Grecia Forest Reserve (Bosque del Niño)

Forest and water together are life
​Grecia Forest Reserve is located in the foothills of Póas Volcano, approximately 8.6 miles (14 km) north of the city of Grecia, specifically in San Isidro, 2.4 miles (4 km) north of Calle Rodríguez School.
It has a maximum elevation of 8366 feet above sea level (2550 m s.n.m.), recording a minimum temperature of 46.4 Fahrenheit (8 ° C) and maximum 60.8 (16 ° C) and an average rainfall of 10.5 feet (3222 mm).
 
The reserve is of great importance for the conservation of water resources of the cantons of Grecia, Póas and Valverde Vega; as well as soil conservation. It also protects one of the redoubts of forest, part of the buffer zone of Póas Volcano National Park.
 
The site is one of the few places in the canton of Grecia for recreation and training of groups of schools, colleges and universities, functioning as an outdoor classroom. Its annual visitation is about 6500 people, mostly national inhabitants from nearby villages.

​Grecia Forest Reserve was established by Law No. 5463 of January 25, 1974, with an area of 2611 hectares, in order to preserve the area where they are originated the water sources that supply the population of Grecia and other cantons of the region.
 
In 1979 the State acquired an estate of 40 hectares within the Forest Reserve which was called Bosque del Niño, because on September 9, 1979, 8 hectares were reforested with pine, cypress and eucalyptus by children from neighboring communities, which coincided with the celebration of the International Year of Children.
 
Most of the Reserve are privately owned farms, many of which were pastures that are now covered by secondary forest. In some of these properties, including the Bosque del Niño, were made pine and cypress plantations that have never been exploited. 

Opening hours

The Bosque del Niño sector of Grecia Forest Reserve, remains open Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, including holidays.
 
 

Entrance Rates

  • ¢ 600 13+ national and resident visitors.
  • ¢ 500 national and resident children (2 to 12 years old)
  • $ 5 Non-residents over 13 years.
  • $ 5 Non-residents Children (2 to 12 years old)
  • ¢ 500 domestic visitors and residents of primary and secondary education institutions, educational tours organized by schools must be previously coordinated with the Administration of protected wilderness area.
  • Students of higher education must cancel the fare for domestic or non-resident visitors, over 13 years.
  • Children under 2 years of age, nationals and residents over 65 years, do not pay entrance fee.
  • $2 Camping right.

Services

Bosque del Niño Sector offers visitors three trails: Los Pinos Trail  2624 feet (800 m) in length, it presents geographical features suitable for all age group tours. The Panorama Trail with 5905 feet (1800 m) of irregular topography and Carboneras Trail with 1968 feet (600 m). There are two other trails but located on private property that require the owner's permission to be used by visitors. They are the trail to the Póas Volcano, 16404 feet (5000 m) of steep climb, reserved for people of great physical condition and Las Cascadas trail 2952 feet (900 m) long, which bears his name because it ends in a waterfall of 82 feet (25 m) height.
 
The sector has panoramic sightseeing places for viewing the Central Valley; it also offers green areas for recreation and picnic areas with grills and ranches fitted with tables.
 
There are in place basic services such as sanitation, potable water and information by the staff. It has a place for different activities and outdoor sports.
 
Attractions
 
Forest: according to Holdridge classification, the Reserve is part of Rain Forest Life Zone. Timberline includes several species such as ciprecillo (Podocarpus oleifolius), lorito (Winmania pinnata), yellow quizarrá (Ocotea stenosaura), yas (Persea schiedeana), quizarrá quina (Nectandra glabrescens), sweet cedar (Cedrela tonduzzi), ratoncillo (Rapanea pellucido - punctata), oak (Quercus sp.), among others.
 
In the coniferous and alder forest there are species of cypress (Cupressus lusitanica), pine (Pinus sp.) and alder (Alnus acuminata).
 
Fauna: Wildlife is represented by opossum (Zorro Pelón, Didelphis marsupialis), four eyes fox (Philander opossum), zorricí (Metachirus nudicaudatus), balsa fox (Caluromys dervianus), common armadillo (Dasypus novemcitus), three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus), colmenero bear (Tamandua tetradactyla), common rabbit (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), and porcupine (Coendou mexicanus). Other rare species include tolomuco (Eira barbara), the weasel (Mustela frenata), jaguarundi (león breñero , Herpailurus yaguaroundii), caucel (Leopardus wiedii), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), among others.
 
The site presents ideal climatic conditions for conducting outdoor activities in harmony with nature; also on the way to reach the reserve you have the opportunity to observe various productive activities carried out in the canton of Greece. 
  • It is recommended to bring warm clothing, rain protection and proper shoes for hiking in the mountains.
  • For camping it is required that the visitor has all the necessary implements and enter before 4 p.m.
  • It is important to note that, in Bosque del Niño Sector the following are not allowed:
  • Being drunk and consuming or using drugs in the park.
  • Entering with animals or pets.
  • Removin stones, plants or other natural resource of wilderness.
  • Smoking (Law No. 9028).
  • Throw garbage.
  • Entering with bikes, ATVs or other vehicles.
  • Hold high volume recorders, megaphones or any sound equipment and instrument.