The Montes del Aguacate Biological Corridor (MABC) was established in 2001. The name of this Biological Corridor comes from the mountain range that separates the Central Valley from the Central Pacific, known as Montes del Aguacate. It is composed of igneous rocks, as this is a volcanic area.

The MABC facilitates connectivity between different Protected Wildlife Areas, beginning in the Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve, and includes the Peñas Blancas Mixed National Wildlife Refuge and the Monte de Oro, Atenas Hills, Río Grande de Atenas, and Cerro El Chompipe Protected Zones.

The Aguacate Mountains Biological Corridor provides an exceptional example of small Costa Rican communities living an integrated lifestyle between farming and nature, with many small picturesque farms surrounded by forests. Wildlife is abundant in this region and it is not uncommon to see monkeys, (white-faced capuchins, howlers, or squirrel monkeys), both two and three-toed sloths, small mammals such as coatis, agoutis, jungle cats including jaguars, pumas, jaguarundis and ocelots. This area is also a hotspot for bird watching as it is both a major migration stop for many North America species and also home to hundreds of indigenous species. With over a dozen species of hummingbirds alone, you can sometimes see more than one species in the same hedgerow.

In San José and Guanacaste there are several rent-a-car companies that you can search for online, the prices will vary depending on the size of the car, but a regular 4x4 SUV of 5 passengers may be around $75-$100 per day. Once you have your car, the best way to reach any place on MABC is to look for them on Waze and follow the directions from there, you can also use Google Maps, but Waze is the main app used by locals in Costa Rica, this means users keep it updated to the down to the minute, so if there's any closed roads, traffic police or accidents, you will be informed with enough time and Waze will adjust the route. (Google Maps lacks the users to do this).

The longest a trip you can make is from Guanacaste to Naranjo, and it will take you around 5 hours depending on traffic. If you are in the SJO airport the drive could take you around 20–40 min, Same thing applies to taxi.

If you really want to use a taxi to go from San José or Guanacaste to a spot in MABC be ready to spend the big bucks. Even the cheapest options like Uber may be $1.3 per kilometer. And the regular (Red) taxi may be up to $2 per kilometer. They will also charge waiting time and time spend if you need to spot at a grocery store. A taxi trip from Liberia to Palmares in Uber is even more expensive than taking a flight from LIR (Liberia Airport) to SJO (Alajuela airport) and then a bus to Palmares. (Around $300 in Uber compared to around $200 by plane)

This is the cheapest alternative by a long shot. You could go from San José or Guanacaste to any place in MABC for less than $10. If you are in the SJO airport, the trip costs around $3, and you can expect to travel for 1 hour. The buses will also have a compartment for your lugged free of charge (But make sure to keep an eye on it as it is not guarded by the bus driver, and it is your responsibility to look out for it). The only downside to the bus is that you have to be ready for a long trip, as the longest trip may take up to 6 to 8 hours, counting programmed stops to pick other passengers. Although this is the most extreme example, and most buses will take much less than that depending on where you are going.

Although most people don't know this, you can actually take a plane from Guanacaste to Alajuela and save yourself 3 or 4 hours of drive. You can look online for the companies that will offer this service, and you can expect to pay around $150 for a 1 way trip that usually takes 1.5 hours in total to Alajuela, from there you can pay a bus to San Ramón for $2 that's a 60-min ride or a taxi that's around $50 for a 40-min ride.

Given that the MABC is located in the central west part of Costa Rica, most of the places you may fell interested to visit are fully paved or at least paved until a point where walking is not a problem or the activity you are going there to do. On the other side, the roads in this part of Costa Rica have one of the steepest climbs and most pronounced curves, so you want to make sure that your car is strong enough to go up a big hill and that you are careful while driving. You may also want to find a 4x4 if you want to use your car on the off-road parts of the corridor, mostly in the rainy season.

Something to keep in mind is that most places won't have the best parking for your car, so you may find yourself parking on the open sky or paying for private parking. The bigger cities are usually full of cars, so be patience when looking for a spot.

