It may come as a surprise that Costa Rica is quite unique for having over a dozen micro-climates, all of which feature different characteristics. Sometimes you just have to make a turn and wind up in a totally different setting. This is absolutely the case when it comes to San Gerardo de Dota. Once you turn right at the route 2, you’ll find yourself in some Switzerland- or Austrian-like landscape: peaches are growing on the slopes of the valley, the trouts are swimming against the stream and the cabins come straight out of a Grimm-fairytale.
A weekend at Valle de Dota is therefore a surprising retreat; a breakaway from the Costa Rican heat, found a bit further down the road at Dominical. The best part is that tourism hasn’t quite hit this quaint settlement yet. So enjoy it while you can. Here are some fun things to do in the valley:
Quetzal quest
San Gerardo de Dota is home to a large population of one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas, the Resplendent Quetzal. The bird was considered sacred in the ancient indigenous cultures. The climate and good amount of food – mainly avocados, it truly is a hipster bird – provide a great habitat for quetzals. Plus they have a tranquil living here on these lesser visited slopes.
Quetzals reside in this area year round, but you might spot them easier during the months of April and May, which is their breeding season. Keep in mind that while it’s always possible to see a quetzal year round, there are absolutely no guarantees. But if you encounter one, you definitely have a cool and breathtaking experience.
Go early in the morning, preferably with a guide. He oughts to know all the quetzal places in the area, the time of the visits of the birds and will probably have the proper equipment to see them from up close.
More ‘bird nerding’
So perhaps you got enthusiastic about birds – now that you’ve travelled here all the way down to the valley?! The quetzal is not the only pretty fellow you can admire. Around 200 bird species inhabit the misty forests, including tanagers, guans, flycatchers, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, trogons and toucanets. Especially hummingbirds buzz around everywhere. You can see many of them while just walking the around in the gardens or next to the river.
Hiking the park
At the end of the road down the valley you can find the entrance to the park of Valle de Dota. Travellers come to this park to hike through its pristine wilderness. Created in 2005, the national park – which is surrounded by the towering Talamanca mountains – spans 12,355 acres and includes three types of rainforest and 14 different ecosystems. That means lots of greenery to behold.
Once you leave behind the trout farm on your right side, there are two hikes you can make. The one to the right goes all the way to the waterfall (mind your steps though – the road can be bad) and the one to the left leads to a higher path that goes on and on. Bring good shoes though and if you’re not a tough hiker it’s best to turn around once the road gets difficult, since it won’t get better after that point.
That said, the park is a splendid destination for a visit in the early morning – after a quetzal search -, since this area is fine for bird watching too. So don’t forget your binoculars!
Dantica Gallery
This gallery is far from a regular Costa Rican souvenir shop. The things they sell at Dantica Gallery are quite creative and actually usable. A lot of pieces are made of glass or crafted in wood and would make a great present. They also sell the famous Boruca masks over here. You could also go to this place to have lunch next doors restaurant Le Tapir, which serves mainly Italian dishes. Either way a fun stopover on your way up or down!
Trout fishing or eating
Anglers will be happy to hear that trout fishing on the Savegre River (Río Savegre) and nearby area is allowed and in fact a popular hobby. The wild Savegre river flows south of Manuel Antonio National Park into the Pacific Ocean and hosts a lot of fish in the valley. Almost every hotel has them on the menu, with several twists and ways of preparation. There are a lot of sweet mountain hotels and lodges that supply both fine rooms and gorgeous views of green hills and fruit plantations.
We opted ourselves for a stay at the Suria Hotel where we had a superb deal during low-season for $87,- per night for two people with breakfast, dinner and tax included. The place was at the very end of the road – a cosy feeling – quite close to the national park and had a beautiful garden with lots of hummingbirds in it. Wherever you’re planning to settle down for the time being, enjoy your hideaway in the cloud forest!
Here’s where to find those emerald birdies!
