Tapanti is located in the wild and wet country on the rain forested northern slopes of the Talamanca Mountain Range, accessible on a good gravel road in aprox. 30 minutes from Orosi. Although not a large refuge there are reported over 150 rivers within it, which gives an indication of the area´s wetness. It has two "life zones": lower mountain rain forest (lower mountain slopes) and pre-montane rain forest (lowlands skirting the lower slopes).
The forests are home to forty-five species of mammals, including tapir, paca, red brocket deer, eastern cottontail, kinkajou, raccoon, white-nosed coati, white-faced monkey, mountain hare (conejo de monte), agouti and such cats as ocelot, jaguarundi and tiger cat (an endangered species).
You´ll also find some 260 kinds of birds here: Quetzals, sparrow hawks, hawks, goldfinch, doves, hummingbirds, parrots, and falcons, etc. From the ranger´s cabin, a Quetzal nesting site can be seen
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