Page 4 - BIJAGUA TOURIST GUIDE

Introduction
Birdwatching
Bijagua is a paradise for bird watching thanks to its forests, ecosystems, altitudes and the climatic conditions that are influenced by the Caribbean slope and the Pacific. They make this area a top spot due to the number of species present. It is interesting to note that in addition to seeing rainforest birds and intermediate zones, dry forest birds such as the Toledo, which can be seen in the lower parts of the park, can also be seen here. The Bijagua area offers ecological connectivity between the Tenorio Volcano National Park, Tenorio Protected Zone, Miravalles Volcano National Park, and Miravalles Protected Zone, which constitute the Tenorio Miravalles Biological Corridor (located in the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area, it covers an area of 395,046.14 hectares, which is equivalent to 7.73% of the national territory).
Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)
The tourist development center of Bijagua is a magnificent place to see tapirs, after Corcovado. In Bijagua, tapirs live in the rainforest, but they can also cross the street in search of their habitat: it is common to see them near farms and eating what farmers have planted. For biologist Esteban Brenes, co-founder and director of the Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation, there is no better community in the world to see tapirs than Bijagua.
They are observed near Cerro de la Muerte and in Corcovado National Park, but a few years ago the tapir was declared the emblematic animal of the Tenorio Miravalles Biological Corridor. Every year during the first week of September, a Tapir Festival is held with to attract visitors, to promote tourism and the conservation of the Tapirus bairdii or tapir.
Tourist activities
Bijagua has numerous hectares dedicated to vegetable plantations and dairy cattle ranching. There are many integral and agro- ecological farms dedicated to rural community-based tourism that have been awarded Blue Flag status, promising not only ecological adventures that allow you to experience the local culture, but also the opportunity to taste and get your hands on a few kilos of its
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