My Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Southern Zone
The southern zone of Costa Rica is truly unique. Here you’ll find some of the quietest cloud forests and rainforests in the country, rich with incredible flora and fauna. There are also significantly less tourists in the Southern Zone thanks to the chiller climate. What the Southern Zone lacks in tourism though, it makes up for in incredible birding, hiking and wildlife. It’s home to the famous Talamanca Mountain Range, San Gerardo de Dota and Cerro Chirripo–the highest point in Costa Rica! If you’re looking for a quiet Costa Rica vacation that will get you in touch with nature and is perfect for bird watching, come to the Southern Zone.
San Gerardo de Dota is a hidden jewel of Costa Rica’s southern zone. It is a small town at the bottom of the Talamanca mountains in the Savegre River valley. If you’re looking for a peaceful birding vacation, San Gerardo de Dota is for you! 
Los Quetzales National Park is an incredible Costa Rica national park that has 14 ecosystems and three different rainforests. In addition to seeing a quetzales you’ll also spot woodpeckers, sloths and hummingbirds. 
If you’re looking for a challenging adventure, prepare for a hike to the top of Cerro Chirripo. Cerro Chirripo is the highest point in Costa Rica and you can hike it–as long as you are prepared. Reservations are required and there’s almost always a waiting list! 
Find the best birding in Costa Rica by touring the gorgeous rainforests near San Gerardo de Dota! 
The weather in the Southern Zone is still tropical, but maybe not the tropical you will find on popular Costa Rica beaches. The cloud forests and rain forests in southern Costa Rica tend to be damn and moderately tempered. Be prepared for some slightly chilly nights by bringing extra sweatshirts and warm socks!
Southern Costa Rica is incredibly diverse. You’ll find hundreds of bird species, sloths, monkeys and maybe even a puma!
Getting to Costa Rica’s Southern Zone is fast and easy. Only a few hours from the 
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