carara national park

This park is located close to Jaco and the Tárcoles River Bridge where tourists stop to look at the crocodiles lounging below. As a crossroads between the Americas, this park has a wide variety of species and is especially attractive for birders. There are a variety of trails, some even paved and easy to manage for children and the elderly. We managed to see several scarlet macaws within 15 minutes of walking in and without a lot of effort. (they can be loud!) We also saw a ton of iguanas as well as bats. Since our time was limited we did not hire a guide but the ones we spoke with by the entrance appeared to be very knowledgable and spoke fluent English. Am planning to return when we have more time to really enter the park and see more of the animals it is famous for. BE WARNED: you need to park your car with the front facing out towards the entrance. If you don't a park ranger will come charging out of the ticket office, frothing at the mouth, to make sure you do. We witnessed the following 3 cars that arrived after us getting the same treatment. It is almost a sport with this "gentleman" who should really take to drinking chamomile tea or perhaps finding a job that is apparently less stressful than his existing one.

We hired Enrique to guide us thru the park. We saw deer, coati, macaws, tucans, different parrots, bats and numerous other birds. Enrique brought a telescope and I was able to get great pictures thru it. Had we gone on our own we never would have seen half of the things our guide pointed out. If you go I recommend hiring a guide. Enrique spoke great English. His contact information is. Enrique Cambronero email kikescal@gmail.com or phone number 88969176.

Carara NP is beautiful with interesting trails and abundant wildlife. We happily recommend the birding guide who accompanied us: Andres Martin Chavez Rojas is a born educator!

This was one of the best birding spots in our 7 week trip to Costa Rica - not to be missed if you are a birder. We also saw white bats and a fer-de-lance.

Although it is true a visit to Carara may not be the thrill one can experience in so many other places in Costa Rica, it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area (it is also a very easy one day trip from San Jose). It may be combined with a visit to Bijagual waterfalls, or one of the less crowded beaches in the Central Pacific (Herradura, Agujas, etc.). We took an afternoon tour with Freddy and were very pleased. He's very knowledgeable and patient, but more importantly genuinely friendly and he's got a great vibe. We stayed at his lodge in Quebrada Ganado, about 10 min drive from Carara (other reviewers have posted his contact info). The lodge is basic and luckily away from all other touristy accommodations so if your are into fancy places and in desperate need for other foreigners... not your kind of place! We support local businesses, especially family run, wherever we go. Freddy and Mayela were great hosts and we got to chat with a couple of locals in Quebrada Ganado. Like most people we saw toucans, smaller birds, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, white bats, venomous snakes, small mammals... and that was in the afternoon hours! Head up there early in the morning if you are a more serious birdwatcher. Trails are very accessible and definitely not demanding. Highly recommended if you've got the time. If you have to choose between destinations (say Manuel Antonio or Monteverde and Carara) it may not be a top choice, though.

We liked Carara NP and can totally recommend it, but it sure is different than the rain forests and cloud forests in the mountains. It's flat and hot and didn't seem very different from forests in the US. That said, it's a good choice for families with young-ish children or handicapped since it's much more accessible than the mountain forests. With the help of our guide, we saw the Scarlet Macaw, which is big find. As always, your experience will be immeasurably improved by hiring a guide. They can tell you and show you things you would never know on your own. And please tip them appropriately: show your appreciation and treat them as the professionals they are.

This was our first tour of Carara National Park. As luck would have it we met Freddy at the main entrance and arranged for him to be our guide. The 2 plus hour hike flew by as Freddy took us on an unforgettable journey thru the park. His knowledge of the flora, fauna and local culture was extensive. With his telescopic lens, he showed us birds, bats, and animals that you would never have seen on your own. I highly recommend the park and definitely recommend you seek out Freddy as your guide. You will not be disappointed.

