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Carara National Park Photos

Carara National park is located on the northern end of the central Pacific coast only 30 – 40 minutes from San José but it’s a world away from the big city.  The vast majority of travelers to the region zip right past on their way to the well known beach destinations at Jacó and Manuel Antonio but the park is well worth a stop especially for wildlife lovers.  The unique location along one of the larger rivers and in the transition zone from tropical dry forest to rain forests means that Carara rivals every other protected area in diversity.

Even if you’re planning on visiting the wildlife mecca at Manuel Antonio national park you’ll find a visit to Carara extremely rewarding.  One of the species the park is best known for are the scarlet macaws (Ara macao) and although they do make occasional appearances at Manuel Antonio the core breeding populations are farther north and you’re all but guaranteed to see them at Carara.  Other species that like it a bit drier include a variety of Trogons (relatives of the famous resplendent quetzals of Monteverde) and some of the woodpeckers.

One species you’ll be happy to miss on the southern swimming beaches is the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) which thrives in the Río Grande de Tarcoles on the northern boundary of Carara.  At least make a quick stop at the “crocodile bridge” (you can’t miss it on the Costanera road – Hwy 34) or if you want a more immersive experience take one of the canopied safari boats that ply the river.  The guides will point out dozens of species of aquatic and wading birds in addition to ensuring extreme closeups of the immense reptiles on the banks.

 

