Bajos Del Toro cloud forest in Costa Rica is located in Alajuela Province in the central part of the country, about 1 and a half hours from San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.
This private cloud forest reserve is right next to the Poas Volcano National Park, the Bosque de Paz rain/cloud forest Biological reserve, and Juan Castro Blanco National Park.
Although there are plenty of roads in the area that connects Arenal with the wood handcraft town of Sarchi and the cloud forests from the area, Bajos Del Toro cloud forest is a wild place very little transformed by people.
There is a wide range of activities that can be tried in the area, like hiking, sport fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, zip-lining tours high in the forest canopy as well as waterfall rappelling.
This beautiful reserve is the perfect place to be especially if you are a nature lover and like exploring the world around you as this protected area is home to diverse flora and fauna.
Inside the biological reserve is located the wonderful Bajos Del Toro waterfall also known as Catarata del Toro and just a few steps away is the beautiful Poás volcano with its craters.
Besides this famous waterfall inside the park, there are many other small but beautiful waterfalls accessible via hiking trails with different degrees of difficulty known as waterfall hikes.
Actually, Poas Volcano national park has 3 craters: an active one which is the main attraction of the park, an extinct volcano known as Von Frantzuis, and a crater that nestle a beautiful lake, Lake Bolos.
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Getting to Bajos Del Toro cloud forest in Costa Rica
In order to get to Bajos Del Toro protected reserve, you first need to get to the mountain town of Bajos Del Toro.
The only way to get there is by car as there are no buses to get you to this town, nor taxis, that small is the town.
That is why you should consider renting a car from your hotel or rent it only and pick it directly from San Jose International airport.
The good news is that you don’t need a 4×4 to get to this cloud forest as the road is paved and in good condition and with the help of Waze you will reach this protected area easily.
Bajos del Toro Costa Rica
In some parts it might get quite steep and hilly especially around the Zarcero area, but definitely no need for 4×4.
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If you insist on going to Bajos Del Toro by bus, then you should know that the nearest bus station is in Zarcero and from there you have to take a taxi or arrange your transportation with your hotel.
Taxis from Zarcero to Bajos Del Toro cost between 25 to 30 USD and in about 45 minutes you get to the edge of the cloud forest.
Entrance fee and opening hours
Bajos Del Toro cloud forest in Costa Rica is open each day, except for Sunday from 7 in the morning till 5 in the afternoon.
The price for a ticket is about 15 USD per person for an adult and about 8 USD per person for children between 4 to 11 and seniors, while Costa Ricans have a special fee for every national park from the country.
Best time to visit Bajos Del Toro reserve
The best time to visit Bajos Del Toro cloud forest Costa Rica is during the dry season that lasts from December to April.
Don’t expect sunny days and no rain, as cloud forests have their own microclimate extremely humid and short rains almost on a daily basis.
The wet season that lasts from May to November is not that good for exploring the area as the trails might get extremely muddy and walking around is more difficult or quite impossible for some portions of the trails.
What you can see inside Bajos Del Toro protected area
Besides the large variety of plants and animals that are specific to each Costa Rican cloud forest, inside this private reserve you can also see:
- several rivers out of which the most important one is Rio Segundo, which is also among the biggest from the country
- Catarata del Toro situated on Rio Toro Amarillo, one of the most spectacular waterfalls from Costa Rica with a 300 feet drop
- go off the beaten path for spotting wildlife such as pumas, ocelots, monkeys, and a huge variety of amphibians, reptiles, and insects not to mention the impressive number of birds from the area
- Explore the tropical forest and even a volcanic crater while walking around the designated trails from the park
- Visit the Hummingbird Garden, a designated area home to an impressive number of hummingbirds, some of them rare and hard to see in other parts of the country.
An interesting fact about the waters inside the park is their increased level of acidity, things easily to notice especially at the base of waterfalls, where some of the plants appear scorched.
The main reason for this increased activity is the fact that most of the waters inside the park come directly from the nearby Poas volcano.
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- medical safety abroad
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- emergency medical evacuation
- trip interruption -up to $5.000
- travel delay - up to $100/day
What to pack for Bajos Del Toro cloud forest in Costa Rica
This secluded biological reserve and the surrounding area take you about 3 days for full exploration and getting a good sense of the area.
You can even take day trips to the nearby Poas Volcano national park that is just a short drive from Bajos del Toro reserve.
Before leaving your hotel don’t forget to take with you at least the following items:
- A raincoat
- Long pants
- Bottles of water
- A snack for extra energy
- Insect repellent
- Camera and other gears for taking some memorable photos
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Accommodation
After a long day in the middle of nature, the best thing you can do is to rest in a cloud forest hotel with all the facilities and comfort you need but hidden inside the jungle.
El Silencio Lodge Spa Costa Rica is the perfect place to stay, a beautiful eco-lodge included on the select Relais & Chateaux portfolio of independent luxury hotels.
El Silencio Lodge and Spa in Costa Rica
El Silencio Lodge and Spa Costa Rica review
El Silencio Lodge and Spa Costa Rica
El Silencio Lodge and Spa bed
El Silencio Lodge and spa features spacious and clean rooms with an amazing view of the surrounding forest, a great spa and very tasty food.
Conclusion
Bajos Del Toro cloud forest in Costa Rica is the best place to observe nature and the abundance of wildlife from the Costa Rican tropical forest.
The best thing you can do in the area is to hike as there are some very spectacular waterfall hikes in the country.
Catarata del Toro, Blue Falls, and Catarata Rio Agrio are just 3 of the most amazing landmarks from the area which you definitely have to visit while in Alajuela Province.
Book at least 3 days for this part of Costa Rica and enjoy your moments spend far for any city pollution.
Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.
You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.
Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money.
When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.
Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected costs caused by medical events like illness, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.
We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.
Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.
We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.
Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.
We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.
Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.
Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.
Cat
Tuesday 18th of October 2022
Thank you for sharing about Bajos del Toro! I'm interested in your recommendations for an off the beaten track tour to see wildlife like jungle cats and quetzals. Please share your favorite sources :)
Sonia Hash
Sunday 30th of October 2022
Hi Cat,
Seeing wildlife is always a matter of luck, so no tour can guarantee that you will spot your favorite animals. To maximize your chances of seeing wildlife, you have to go deeper into the forest, have patience and be prepared to wait in silance. There are plenty of tours across the jungle conducted by experienced guides, so naming one is quite hard. It is all a matter of luck so spot these elusive animals!