Braulio Carrillo National Park

Protecting and conserving for the enjoyment of future generations
Located Northside of Central Valley in the Central Volcanic Range, among the massifs of Póas and Irazú Volcanoes. This wonderful natural treasure includes Barva and Cacho Negro volcanoes, extending from Alto de la Palma at Northside of Moravia Canton, to the La Selva Protected Zone in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.
 
It has a maximum elevation of 9534 feet (2906 m s.n.m.) above sea level on top of Barva Volcano and records a minimum temperature of 37.4 fahrenheit (3 ° C.) and maximum 75.6 fahrenheit (24 ° C.).  Due to the large altitudinal gradient spanning the park, precipitation is very varied and ranges from 8.2 feet (2500 mm) on the slopes overlooking the Central Valley up to 18.8 feet (5734 mm) in the Caribbean slope.
 
Braulio Carrillo National Park is one of the largest protected areas in Costa Rica with 50.000 hectares and is located in one of the areas with the steepest topography of the country. The landscape consists of high mountains densely covered with forests and lots of canyons where run several rivers and streams of great importance in the production of hydroelectricity.
 
Braulio Carrillo National Park has two sectors of public use: Quebrada González and Barva Volcano, where visitor facilities are provided. The Ceibo Sector is dedicated to the protection and research.
 
Management Plan​​ Braulio Carrillo National Park​​​
​This national park is named in honor of Braulio Carrillo the third head of state who governed Costa Rica between 1837 and 1842.
 
In 1977 he began THE construction of the current road San Jose - Guápiles and a year later, to avoid the irrational destruction of the forest, Braulio Carrillo National Park was created, according to Executive Decree No. 8357 of April 15, 1978, ratified by the Republic Act No. 6280 on November 14, 1978.
 
Subsequently, by Decree No. 17003 Executive-MAG (1986), the MIRENEM 20358 (1991) and MIRENEM 22620 (1995), the National Park was expanded to reach a total of 47,586 hectares.
 
Recently, in 2015 by Executive Decree No. 39259-MINAE, published in La Gaceta No. 237 of December 7, it was added to the national park the products introduced by Law Decree No. 65 of 1888, increasing its extension currently to have 50.000 hectares. 
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Opening hours
Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including holydays.
 
Entrance rates
  • ¢ 1000 13+ national and resident visitors.
  • ¢ 500 national and resident children (2 to 12 years old).
  • $ 12 Non-resident over 13 years.
  • $ 5 Non-residents children (2 to 12 years old).
  • ¢ 500 domestic visitors and residents of primary and secondary education institutions, educational tours organized by schools that have been previously coordinated with the Administration of protected wilderness area.
  • Students of higher education levels must cancel the fare for domestic or non-resident visitors, over 13 years.
  • Children under 2 years of age, nationals and residents over 65 years do not pay the entrance fee.
  • $ 2 Camping right (only in Barva Volcano Sector) 
​Services
On the road San Jose - Guapiles you will observe the scenic beauty of the National Park, where we recommend visiting the Quebrada González Sector, which has three trails through the rainforest. These trails have interpretive stations and scenic sightseeing places: Las Palmas with a distance of 0.93 miles (1.5 km); El Ceibo 0.6 miles (1 km) long and 1.55 miles (2.5 km) and Botarrama with 1.5 miles (2.5 km); also you can enjoy the sightseeing place to to observe Río Sucio River. This sector of the park has potable water, sanitation services, lunch areas, information on the site and parking lot.
 
In Barva Volcano Sector there are four trails: Cacho Venado, Laguna Barva, Copey and Mirador Vara Blanca, with a total length of 6.2 miles (10 km) and where you can enjoy different types of forest. In the place you can have drinking water, sanitation services, tables for lunch and a camping area.
 
Attractions
In general the Braulio Carrillo National Park has a vegetation of evergreen forest of great density and botanical complexity. Most of the park is covered by primary forest, where there are about 6,000 species of plants representing half of all nationwide recorded species.
 
The manú caoba (Caryocar costaricensis), mahogany (Caoba, Swietenia microphylla), oak (Quercus costaricensis), caobilla (Guarea rhopalacarpa) and sparrowhawk (Gavilán, Pentaclethra macroloba) are relatively abundant.
 
There is also the botarrama (Vochysia ferruginea), ceiba (Ceiba pentandra), yos (Sapium pittieri), lorito (Weinmannia pinnata) and ojoche (Brosimun costaricanum). In the area of Barva Volcano, flora features species like cipresillo (Escallonia poasana), candelillo (magnolia poasana) and white oak (Quercus sp.).
 
The park has great diversity of fauna where it highlights the rich avifauna represented by 515 species of resident and migratory birds. They stand out the king of vultures (Sarcoramphus papa), bell bird (Procnias tricarunculata), goldfinch (Myadestes melanops) and quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno).
 
Among mammal species stand white-faced monkeys (Cebus capuchinus), Colorado (Ateles geoffroyi) and Howler (Aullador, Alouatta palliata); tapir (Tapirus bairdii), puma (Puma concolor), jaguar (Panthera onca), peccary (Saino, Tayassu peccary), colmenero bear (Tamandua tetradactyla), mountain goat (Central American Red Brocket) and coyote (Canis latrans).
 
  • ​It is recommended to wear appropriate clothing, either to cold conditions of hot and humid conditions highlands in the Caribbean slope and closed shoes for hiking in the woods, and rain and cold protection items / cloths, insects’ repellent, plus sunscreen.
  • If you are camping in Barva Volcano Sector, it is necessary to take all appropriate tools for this purpose as well as entering to the place preferably before 4:00 pm.
  • It is important to walk / transit only along the paths or areas for public use.
  • Special rescue situations and police operations of any kind, must be first coordinated with the Administration of protected wilderness area.
 
It is important to note that in Braulio Carrillo National Park, the following are not allowed:
  • Being drunk and consuming or using drugs in the park.
  • Entering with animals or pets.
  • Removing stones, plants or other natural resource of wilderness.
  • Smoking (Law No. 9028).
  • Throw garbage.
  • Hold high volume on recorders, megaphones or any sound equipment / instrument.
  • Entering with bikes, ATVs or other vehicles.
  • Making political or religious activities.
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