los arboles cuadrados (the square trees)

Journeyman51

This had been on my list for the two previous visits. As a woodworker I was curious. The hike along a burbling stream was accented with birding. We caught a herd of Toucans in flight! That was really great.The 'Hotel Dog Guide' who chose to join us on the hike left us in the dust. I guess he was not as interested in the birds as we were.

AshleyC285

After reading so many negative reviews, I had marked this off my list, but I'm glad that I didn't. It was a beautiful walk from town through a quiet neighborhood to get to the hotel. I only paid 2$, but I was told that it could have been free if I booked it through my hostel. As long as you don't go in expecting massive groves of perfectly square trees, you'll enjoy a pleasant, easy, beautiful hike through a lovely grotto near a stream. There's a small lookout point, and the "arboles cuadrados" are some cool looking trees. I went in knowing some people were disappointed, and I was pleasantly surprised. Go in with the right attitude, and you'll be treated to a beautiful walk (took me about 40 min and I took my time) through a peaceful bit of El Valle nature on the grounds of a historic hotel. I felt it was well worth $2, and am glad I went. Might be good for families with small kids or folks that aren't up for long hikes, or of you just need a short quiet activity to round out your day.

RebeccaDelIslas

Really, why pay $3 to see 3 small trees with square-ish trunks? It's a long, not particularly pretty, walk. Unless, you have a particular interest in rare trees I do not see the point. You can walk all over El Valle de Anton--for free!--and see much better views.

CanadianaJones

This is incredible. I have been searching for these trees for a few years now, and was unable to find them as the local directions are somewhat sketchy. When I was driving up the road, there was a couple on a quad parked off to the side looking up at something. I stopped to ask directions, and inquired about what they were looking at. I was lucky enough to photograph a 3 toed sloth in full gait (still really slow like molasses) afterwhich they told me that just up the road by the white boulder on the right is the correct place. I finally saw these beautiful trees in all their splendor! They are actually square, with the biggest trees exceeding 60 feet. I hope that these remaining trees survive as they are very remarkable.

Fonzpty

i imagined a huge square tree,, then after around 15 minutes hiking with so less sign luckyly we did not get lost, we found it.

Jerome_Fabienne

It is very difficult to find the trail, going to these trees. In the end, there are just a few trees in the jungle... We enjoyed the way leading us there with a lot of butterflies and other small animals.

travlindream

While the destination was extremely disappointing...very few square trees, mossy, dirty benches....the walk there was delightful. However, when we did it the second time, we found out the walk we took was the way out from the trees, not the way in. I would do it again, but it is more like taking a walk in the Forrest than going to see so etching incredible.

AlohaHanauma

The square trees are mostly in ones imagination as they become round as they grow taller. Luckily there was a sign on one of the two we saw as I wouldn't have known it otherwise. Take free hikes at other places.

larryc2014

We had a nice jungle walk along a beautiful stream, and saw a number of square trees. I had been here about 60 years ago, and there were more square trees, but it was still a good visit. We saw some young tress along the trail, and quite a few about 2/3s of the way with signs. They have rounded corners, but after all they are trees. One was absolutely spectacular, with all four sides about the same size (about 12 inches). We also got to see a lot of leaf cutter ants in action moving leaves from tree to next along their well-traveled highway. The Hotel Campestra (where you pay a modest amount for your tree walk) has a nice covered restaurant where we had delicious fruit drinks. The dinner menu looked good, but we didn't have time to stay for dinner. I recommend this attraction in El Valle, but don't expect to see sharp-edged square trees; this is nature, not a construction site with precisely cut 12 x 12 posts in the ground.

merrileel388

Saw the square trees 20 years ago and they were amazing. In 2014, a disappointment! Talked my travel group into making this hour side trip to walk down a difficult jungle path to see maybe 6 square trees....all others had been chopped down! The ones left have signs pointing to them saying, "square tree"! A total waste of time and money! Instead, check out an online article and picture. On the other hand, the hotel/restaurant site hasn't changed at all! The golden frogs also are gone due to a fungus. Thankfully, the few remaining frogs are being studied to see if they can be repopulated and a treatment found for the fungus.

KevinF896

Entry to this venue is via the hotel where you pay your $4 fee. The walk is to the left as you leave the hotel through gate and down to a bridge over the small river. The trail itself is clear to follow and largely an easy surface but you do need some decent footwear on. The path leads uphill by the stream through some forested area and you the occasional wider view of the valley. Compared to much of the forests of the region this bit is nothing special. The "square" trees numbering about 4 are scattered about a small platform after crossing the stream again. They area strange shape but again are not so spectacular as the venue implies. The route then takes you back down to the hotel. Frankly this country has miles of fantastic forest; you can see all sorts of botany and wildlife on a much bigger scale and variety by going elsewhere - all you do here is pay the hotel for a short walk and see a few slightly off-shape trees.They are also still advertising having golden frogs at the hotel - they no longer have any. Our guide was not pleased at this venue either. I would not go back and to be honest do not recommend it.

392martineb

If you epect to see 'square trees', you might be disappointed. The trees are not exactly round, but not exactly rectangular either. You could have a funny discussion about these trees, I think. I wonder how serious the inhabitants are about these trees...But what we really enjoyed here, was the beautiful nature! We saw quite some animals (several species of birds, a tiger rat-snake and an active three-toed sloth) and many, many plants and trees!

valgardening

I'd never have believed it if I hadn't seen them for myself but they really are square. Apparently seedlings grown only a few meters from this place grow normally so this is meant to be the only place in the world where square trees grow. it is a lovely walk to get to them and it's not a difficult hike

Gyanicabreras

The trail is nothing from another world or amazing. But it is a nice walk through the jungle. The trees are not as you would think "square", but it is a nice walk for sure

Pleuni

The trees are not that square as you might expected, but nevertheless it's a nice walk. Our little boy of 1,5 years old walked one third of the trail himself, so it's not a tough hike.