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Savegre National Park

In June of 2019 Costa Rica announced the intention to create 5 new national parks including one encompassing the Savegre Watershed and River valley.

high altitude oak forest
Clouds passing in front of the high altitude oak forest above Savegre Mountain Lodge

Some amazing hiking trails are already in place in the mountains above Trogon & Savegre Lodges.  There’s no funding for the park or purchasing the private land but the declaration is a step in the right direction.  Until the new national park is officially created you can enjoy the privately protected Río Savegre watershed on the slopes of Cerro de la Muerte

volcano hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula)
The volcano hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula) is a tiny and only found in the Talamancan montane forests of Costa Rica and western Panama
Savegre Lodge trail map
There are over 30 km of well maintained private hiking trails around San Gerardo de Dota. Savegre Lodge trail map
Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
The call of the acorn woodpecker inspired the voice of the cartoon character Woody the Woodpecker but his appearance was based on the crested head of the Pileated woodpecker
broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)
broad-winged hawks (Buteo platypterus) migrate 3,000 to 6,000 km in the fall from Canada and the U.S. through central America sometimes flying in groups called kettles that can include up to a thousand individuals
angry bird
Sooty thrush (Turdus nigrescens) could be the model for the angry bird
ruddy treerunner (Margarornis rubiginosus)
ruddy treerunner (Margarornis rubiginosus)
Large-footed finch (Pezopetes capitalis)
Large-footed finch (Pezopetes capitalis). I always get a little excited when the Merlin bird ID app says *rare. and *endemic to Costa Rica and Panama I spotted a pair scratching through the leaf litter which is exactly the behavior described in the species account.
Large-footed finch (Pezopetes capitalis)
Wikipedia says Large-footed finches (Pezopetes capitalis) are found in the undergrowth of mountain forests, second growth, bamboo clumps, and scrubby pastures from 2150 m altitude to the scrubby páramo at 3350 m such as Cerro de la Muerte…funny coincidence that’s where we were
Crazy crowd chasing quetzals
Crazy crowd chasing quetzals at San Gerardo de Dota
Sooty thrush (Turdus nigrescens)
Sooty thrush (Turdus nigrescens) is yet another species we saw in San Gerardo that is only found in the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama above 2,200 meters (7,200 feet)
Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) inhabits the oak forest at higher altitudes in Costa Rica’s Talamanca mountains where it feeds mainly on… acorns
Super environmental …please make the next guest use my dirty bedding and towels.
The flame-colored tanager (Piranga bidentata)
The flame-colored tanager, formerly known as the stripe-backed tanager (Piranga bidentata) is actually a member of the cardinal family
Volcano hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula) female
Volcano hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula) female sitting in a window of vegetation
ruddy treerunner (Margarornis rubiginosus)
ruddy treerunner (Margarornis rubiginosus)
El Roble (Quercus bumelioides) de Savegre – Exceptional tree prize 2010
High altitude tropical cloud forest
High altitude tropical cloud forest and oak forest covers the ridges and valleys of San Gerardo
Rufous-collared Sparrow or Andean sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
Rufous-collared Sparrow or Andean sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is famous for having a large variation in calls over its range from Argentina north to Mexico. In Costa Rica they are best known for doing the Hokey Pokey as this little fella shows by putting his right foot in.

Ray & Sue

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Costa Rica National Park Photos
  • Tortuguero Beach – National Park & Sea Turtles Nesting
  • Tortuguero Village & Canals Photos
  • Savegre National Park
  • La Cangreja National Park Photos
  • Carara National Park Photos
  • Irazu Volcano Photos
  • Tenorio Volcano Photos
  • Tortuguero Photos
  • Turrialba Volcano Photos
  • Arenal National Park Photos



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