La Danta Salvaje is a 798-acre (323-hectare) private rainforest reserve located on the Caribbean slopes of Costa Rica’s Central Volcanic Mountain Range. Established in 1989, the reserve shares a 3-kilometer boundary with Braulio Carrillo National Park and serves as a critical buffer zone protecting one of the country’s most ecologically important protected areas.

The reserve is dominated by tropical wet forest and lower montane rainforest, forest types shaped by high rainfall, constant humidity, and cooler temperatures associated with mountainous terrain. These forests feature dense, multi-layered canopies with towering emergent trees, a closed upper canopy, and a rich understory of palms, tree ferns, and broadleaf plants. Epiphytes such as orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and lichens are abundant, creating complex habitats that support exceptional biodiversity.

Approximately 98% of La Danta Salvaje remains primary forest. The Río Corinto flows through the heart of the property, carving steep canyons and feeding multiple waterfalls and year-round water sources essential to wildlife. The rugged terrain and elevation changes create a mosaic of habitats that support species such as jaguars, tapirs, pumas, amphibians, and hundreds of bird species.

As part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, La Danta Salvaje plays a vital role in maintaining forest connectivity from Mexico to Panama, allowing wildlife to move safely between protected areas. The uninterrupted connection between the reserve and Braulio Carrillo National Park preserves natural ecological processes that are increasingly rare, making La Danta Salvaje one of Costa Rica’s most intact rainforest landscapes.