If you want to hike in one of the last wild areas of central america, La Amistad is the place ! Ever heard of the famous "Valle del Silencio" ?
And with Jaguar Aventuras, you'll hike with a certified local guide !
What to bring : rain gear or poncho (and if possible a cover for your bag), dry clothes for the night and socks for the next day, hiking shoes (ankle boots is better for long hikes), chlorine tablets, hiking poles, binoculars, sunscreen ...
3 days / Sport and adventure
Day one : from Asoprola (1000m) lodge to refuge "Centro Ambienlista Valle del Silencio" at 2500m). The hike is under the trees most of the time and 18kms long. We'll start to hike between the fields and enter the Las Amistad park at Altamira Ranger Station. We'll cross the secondary forest, great for bird watching, then the low altitude primary forest great for animals including puna and jaguar. We'll stop at Casa Coca refuge for a snack then continue to climb the Cordillera. After crossing the Pacific/Caraibe water continental division. We'll finish the day in the humid high altitude primary forest and arrive at "Centro Ambienlista Valle del Silencio".
Day two : light day hike from refuge "Centro Ambienlista Valle del Silencio" to the "Jardin" (natural garden), a 7km loop hike though the wet parts of the valle del silencio to see the "jardin" (natural garden). From there you can see both the Tararia and Panama montains. You'll have the unique feeling of being very far from any form of civilisation, with La Amistad natural wonder all to yourself.
Day three : going back from the refuge (2500m) to asoprola (1000m).
4 days / Discover and night tour
If 1500m in one day is too much for you, or just want to envoy (Pura Vida ! as we say in Costa Rica), we also propose a 4 days hike covering the same itinerary. We'll start later and spend one night at the Casa Coca reguge (1900m) in the middle of the way up. Staying at Casa Coca is also a great opportunity to have a night tour to try to spot nocturnal animals, including Jaguar and Puma.
1 day / Bird watching
If you want to stay at asoprola every night and still have a taste of the wild nature, the Altamira Ranger Station is not far and a 1.4km trail in the forst is family friendly. No guide required for this one, but recommended for a great bird watching (and hearing) experience.
1 night / A night in the nature
The Pitiera ranger station is another refuge, 8km away from Asoprola lodge by 4WD car where you can experience a night in the wild without hiking.
A 2km trail is starting from this station leading to a waterfall.
Day at the Aguas Caliente (volcanic hot water pools)
