San Gerardo de Dota is a tiny community in the Talamanca mountains settled in the fresh mist of a mountain valley surrounded by deep cloud forests and filled with massive tropical trees.

The neighborhood is frequently visited by eco-tourists from around the world who come to enjoy the large diversity of plant life, including oak and laurel trees, orchids and bromeliads. 

San Gerardo is also a paradise for birdwatchers as it has more than 170 bird species, including some of the most rare and endangered bird species. It is a special place for watching the resplendent quetzal bird, one of the most ornate creatures of the wild which belongs to the family of Trogonidae. 

In the past only royalty were permitted to wear Quetzal feathers which served as a substitute for the gems and diamonds known to European royalty. Mayan kings wore headdresses of dozens of the long feathers with their stunning iridescence. It is also a great place for freshwater fishers as it encompasses the most pristine rivers and waterfalls. You can enjoy fishing rainbow trout in the crystal waters of the Savegre River. 

The lodges of the area offer great hiking tours where you will have the opportunity to walk through kilometers of forest trails and admire lush virgin woods, rare flora and fauna, refreshing rivers and stunning waterfalls.