Carara National Park Costa Rica

Carara National Park contains more primary rainforest than the relatively close Manuel Antonio National Park. As such, it is wetter than the more popular Manuel Antonio National Park, and has denser tree growth and more mosquitoes and other insects. This environment makes Carara a haven for many bird species, being the park a popular birdwatching destination.

In addition to Scarlet Macaws, birds found in Carara include orange-chinned parakeets and other parrots, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, motmots, jacamars, manakins, antbirds, and several species of trogon, including the black-throated trogon. Several species of water birds inhabit the park as well. These include the anhinga, several species of heron, egret and kingfishers.

Among the reptiles present in the park are the American crocodile and several snake and lizard species. Green and black poison arrow frogs are among the amphibians present.

Mammals include white-tailed deer, red brockets, collared peccaries, agouti, kinkajous, white-faced capuchin monkeys, mantled howler monkeys, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths and brown-throated three-toed sloths. However, mammals can be difficult to see due to the dense tree cover.

Archeological sites

Carara National Park has fifteen pre-Columbian archaeological sites belonging to the archaeological area of ​​the Central Region of Costa Rica, corresponding to two periods of occupation: the Pavas period (300 BC to 300 AD) and the Carthage period (800-1500 AD).

Two sites stand out in the park, the first is characterized by the presence of a rectangular base measuring 6 x 4 meters, corresponding to the Carthage period. It is built of limestone and river rocks.

Another important site is Hills Burial, which is a large residential village and burial area located on a hill facing the Tárcoles River. It is believed that this village exerted political and economical dominance on the lower part of this river.