Our last minute decision to visit this park was well rewarded thanks to the efforts of our wonderful licensed naturalist Enrique.(see contact info below) Even though we didn't start our tour until after 12 pm he still managed to find all the birds we wanted to see, especially scarlet macaws! Initially they weren't in the park but he had several " plan B's in other locations where to find them and indeed we had some wonderful sitings. In addition we saw monkeys, a few sloths, some gorgeous hummingbirds & unusual woodpeckers. We not only learned about the birds that call Carara home but also about the flora and the fauna. He was so enthusiastic without being obnoxious in the delivery of his knowledge. He is bilingual and speaks excellent English. We have had several guide throughout or trip and he was one of the best. The park itself contains some beautiful, easy hikes through some gorgeous trials. The best part is that it's not crowded at all and you get to truly soak in the jungle atmosphere. After being herded around like sheep at Manuel Antonio, it was a most welcome change. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this park, you won't regret it. There are 2 entrances to the park, choose the one that has the ranger/check in as the ranger will guard your car. We had all our luggage in the car as we were in transit back to San Jose and felt safe leaving our stuff. Get a parking spot as close to the office as possible. Enrique's contact info is : 88968176Email is kikescal@gmail. comPura Vida!!

Seen many, many birds and other animals. The Guide was the best I have ever had. We also stopped at the wood shop and seen fabulous art work.

We have toured Carara National Park many times, and it is always a wonderful experience, but our hike with Freddy was a new high for us. We met him at the main gate, just by luck. He is fluent in 3 languages, and passionate about sharing his extensive knowledge of the flora, fauna, and culture of the area. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of every plant, tree, animal, reptile, and bird, including interesting commentary on medicinal uses for many leaves in the park. You will come away with a wealth of knowledge, not just pictures of a few animals to add to your list of sightings. I'm sorry I don't have contact information for him, but he is worth seeking out.

Saw lots of wild life and many different species of flowers and trees. The park was in a natural state with walking trails that were easy to follow but unobtrusive.

Nicky and I are not serious bird watchers, but when she read me the little article in our guidebook about the Scarlet Macaws in Carara Park and showed me the pictures, I just had to go there. It was on the way, after all. We arrived in the afternoon and strolled naively into the dense tropical forest in the heat of the afternoon. We saw some iguanas and sleeping sloth, but few interesting birds. Deep into the jungle, we encountered a guided party coming out. They were all a-buzz about a pair Macaw hatchlings they had seen. We searched the thick greenery for another mile or so and hiked out to turn on the AC in the car. That afternoon and evening we read everything we could find on Macaws and planned our return to Carara for early the next morning to have a better chance to see the Macaws. We arrived as the park opened and saw the guide we had crossed paths with the day before. He recognized and greeted us with some enthusiasm. I suppose he thought we must be dedicated bird watchers. In any case, he began to describe in broken English where we should go to see the Macaw nest. The directions were not entirely clear, but eventually we found the spot far into the jungle, walked 20 meters past the huge dead-fall tree, turned around and looked up 30 meters as the guide had described - and there looking back at us were two newly fledged Macaws, peering out of an oval picture-frame-opening in a hollow tree. See photo. We saw so much other beautiful wildlife, I can only post the photos.

Went to Carara not expecting a lot but was very pleased with the place. Our original plan was to walk the trails and call it a day but a guide offered us a tour and we said yes for the thrill of it. This was the best decision we made all trip. Our guide (Freddy http://rubyslodge.co.cr/index.html) was amazing at spotting animals and was dedicated to finding the things we wanted to see. He took us to great locations on and off the trails so that we could see monkeys, sloths, and macaws. I cannot speak highly enough of him and would take the tour again.

Our guide Adrian helped us see camouflaged animals, hike was easy, a good introduction to the flora and Fauna. He was well prepared and English skills excellent.If I went again it would be better to go in the morning, and maybe go farther, we only had 2 hours so never got far into the park. Very humid and hot, but it is tropical climate. To be expected.

My husband and I were told by several guides at Arenal that this is the park they choose to visit when in the area. It is bigger and much less crowded than the more well known Manuel Antonio. Another tourist recommended Maurice as a guide. We are very happy we took both of these recommendations! We arrived at the park soon after it opened and were able to hire Maurice for a two- hour hike (which ended up being over 2.5 hours). Maurice loves his "office" and was very deliberate and patient. He found birds, mammals and amphibians we would NEVER have seen without him. He carries a telescopic lens and loaned us a 2nd pair of binoculars so we each had a pair. He gladly led us off the beaten path to places he knew would be great spots for viewing wildlife. We left the tour with amazing photos. It was a fantastic morning and I would highly recommend both the park and Maurice.