All the cities and towns are connected by bus routes that are constantly used by the locals to move around and to from home to work and vice versa. This is by far the cheapest way to move around the MABC, by bus you can expect to spend around $3-$5 to get from one city to another, and less than $1 if you are moving inside a city. With this said, tourist interest in using the bus as a means of transportation need to be well-prepared before starting to travel, as missing a bus could mean you have to wait hours for the next one or stay until the next day. Tourist need to understand that the bus system in general for Costa Rica it's comprised of numerous private companies, each with their own routes and terminals. Each company sets its own fares, schedules, and stops, meaning you'll need to research the specific company serving your desired route.

If you like to walk or bike, this is one of the best places to do it in Costa Rica. Given that the sun is not too strong, there are not too many cars and that the roads are well maintained. Due to this, most cycling competencies take place in this zone, including the "Vuelta Ciclista a Costa Rica" and "La Ruta de los Conquistadores". The two most important cycling races in Costa Rica.

This ease of travel on foot and bike makes it, so tourist will choose a city to stay for a season and just walk to the hundreds of different interesting places each city has to offer.

Route 713 between San Ramón and Berlin de San Ramón is a popular cycling route with well paved road. The route over the mountains involves a steep elevation incline and decent, with stunning views, making it a popular route for locals and tourists alike (though only for those in excellent shape!)

If you like to drive your motorcycle, this is one of the best places to do it. Having a mountain bike or a quad means you can get to basically any part in the MABC, including the dificult to reach places. Some dirt roads lead to hidden waterfalls and swimming holes that are way harder to reach by car. Locals sometimes know about secret spots near San Mateo or between Atenas and Orotina. If you ask around a bit, you can find fresh rivers perfect for a mid-ride break. Althoug you have to keep in mind that quads are iligal to drive in higways.

Some of the most important off-roading activities take place in this part of the contrie too. And off-roading groups are formed all year round.

The old Camino de los Aguacates between Atenas and Orotina is famous for its steep climbs, crazy curves, and stunning views. It’s excellent for motorcycles and quads because it's narrow, winding, and very scenic. You’ll get to ride through cloud forest patches, coffee plantations, cattle farms, and open ridges with panoramic views of the Central Valley and Pacific coast.

• 10.012018-84.5054221 Cerro Tinajita Natural Reserve (Reserva Natural Cerro Tinajita). (updated Apr 2025)
• 10.010965-84.4783732 Bird Watching - arranged through Vista Mundo Retreat Center, [email protected]. $50 per hour for a local guide. (updated Apr 2025)

• 10.029188-84.4691863 Butterfly Gate Hiking Trail (This is a scenic hike along a farm track. Take the exit for Calle Zamora. The first minute of this road is drivable. Beyond that it is best to park and get out and walk. This track passes through some high elevation vista, picturesque farmlands and natural areas.). (updated Apr 2025)
• 10.002563-84.4674824 Hiking trails (and waterfall) - maintained by Mea Culpa Restaurant for their patrons (3 km south of Berlin de San Ramon. Park near the HelvaTico gate. The trailhead is to the right of the driveway and leads to over 20 km of stunning trails. If you do not stay or eat at this establishment, please stop and make a donation at Mea Culpa Restaurant for the family that sponsors maintaining this large network of trails.). (updated Apr 2025)
• 10.048796-84.4575315 Madra Verde Nature Preserve. (updated Apr 2025)

El Camino del Cielo y Colibríes

• 10.010662-84.4783741 Vista Mundo Retreat Center (Turn left past the Berlin School. At the bottom of the hill cross the bridge, go about 200 m and look for the sign.), ☏ +506 8752 3999, [email protected]. Check-in: 3 PM, check-out: 11 AM. (updated Apr 2025)

• 10.002115-84.4675022 Helvetico Chalets and Reserve (3 km south of Berlin de San Ramon on Route 713), ☏ +506-8924-5334. Check-in: 3 PM, check-out: 11 AM. (updated Apr 2025)