lead to limestone caves and large waterholes. About 150 tree species have been recorded here including many endangered tree species.

So pack your binoculars, bug spray, light cloths, your sun protection and book yourself a tour to Palo Verde National Park and visit one of Costa Rica’s best bird watching destination.