If you want a chance to see about 20% of all registered animal species in Costa Rica, then head on down to the Parque Nacional Los Quetzales—which used to be the Reserve Los Santos and was closed to visitors. Spanning across both banks of the Rio Saverge, the 5,000-hectare rain and cloud forest park is the newest national park in all of Costa Rica and is at the heart of the Cordillera de Talamanca. But it’s not just famous for its wide range of wildlife and ecological habitats. Los Quetzales is also famous for its status in the Cordillera—the park meets heights of 2000m to 3000m above sea level and its high elevation lakes are classified as glacial lakes, even though they’re in the rain forest! There are dozens of hiking trails that take you to every level of Los Quetzales and you can’t help but see endangered and other species everywhere you turn since the park is so small and serves as a migratory post for them from one peninsula to the next. You’ll even see jaguars, tapirs, black guans, squirrel monkeys and any number of marine fish and mammals and probably thousands of different birds. However, this nature lover’s paradise has no facilities and no accommodations—be sure to pack enough water and snacks to last the day, and get back to your hotel before dark.