Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte National Park

The Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte National Park (PNTMM) has an area of 58,495 ha.

The sector corresponding to the PNTMM is characterized as one of the rainiest places in Costa Rica, with an average annual rainfall of over 6,500 mm (0,255 inches), and even up to 8,000 mm (0,315 inches) per year. It contemplates heights between 700 and 3491 meters (2.296 feet to 11.453 feet) above sea level and protects a great variety of ecosystems such as moorlands, peat bogs, swamps, unforested savannahs, jungle forests and cloud forests, the latter basically consisting of tall oak groves.

It has five different life zones: very humid premontane forest, premontane pluvial forest, low montane rain forest, montane forest and subalpine rain moorland.

The topography combined with high rainfall on the site facilitates the presence of more than 150 rivers, providing goods and services for the Costa Rican society (regulation of climate and microclimates, associated flora and fauna, water supply, food, tourism and hydroelectric power). The Reventazón and Pacuare rivers are born in the high areas of this national park. From the Reventazón River basin, the water resource is used for human consumption in the Greater Metropolitan Area, supplying approximately half a million inhabitants. Likewise, within this basin, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute has 4 hydroelectric plants, showing the strategic importance of the park resources for the development of the country.

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​The Tapantí Macizo de la Muerte National Park was created by Executive Decree No. 28307 of November 19, 1999; due to the merger of the Río Macho Forest Reserve (created in 1964) and the Tapantí National Wildlife Refuge (created in 1982).

The PNTMM is part of one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world and together with the rest of the Talamanca mountain range, it constitutes the largest forest in Costa Rica. This site was declared by UNESCO in 1982, as La Amistad Biosphere Reserve and World Natural Heritage Site in 1983. It also includes part of the Talamanca Peatlands, designated as a Ramsar Site on March 7, 2000.
Office hours
The Tapantí National Park is open from Monday to Sunday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, including holidays. The last entry is made at 3:00 p.m.

 
Fees
¢ 800 national visitors and residents over 13 years of age.
¢ 500 national and resident children (age 2 to 12 years).
$ 10 Non-resident visitors over 13 years old.
$ 5 Non-resident children (age 2 to 12 years).
¢ 500 national visitors and residents of primary and secondary education, in educational tours organized by educational centers and that have been previously coordinated with the Administration of the protected wild area.
 
Higher education students must pay the established fee for national or non-resident visitors, over 13 years of age.
 
Children under 2 years of age, as well as national visitors and residents over 65 years of age do not have to pay for the entrance.
​Serices
The park has four trails and a viewpoint that allow you to discover the local flora and fauna, as well as the beautiful waterfall "El Salto". Several ranches with potable water and services are located on the Oropendola Trail, next to the Rio Grande de Orosí River or at the entrance to Sendero al Mirador trail.
 
Attractions
 
Flora:
 
The flora present in the PNTMM, is one of the richest and most representative of Costa Rica. The floristic inventory of the PNTMM counted the presence of 1,229 species of plants, counting with a great variety of orchids, ferns and mosses and 199 species of fungi and lichens. (INBio 2006)
 
Fauna:
 
You can see a lot of birds, as well as tapirs, mountain goats, monkeys or coatis.
Due to the high rainfall it is recommended to bring umbrellas or capes, as well as extra clothes at any time of the year; in addition to repellent, sunscreen and hat.
 
It is allowed to enter with food, but not grills and charcoal. 
 
It is important to keep in mind that the following is not allowed in the Tapantí National Park:
•  Swim in the river or streams.
•  Enter in a state of intoxication, as well as ingesting or consuming drugs.
•  Enter with pets.
•  Enter with vehicles or motorcycles that generate excessive noise or without a silencer.
•  Extract stones, plants or other natural resources from the wild area.
•  Travel outside trails or areas intended for public use.
•  Smoking (Law No. 9028).
•  Littering.
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