The Cerro Coyote preserve encompasses approximately 70 acres on the upper Pacific slope near the Continental Divide in
the Cordillera de Tilarán of northwestern Costa Rica, including one of the final, most northwesterly mountaintops in the chain.
Elevations are between approximately 1200 and 1400 meters in altitude. The Preserve is typical of the Tilarán, with steep
slopes and deep valleys on both sides of the mountain.
Cerro Coyote (Coyote Mountain) serves as a water source and watershed for the Rio Barranca, which flows into the Gulf of
Nicoya not far from Puntarenas. The Preserve straddles both the Pacific and Caribbean sides, thereby encompassing different
life zones.
Cerro Coyote’s climate is similar to other upper Pacific montane areas, such as the famous Monteverde reserve,
which lies just north about 15 miles as the crow flies. The climate is mild—almost Mediterranean—with montane
temperature patterns, seasonal rainfall mostly in the Costa Rican "winter" (May to mid November), and powerful northeast trade
winds. These winds—called "alisios"—are usually at their strongest in December, diminishing in intensity through
April. During the rainy season (May-October), these winds are blocked by warm air masses that develop over the Pacific slope
of which the Preserve is a part, resulting in calm air and rain.
During the dry season, the alisios drive moist air from the Caribbean inland and up the mountain slopes, where the
air cools and clouds form. These clouds produce regular rain on the Caribbean-facing slopes resulting in the cloud forest
environment in places like nearby Piedades Norte, Cerro Azahar, and Los Angeles. The clouds and mists sometimes get as far
as the lower Cerro Coyote Preserve, and often a stream of clouds passes through an east-west wind alley just to the north
of Cerro Coyote, where clouds hit the much drier Pacific slope and then suddenly disappear.
The top of Cerro Coyote is windy and cloudy more than other parts of the preserve, resulting in a small section of wind
swept elfin forest on the exposed Atlantic side, which is Tropical Lower Montane Wet Forest. The rest of the forest here is
Tropical Premontane Wet Forest. Both areas have abundant epiphytic life, including ferns, bromeliads, and orchids. Some larger
trees are buttressed. The climate here is intermediate between Caribbean and Pacific.
During December and January, the trade winds are sometimes joined by cold fronts, resulting in extremely strong winds and
cold temperatures, especially at night. These winds often blow down trees or rip off branches or leaves.
Below the top of the mountain forested areas are mostly Tropical Premontane Moist Forest, with more lush areas following
the creek and spring areas in the valleys. Epiphytic life is less common than at the top of the mountain. Bird and animal
life generally increases in diversity around the creeks and springs, especially in valleys sheltered from the wind during
the dry season.
Just over the other side of Cerro Coyote, the Caribbean weather pattern predominates. In general, the Caribbean side of
the Tilarán Mountains receives twice as much rain as the Pacific slope. This results in a much more lush type of forest. Generally,
the lower down on the Pacific side, the climate becomes drier and more seasonal. It is often cloudy and misty in Piedades
Sur or San Ramon, while being dry and sunny at Cerro Coyote. These communities have extensive cloud forest areas that can
easily be visited from Cerro Coyote.
The rocks and soils of the Cordillera de Tilarán were formed 2-65 million years ago, with most of the surface rocks being
relatively young (about 2-5 million years). Soil types include rhyolite, which looks like a light gray sand and was formed
by volcanic extrusion; dark colored volcanic soils rich in organic matter from eroded ash and rock deposits; and eroded areas,
especially on steeper slopes, that display heavy red-orange clay that is low in fertility.
The Cerro Coyote Preserve includes three broad life zones: highly seasonal (dry-wet) forest on the Pacific slope; cloud
forest on the mountaintop; and wet rain forest on the Caribbean side (up and over the mountaintop). In addition there are
open, savanna-like areas of the Pacific slope sparsely populated with trees that were formerly used for pasture. Many of these
areas are being reforested, or being allowed to return to a natural state of forest creation and succession.
