Private Tour from San Jose, Private Jungle Tour in the Carara National Park, Private Puntarenas Shore Excursion: Hiking in Carara National Park, Crocodile Safari Expedition & Carara National Park. Carara National Park is south of the Rio Tarcoles and 15 km north of Jaco Dentral. All rights reserved. Due to its accessibility, low price, and rich wildlife, we believe that Carara National Park is worth a visit. Are you interested in one particular bird which is hard to spot, or did you arrive only to enjoy nature, and spotting monkeys, sloths, and some birds is only a nice bonus? Inquire for information with the Quebrada Bonita Ranger Station, which sits along Hwy 34 just minutes south of the Tarcoles River. Est situado justo al lado de la carretera principal y tiene ms que suficientes lugares para alojarse mientras lo hace. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The park sees two seasons during the year. Then we ran around chasing the rustling of monkeys. Carara fue creado en 1978 como una reserva biolgica y surgi como una respuesta a las necesidades de conservacin de los recursos . You can see a bit of this history in the Pre-Columbian sites located here. Never go to the river's shore. A few of the local animals include Opossum, Two-toed Sloth, Agouti, Armadillo, Pacas, Great Anteater, Kinkajou, Tayra, Margay cat, Collared Peccary, White-tailed Deer, Poison-arrow Frogs, and the omnipresent monkeys. As mentioned, Jaco and Los Sueos are two of the closest destinations to Carara National Park and both will appeal to different types of travelers. Budget travelers will find this to be the best option. He was incredibly responsive, worked hard to make our honeymoon perfect, and even adjust Leonardo was great at tailoring our experience to suit our needs, temperaments and budget and the process of planning th My kids think this is the best trip ever (we travels a lot as a family, so this is definitely a big compliment). Getting to Carara is fairly easy depending on where you are coming from. 7 likes, 2 comments - Maira Aventuras Viajes | Tours (@mairaventuras) on Instagram: " El Parque Nacional El vila, tambin conocido como Parque Nacional Waraira Repano , es el p . Se estableci en 1978 como una reserva nacional de vida silvestre para proteger las muchas especies de animales que viven en sus fronteras de proteccin. Carara is the famed home of one of Costa Rica's most charismatic bird species, the scarlet macaw. Whether you choose Jaco or Los Sueos be assured that Adventure Tours Costa Rica can help you find the perfect hotel, condo or vacation rental. Luckily nearby there is another town which boasts luxury and a relaxed vibe that of the newly completed resort and marina called Los Sueos. Other reptiles include the iguana a large lizard that love hanging out in the trees and sunbathing. The bus takes you directly to the park entrance and if you dont mind public transport, then its both cheap and convenient. At first, when we were planning our Costa Rica itinerary, the coastal city of Jaco was not on the list. And what a shame that is. $$ - $$$ International Fusion Wine Bar, $$ - $$$ South American Central American Costa Rican, $$ - $$$ Japanese South American Costa Rican, $$$$ American International Central American, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Your guides will ensure your safety during each run and point out the wildlife. Here are some essential things you should pack with you for a day trip to Carara National Park. Also, various snakes including boa constrictors, the Fur de lance or Terciopelo. Ask for Maurice he is amazing. Copyright 2004-2021 todos los derechos reservados. Antes de entrar en el parque, vale la pena para tirar a un lado de una parada de descanso y ver algunos de los cocodrilos ms grandes por debajo del puente. One of the most famous stops close to Carara National Park almost no traveler miss when traveling in Costa Rica is the so-called Crocodile Bridge. Esto ser perfecto para capturar que buscaba despus de la foto de observacin de aves. No, you don't need a guide to visit Carara National Park, although you can hire one if you want to increase your chances of spotting wildlife. In case you do not want to wait for public transport, do not have a rental car, but still want to get to the park, taking Carara National Park Tour from Jaco is not a bad idea at all. Explore different ways to experience this place. The bus stop is on Avenida Pastor Diaz, opposite the large shopping mall. One of the things to know about Costa Rica is that it is a quite compact country. That's why it should not come as a surprise that visiting Carara National Park is about admiring flora and fauna at its best. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Carara National Park: 96% of travelers recommend this experience. How fortuitous! Several miles of hiking trails are open for visitors. Incluye gua y transporte. Their Carara Private Rainforest Hike is a 5 hour journey that guarantees wildlife viewing and includes an authentic Costa Rican lunch. Debido a que son tan cerca de la costa del Pacfico, sera una lstima perder la oportunidad de un da en la playa. Contrary to my normal modus operandi, where I would usually convince my wife to tour the park ourselves at our own pace, on the morning of our excursion we Whats Appd Maurice ( clearly the most popular local guide based on TA reviews) to see if he could include us. Do not be bait for mosquitos; use mosquito repellent. My Costa Rica (CostaRica.Org) is a Travel Agency that offers Custom Costa Rica Vacations & Packages Including Hotels, All-Inclusive Resorts and Tours. Carara takes its name from the Huetar Indian word for crocodile. I agree. You have several nearbyCentral Pacific Beachesto choose to stay near, firstly Jaco Beach, Playa Hermosa, Esterillos, or Herradura. As an experiment, after our guided tour we went back to the main entrance and wandered on our own for an hour and a half, to see if you can really get much out of the forest experience on your own. The park is located 2 km from the Trcoles River Bridge on the road to Jac. