Palo Verde National Park

Palo Verde National Park is a wildlife refuge located between Tempisque and Bebedero rivers; in this park we can find the biggest area of wetlands in Costa Rica. The name of the park comes from the “palo verde” (Parkinsonia aculeata). In English it is known as horse bean, but its name literally means “green stick” as the leaves, branches and trunk of this thorny shrub are all green, it also has delicate, yellow flowers.
Scientists from all over the world come to study this rich ecosystem that combines rivers, marshland, mangroves and dry forest. During the bus ride, we will travel through a changing countryside of savannas, plantations, and little villages.

This park provides refuge to hundreds of aquatic birds that live there and other ones who stop there during the migrations on wintertime; also we can find a great quantity of mammals and reptiles.

After boarding the boat, that will takes us up the river, we will be able to admire the natural beauty of this park, including wildlife; such as huge crocodiles resting under the sun, groups of monkeys moving quickly between the branches, while our boat takes you in a floating safari adventure through Tropical Forest.

Some birds are resident species plentiful in the area and it is possible to see hundreds of theme like: Anhinga or “Snake Bird” (Anhinga anhinga), Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja), Wood Storks (Mycteria americana), the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), the largest bird in Central America and very endangered. Also we can see the Olivaceous Cormorant (Palacrocorax olivaceus), the White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), Blue Herons and much more.

This trip includes a home made box lunch, regional fruits, canned drinks, natural juices, beers, bottled water and cookies, all this served in the surroundings of this green country site.

Don’t forget to bring light clothing, sun cream, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera... picturing wildlife is very easy in the abundance of this sanctuary of nature.