Page 93 - CARIBE TOURIST GUIDE

Hitoy Cerere
Forms part of the La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its elevation ranges from 100 meters to 1025 meters above sea level, stretching to Cerro Bitárcara.
It encompasses two life zones and a transition zone between them: very humid tropical forest and premontane rainforest. As a result of the high rainfall, the area is crisscrossed by countless very stony rivers that are fast-running and dotted with waterfalls, some of which reach several tens of meters in height.
Its name is derived from two indigenous words (Bribri): Hitoy, which refers to the green “blanket” that covers everything in this park, and Cerere, which means clear water, due to its abundant waterways. This reserve has not been studied in depth and is not frequently visited because of its difficult access due to the geological formation of the terrain. In addition, the climate is very wet.
Flora and fauna
The forests are evergreen, multi-layered, very dense and biologically complex. Due to environmental factors such as soil, slope, drainage and wind exposure, diverse habitats have developed that show marked differences in tree height and forest composition. The elevation of the forest stand varies, although, in general, it is quite high. Most of the trees in the upper stratum are more than 30 m, with emergent ones reaching more than 50 m.
Common species include cedro macho, gavilán, maría, ceiba, javillo, guayabón, pilón, indio desnudo and lechoso. Most of the trees are covered by a layer of mosses and lichens, and orchids and other types of epiphytic plants proliferate on the branches. In the undergrowth, tree ferns abound and Selaginella sp. is common at ground level.
The fauna is rich and varied, although most of the species are not easily seen because they live in the canopy or are nocturnal.
The reserve is home to some 40 species of mammals, including some endangered species. Among them are the ocelot, the ceibita, the tapir, the jaguar and the collared peccary. The most easily observed are the tepezcuintles, the agoutis, rabbits, raccoons, coatis, squirrels, the three-toed sloth, the ceibita or serafín de platanar, the philander opossum, otter,
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