Reserva Biológica Hitoy-Cerere

Introducing Reserva Biológica Hitoy-Cerere

One of the most rugged and rarely visited reserves in the country, Hitoy-Cerere (795 1446; admission US$6; 8am-4pm) is only about 60km south of Limón (half that distance as the crow flies). The 9950-hectare reserve sits on the edge of the Cordillera de Talamanca, characterized by varying altitudes, evergreen forests and rushing rivers. This may be one of the wettest reserves in the parks system; its evergreen forests are inundated with 4000mm to 6000mm of rain annually.

The reserve is named for two rivers: the Hitoy (which means ‘woolly, ’ referring to its moss-covered rocks) and the Cerere (meaning ‘clear waters’). Indeed, these rivers define much of the landscape in the reserve. Aided and abetted by heavy rainfall, they rush down the side of the mountains and spill off into glorious cascades that make for marvelously picturesque scenery. The surrounding rain forest is dominated by Spanish cedar, wild tamarind, possum-wood and silk cotton tree. But the most evident flora is the thick, soft carpeting of moss that covers the ground and trees alike.

Wildlife is abundant in this moist, humid forest. The most commonly sighted mammals include the woolly opossum, grey four-eyed opossum, tayra, howler monkey and white-faced capuchin. You can hardly miss the Montezuma oropendola, whose nests are suspended from trees like unexpected pendulums. Other ornithological highlights include the keel-billed toucan, spectacled owl and green kingfisher.

The biological reserve is surrounded by some of the country’s most remote indigenous reserves, which you can visit with a local guide.

Although there is a ranger station at the reserve entrance, there are no other facilities. A 9km trail leads south from the ranger station, but it is steep, slippery and poorly maintained.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009