Central Valley · Easy · Circular

Sendero Árboles Caídos, Tapantí

A steep forest loop in Tapantí National Park on Sendero Árboles Caídos, up and over a ridge above the Río Grande de Orosi.

Distance
2.6 km (1.6 mi)
Ascent
214 m
Time
About 1 h 30 min
High point
1,547 m
Grade
Easy

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

0 km1 km2 km1,547 m1,287 m
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Sendero Árboles Caídos, Tapantí
No machine-readable author provided. Mardochaios assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From the car park by the gate at the start of the Oropéndola trail, Sendero Árboles Caídos climbs steeply through very wet, mossy forest, gaining about 200 m to a ridge. It follows the ridge among tall trees, tree ferns and epiphytes, then drops just as steeply to the park's main road, which leads gently back to the car park.

It is 2.6 km round with 214 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy by our measure, but the climb and the descent are steep, muddy and slippery, and SINAC rates the trail intermediate to difficult.

Rain is heavy in every season, so bring waterproofs, spare clothes and boots with a good grip. Swimming in the rivers is not allowed. Further up the main road, which is open only on foot or by bike, a viewpoint looks across to the El Salto waterfall; SINAC closes that road and the viewpoint when landslides threaten.

Tickets are sold only online through SINAC (US$10 for non-residents), and the park is open daily from 8am to 4pm. The entrance is above the village of Orosi, south-east of Cartago. Leave nothing of value in the car.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Tapantí gets heavy rain in every season, and SINAC advises rain gear and spare clothes whatever the month
  • SINAC counts more than 1,200 plant species in the park, with many orchids, ferns and mosses
  • Árboles Caídos climbs and drops about 200 m through steep forest above the Río Grande de Orosi
  • Tapirs, brocket deer, monkeys and coatis live in the park

Getting there

Start: Sendero Oropéndola car park. 9.74958, -83.78169

Directions to the start

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Places to stay nearby

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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.