San Gerardo de Dota

San Gerardo

Tucked deep within the cloud-shrouded Talamanca Mountains, San Gerardo de Dota is one of the most idyllic valleys in Central America. The minute you turn off Highway 2, you’ll know you’re headed somewhere special. The road descends through emerald pastures, before tracing the curves of the forested mountainsides.

Your destination: one of the area’s simple-but-cozy eco-lodges.

Here, you’ll find yourself free of distractions. Decompress, unload, and sink into the tranquility of the landscape. This is the place to finish that novel, nod off to plaintive birdsong or the gentle gurgles of the Savegre River.

Although these birds are easily observed year-round, they’re especially numerous during the April to May breeding season. You’ll also find dazzling tanagers, trogons, woodpeckers, and hummingbirds.

What to do in San Gerardo de Dota

Expert guides lead wildlife viewing and birdwatching tours. With the help of a spotting scope and their knowledge of the area you’ll navigate the cloud-forest trails with ease.

You can also visit an orchid garden, ride horses, tour a coffee plantation, or fish for trout (fly fishing season is December to March).

For a full day tour, visit Los Quetzales National Park, where you can hike thick montane forest, paramo, and rocky peaks.

What is the Weather Like?

Costa Rica is located in the tropics and close to the equator and is considered a rainforest country with warm temperatures being characteristic throughout the year. There are two well-defined seasons:

Dry Season: December – April
Green Season: May – November

Warm and humid weather is characteristic throughout the year in San Gerardo de Dota. Throughout the wet season there is a fair chance of precipitation. The warmest months in San Gerardo de Dota are April till June with highs around 85ºF and rarely dropping below 66.3°F at night. January till March are the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation. September tends to be the rainiest month.

These averages are changing, please check extended weather forecasts using your favorite weather app prior to departure.

Getting There

San Gerardo de Dota is approximately three and a half hours from San Jose. LANDED can cut that travel time with private charter flights. While San Gerardo de Dota can add texture to any vacation in Costa Rica, it’s ideally paired with visits to Turrialba, the Southern Caribbean, Dominical, and the South Pacific.

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