Size: 193,929
Distance from San Jose: 410 kilometers
Dry season: Almost none
Camping: Permitted
La Amistad International Park
La Amistad International Park (PILA) is located in the Talamanca mountain range. Having an area of 193.929 hectares, it�s called �International� due to the fact it extends up to Panama, where its territory protects 207.000 hectares. A great part of the PILA is found in the Talamanca region, which in colonial times was refuge for the indigenous people of Talamanca and other tribes, who managed to flee from the Spanish colonizers� repression. The isolation of the region in those times allowed its inhabitants to safeguard, almost intact, their traditional ways of life. They still conserve many of their customs.
They also have an impressive natural and cultural richness deriving from sharing with the Borucas, Cabecares, Guaimies, Bribris and Terrabas indigenous people, with peasants, and Italian and Chiricano immigrants. The park is surrounded by the Indigenous Reserves Chirripo, Tayni, Telire and Talamanca belonging to the Atlantic watershed; also the Indigenous Reserves of Ujarras, Salitre and Cabagra to the pacific watershed. They are small reserves that created the necessary structures so these communities could adequately participate in the management of resources; this has not only assured long term benefits they proportion, but communities may also develop and are modeled by the benefits of conservation.
There are seven life zones in the park and six transition zones. This is so because Costa Rica acts as part of the biological bridge and filter between South and North America, this being the park�s great value, doted with a great biodiversity where we find an extraordinary amount of habitats, product of the differences in height, soil, climate and topography, such as the paramos, marshes, oak fields, madro�a trees, fern fields and mixed forests.
Its surface includes very humid forests, rain and cloud forests, as well as regions crowned by peaks and rocky massifs with cold marshes restricted to small areas at a great height.
The mixed forests or cloud forests, high and very humid ones cover most of its territory.
La Amistad International Park
Some of the largest trees within the park are the oak, mahogany, nargusta, a tropical hardwood, Mexican elm, dandy, moena, alpine/snow totara and west Indian tree.
Over 263 species of amphibians and reptiles have been observed, among the most common the lizard, salamander anuran. Mammals we find the tapir, caougar, jaguar, white-faced monkey, ocelot, Central American cacomistle, tayra and jaguarondi.
Avifauna, on the other hand is represented by 400 species; the most noteworthy being the quetzal, crested eagle, black guan, acorn woodpecker and the harpy eagle.
We must mention that PILA protects the upper and middle water basins of rivers Ceibo, Cabraga, Mosca, Guineal, Singri and Canasta, whose main collecting river is the Grande de Terraba on the Pacific watershed. On the Atlantic watershed we can mention the rivers Banano, Telire, Coen, Lari and Uren, whose main collecting river is the Sixaola. The watershed�s capacity to lend potable water to neighboring populations is undeniable, mainly if you consider the population is increasing rapidly.
Likewise you should consider that the topographic system favors incursion of oceanic humidity, which means very constant and torrential rainfall, increasing the risk of landslides and floods. Thus it�s great value, justifying the creation and existence of this park; and free from its main threats as are:
-Advance of the agricultural frontier.
-Forest fires have affected the ecosystems of savannas, paramos, marshes, and oak fields, including communities of mushrooms, lichens, mosses and epiphytes.
-Presence of settlers with unsustainable production practices.
-Constant pressure on natural resources by external national and international agents.
-Scarce participation of the communities in the park�s management.
-Increase if the population.
-Absence of sustainable development, long term plans.
Protected Areas 