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. El Parque Nacional Carara protege la cuenca hidrogrfica del Ro Grande de Trcoles, cerca de Orotina, en la costa del Pacfico de Costa Rica. Look on the ground, look up in the trees. Va a encontrar especies interesantes como lapas rojas, Mot Mots, tucanes, trogones, y una variedad de aves acuticas como garzas. Known as one of Costa Rica's many beautiful national parks, the Carara National Park lies two hours from the capital of San Jose along the road between Puntarenas city and Playa Jaco in Puntarenas province.Located on the Pacific coast some 20 km south of Orotina, this national park is a very important ecological transition zone.Bordering the Pan-American Highway, this park is unique as the . This is also a good spot to watch for the 150-200 scarlet macaws that nest and feed throughout the reserve and can usually be seen around dusk flying west down the Ro Trcoles towards the coastal mangroves where they roost for the night. I was under the impression based upon the other reviews and the price he wanted to charge that he would be a private guide, not simply arranging a part of a group tour ($60 USD for 1 person). Parque Nacional Carara. Our guide, Antonio, was worth 10 times the price we paid. If you plan on traveling along Costa Rica's Pacific Coast and want to combine bird watching, wildlife watching, adrenaline sports, and lazing on the beach, make sure to include Carara National Park as it offers the first two activities mentioned above, and you will find the other . If so what sort of distance from the main/paved road please? There are two hiking trails in Carara. Best money ever spent. El Parque Nacional Carara, ubicado entre los cantones de Turrubares, San Jos, y Garabito de Puntarenas, que en lengua indgena Huetar significa "Ro de lagartos", cuenta con el nico bosque de transicin del Pacfico Central, lo que se traduce en diversidad de flora y fauna, donde convergen especies propias de los bosques seco y . I met Maurice by chance after I had spent a morning in Carara not finding many birds. El parque tiene una historia mucho ms larga de lo que parece y que se remonta cientos de aos. Its recommended to arrive early to beat the heat and crowds, and to get the best chance of spotting wildlife as many creatures are active before noon. Carara National Park is a top attraction in Costa Rica, only 20 kilometers from a popular coastal town of Jaco. There is a large burial site calledHills Burial, located facing the rio Tarcoles. In the rainy season, Carara is open from 8 AM to 4 PM. But, in those two hours we saw much wildlife, and learned much about the parks flora and fauna, so really, hard to complain. Costa Rica is not a budget-friendly destination, especially if you plan on visiting several national parks such as the well-known Manuel Antonio National Park or Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Carara National Park in Costa Rica is an easily accessible natural attraction near Jaco. Se puede ver un poco de esta historia en los sitios precolombinos que se encuentran aqu. At only 2 hours or less from San Jose, this park is very easy to reach. The dry season is hot and humid, and lasts from December to April, while the other months of the year see more rain, especially in the afternoon. If the colorful streaks in the sky left by the macaws aren't alluring enough, birders will enjoy toucans, parrots, aracaris, kingfishers and herons, which flourish in the coastal mangroves. The tour around the park has slopes less than 6%, areas with benches for rest, park information booths, and special health services. Look for leaves and nuts falling. Carara National Park, known as Parque Nacional Carara in Spanish, is a beautiful section of rainforest located in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica. Visitar el Parque Nacional Carara es muy fcil. These large parrots thrive in the forest and river environments of Central America, and boast bright red plumage that covers most of their body apart from the lower wings which are covered in blue and yellow colors. They will pick you up at your hotel and drop you back at the days end. You should consider this option, especially when you do not want to visit the park on your own but would like to take a local guide, as this service is already included in this tour. If you come during the rainy season, pack a poncho too. I hired him and he was very helpful. $25 per person in Carrera so worth it. When the sun sets, the town comes to life with bars blasting live music and parties raging on into the early hours. Not only will you get to watch enormous crocodiles being fed but you will also spot amazing bird-life along the way. Buenas tardes, A nice earthy 'dance floor' but no birds. Simply put, if you travel on a budget, the bus is your best option. The Ultimate Travel Guide to Carara National Park Buses to Jac or Quepos will drop you at the ranger station, but you better have a plan for getting to someplace to sleep before nightfall, camping is not allowed in the park and there are no accommodations. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. The travel route was designed with great precision and it was a seamless experience from start to finish. Driving from San Jos or Juan Santamara International Airport Take the Caldera Highway (Hwy 27) west to the intersection with Hwy 34 8 km past Orotina. Its located just off the main highway and it will take you only 2 hours to reach from San Jose. Another important site is Hills Burial, which is a large residential village and burial area located on a hill facing the "Trcoles River". 25 km south is Playa Hermosa Punta Mala Wildlife refuge which encompasses two amazing habitats that perfectly compliment a visit to Carara. You want to get on the bus with a sign Orotina behind the window, but generally, it is enough to ask if the bus goes to the park, and the driver will understand you. Be cautious parking at the trail heads, and even the ranger station. Carara National Park is located near theTarcoles Riverin theCentral Pacific. Parque Nacional Carara Carara est ubicada en la zona transicional entre los bosques seco y hmedo de la regin del Pacfico. The main reason to visit Carara National Park is to spot animals, so you should pack some gear that will allow you to spot them more easily. Surfing is Jacos main activity. In terms of the time of year, there are two seasons to consider: the dry season from December to April and the rainy season from May to November. Parque Nacional Carara | Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica El Parque Nacional Carara se ubica dentro de los cantones Turrubares y Garabito, de las provincias San Jos y Puntarenas, entre las coordenadas 951' y 944' latitud Norte, 8436' y 8429' longitud Este, es decir a 90 kilmetros de San Jos carretera Costanera Sur. Other animals found inside the park include peccaries, anteaters and poison-arrow frogs that hop tentatively around the moist forest floor.