Walking along the river Rio Grande in Tapanti National Park is a journey into some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Established in 1982, Tapanti is a part of Costa Rica’s extensive system of protected areas that work to stop deforestation, contamination and poaching and promote education, protection, research and sustainable tourism. Tapanti consists of 144,058 acres, with the highest elevation sitting about 8,000 ft. The temperature varies between 7.5-20 C (32-68 F) throughout the year, and receives over 200 inches of rain annually.
The park is an integral part of the country, specifically the Rio Grande of Orosi which flows through the park and is damned forming Lake Cachi, providing Costa Rica with 20% of its electricity and 50% of the potable water in the surrounding metropolitan areas.
Nevertheless, Tapanti is a sparsely visited park, due to its location, rainy weather and few easily accessed trails. With that said, Tapanti sweeps you up in its Jurassic-like setting. Two entrance stations lead you into Tapanti. The Piltier station is located 12km South of Orosi, and is the park’s main entrance for hiking and river access. A picnic area is available near the river. The Piltier station has limited services including bathrooms, potable water and wildlife displays. Wheelchair accessible, the station charges $10.00 for a non-resident and $1.00 for children 6 and under.
The other station, La Esperanza del Guarco, is reached by the interamericana highway, and holds both a Biological Research center and lodging option for 15 people. Hiking and bird watching are popular activities. The lodge must be booked in advance.