Dota is the 17th canton of the province of San José in Costa Rica. Together with León Cortés and Tarrazú, it forms the “Zone of the Saints”, recognized for its incredible biodiversity, its cool climate and the friendliness of its people.
And in Dota, precisely, there is an extraordinary place that seems to have been created exclusively to connect with the magic of nature: San Gerardo.
It´s a town located about 88 km south of the capital, with all the amenities to receive domestic and foreign tourists. It´s very close to Los Quetzales National Park, “hidden” along the Savegre River Valley.
In San Gerardo de Dota, visitors can perform a series of activities such as:
Bird watching tours:
For bird lovers, San Gerardo de Dota is ideal for observing, in their natural habitat, dozens of species. But its most special feature is the observation of the wonderful Quetzals.
This rich and educational experience is offered in two options: 2 or 4 hours “pajareando” (Local expression that means: enjoying bird watching). Thereby, you will walk through trails, gardens, along roadsides and rivers, in search of a great variety of species such as tanagers, warblers, nuthatches, woodpeckers, quetzals, blackbirds, hummingbirds and much more, including the unique and endemic species of the highlands.
Paramo’s Tour:
The Páramo is located at the highest points of the mountain range. Upon arriving at the Páramo, you will be at the top of the third highest peak in Costa Rica: the Bella Vista Hill (at 3491 MASL), from where you will be able to observe several volcanoes and other peaks of interest.
The landscapes of the Páramo, are completely different from the rest of Costa Rica. They are cold, wet, rugged and very windy landscapes. The vegetation, composed of mosses, grasses and shrubs, is of low altitude.
And of course, as the fauna is adapted to the low temperature conditions, you can see rabbits, salamanders and even pumas.
This great adventure, starts at 8:30am at the reception of Mirador de Quetzales and lasts 3 full hours.
Night tours:
Can you imagine enjoying the cool of the night, under the stars, with clean air, listening to frogs, owls and insects? It´s truly mind-blowing. We are talking about a two-hour adventure in the dark peace of the Cloud Forest (Bosque Nuboso).
In San Gerardo you can also go hiking, trout fishing, and visit the waterfalls.
If you´re already convinced to visit San Gerardo de Dota, now let us tell you where to stay.
At Mirador de Quetzales we have special packages for honeymoons and birthdays. We also offer day passes and bungalows according to the group of people visiting us. Contact us, and live a unique and unforgettable experience.