Scarlet Macaws on their nest
Scarlet Macaws on their nest. They have incredibly strong beaks and are one of the only birds that can excavate a nesting cavity in a living tree. Once confined to tiny habitats in Carara national park and Corcovado they are making a comeback.
Frog sillohuette
Frog sillohuette
A good guide and a spotting scope
A good guide and a spotting scope will reveal a whole new world in Costa Rica’s national parks. In places like Carara the birds and animals you’re interested in are usually 10-30 meters away and difficult to find. A naturalist guide can train the telescope on the perfect spot, lock it in place and then everyone can enjoy the view.
Black and white owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata)
Black and white owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata) taken by the light of a flashlight on a night hike on a back road along the southern edge of Carara national park (the park is not open to visitors at night)
White-nosed coati (Nasua narica)
White-nosed coati (Nasua narica) foraging in a tree on a hill above the Tarcoles river. They eat mostly insects, spiders, lizards and fruits and are also known to dig for crocodile or turtle eggs and rob birds nests
Blue spotted tropical butterfly
Blue spotted butterfly – assume this was a female because there were half a dozen similar but slightly larger gray males attempting to mate with her.
Northern ghost bats (Diclidurus albus)
Northern ghost bats (Diclidurus albus) are solitary, rare and notoriously difficult to find. They prefer humid habitats like the areas around the lake and river in Carara national park wich is remarkable for its diversity because of its location in the transition zone between the southern rain forests and northern dry forests of Costa Rica. This female ghost bat was roosting about fifty feet up in a palm (long telephoto lens) and sheltering a tiny infant under her wings.
Scarlet macaws (Ara macao) feeding
Scarlet macaws (Ara macao) feeding on palm fruits, Carara national park, central Pacific, Costa Rica
Black Ctenosaur or Garrobo (Ctenosaura similis)
Black Ctenosaur or Garrobo (Ctenosaura similis) The juveniles are similar to green iguanas (Iguana iguana) but the spines on the tail are a dead giveaway. Much more common in the dry forests of Guanacaste farther north but this one was in the trees above Carara national park on the central Pacific
Morning mist
Morning mist over the rainforest and Tarcoles river
Carara national park hiking trail map
Carara park map – There are several trails at Carara national park incuding three loops that start from the main entrance and visitors center. The first short trail shown in red is wheelchair accessible. The entrance to Sendero Laguna Meandrica (wandering lake trail) is 2 km west of the main station along the Costanera road (Hwy 34) close to the “crocodile bridge.” This trail is typically closed from the end of August until sometime in November because the lake wanders right over the top of it flooding the trail and parking area under up to 8 feet of water from the Rio Tarcoles
Crocodile warning sign
Crocodile warning sign at Carara national park entrance to the Sendero Laguna Meandrica (wandering lake trail). These are the same crocs as seen from the famous Tarcoles river crocodile bridge but in a more natural habitat and without having to worry about being splattered by a semi-truck while viewing.
Crocodile tour boats come up the Tarcoles river
Crocodile river tour – Crocodile tour boats come up the Tarcoles river to the border of Carara national park from the village of the same name near the estuary. It’s a great way to get a close up look at the huge reptiles as well as a number of bird species.
Crocodile bridge over the Tarcoles river Costa Rica
The famous crocodile (lower left in photo) bridge over the Río Tarcoles in Costa Rica. On the Costanera (Hwy 34) 10 km (6 miles) south of the intersection of Hwy 34 and Hwy 37 (the Caldera or the “new” highway) you can park on the north end near a couple of small sodas and souvenir stands
Dozens of huge american crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus)
Crocodile bridge – Dozens of huge american crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) gather in the mud under the famous bridge where the Costanera (Hwy 34) crosses the Tarcoles river west of Carara national park. Enterprising vendors have set up snack and souvenir stands where you can park (be careful of valuables left in your car) and walk out onto the bridge to see the monsters then buy a t-shirt that says “I survived the croc bridge”
Central American bark scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus)
Central American bark scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus)
crested guan Penelope purpurascens
Crested guans (Penelope purpurascens) are often spotted after a rushing flapping sound because they fly loudly. They spend most of their time in the canopy which is somewhat surprising for a bird this large
Crested owl (Lophostrix cristata)
Crested owl (Lophostrix cristata). This is the dark morph, there is also a pale version in Costa Rica. At night on a back road along the southern edge of Carara national park (the park is not open to visitors at night)
Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus)
Derby’s woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus), is sometimes refered to as the Central American woolly opossum spotted on a night hike.
butterfly flapping
butterfly flapping
Female black-headed trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)
Female black-headed trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)
dragonfly
dragonfly
juvenile barred hawk (Leucopternis princeps)
I’m not sure but I think this is a juvenile barred hawk (Leucopternis princeps) but the coloration looks a bit light and the undertail coverts (behind the legs) are white instead of barred. The other problem with the id is that he was seen at about 300 meters elevation above Carara national park and on the Pacific slope they are usually found higher in the mountains.
White faced capuchin
White faced capuchins are omnivores and feed on fruit, bark, insects, eggs, nuts and even lizards and snakes.
White headed or bare throated capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus)
White headed or bare throated capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus) sometimes known as the organ grinder’s monkey is one of the most intelligent and they have been trained as assistance animals for people with disabilities.
Dendrobates auratus
Dendrobates auratus, also known as the green and black poison dart frog feeds on ants and termites and can often be spotted near rotting logs or tree trunks
Yum! fresh termites
Yum! fresh termites right out of the nest. Adventurous visitors to Costa Rica can easily sample this rainforest delecacy by finding a nest like the black blob in the thin tree to the left. Put your hand on the nest and they’ll swarm on it and you can try them for yourself. Tastes a little like popcorn.
Gartered trogon (Trogon caligatus) or northern violaceous trogon male
Gartered trogon (Trogon caligatus) or northern violaceous trogon male. They were once considered a sub-species of violaceous trogon (Trogon violaceus) or Guianan trogon but have been recognized as a separate species in Costa Rica
flycatcher
flycatcher
Firey billed Aracari
Firey billed Aracari
Firey billed Aracari
Firey billed Aracari
Pale billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis)
Pale billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) on a trunk in the transition dry forest of the Central Pacific Costa Rica. Distinguished from the very similar looking Lineated woodpecker by the red continuing down his neck versus only above the eye and under the chin
Bijagual waterfall trail rules
Bijagual rules – There are several trails to viewpoints for the waterfall despite the big sign above the first entrance that proclaims “absolutely the only trail to the waterfall,” (a dead giveaway in Costa Rica that there are other ways). The price for entrance started out at $30 per person but ended up at a more reasonable $10 when we pointed out that we knew at least two more ways to gown down and if they were going to be ridiculous we’d just go to one of the others. As you can see from the painted out references in the photo to having a “ticket” with you at all times the lower entrance also had some trouble from the community since the waterfall itself has guaranteed public access. That said the lower trail winds down through pristine primary forest while the upper ones pass through shadeless pastures so it’s a good choice.
The Bijagual waterfall on the Río Tarcolitos is just outside the southern boundary of Carara national park
The Bijagual waterfall on the Río Tarcolitos is just outside the southern boundary of Carara national park
Tree climbing
Tree climbing – Sometimes I get a little carried away. We hiked down to the Bijagual waterfall on the Río Tarcolitos along the southern boudary of Carara national park and I decided to take a 1km side trail to the mirador. It was a very steep, hot climb and when I reached the top I found that the viewing platform had rotted and collapsed. I wasn’t about to leave without a photo of the waterfall from above so after about a twelve foot fall flat on my ass I finally got high enough up this tree to see over the foliage that had taken over the mirador.
Río Tarcolitos pool
There are several pools along the Río Tarcolitos accessible from the lower trail to the waterfall. The signs at the entrance recommend them for swimming but we knew that despite the remarkably mature and pristine forest in the valley the river drains the watershed below the village of Bijagual. Like any river in Costa Rica with people lacking sanitary sewers living upstream the Tarcolitos is muddied by erosion and full of fecal coliform bacterial.
butterfly
butterfly
famous macaws come to the mangroves to roost
The mangrove estuaries of the Río Grande de Tarcoles and along Playa Guacalillo and Bajamar are not protected by Carara national park but the famous macaws come here to roost every night after foraging inland.
Sleeping raccoon
Raccoon sleeping in a fork of a tree in the magrove estuary. The mangroves are not part of Carara national park but there are a number of species that migrate between the ecozones.
Bulging tree trunk
Bulging tree trunk
Layers of rainforest mist shrouded hills
Layers of rainforest shrouded hills
Northern royal flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus mexicanus)
Northern royal flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus mexicanus). This rather non-descript little brown bird is one of the most sought after species in Costa Rica because when it pops up it’s brilliant sunburst crown it dramatically transforms into a jewel of the rainforest. This little guy in Carara National park displayed several times but I was never quick enough to get the photo.
praying mantis
Praying mantis
small tarantula
A small tarantula in a crevasse between the dead leaves of a wild banana plant
Praying mantis
Praying mantis
Praying mantis on the car
Praying mantis on the car
Pale billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis)
Pale billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) on a trunk in the transition ddry forest of the Central Pacific Costa Rica. Distinguished from the very similar looking Lineated woodpecker by the red continuing down his neck versus only above the eye and under the chin
Pastures with mist in the trees
Pastures with mist in the trees
Ring-tailed coatimundi (Nasua narica)
Ring-tailed coatimundi (Nasua narica). The rings can be very faint like here or bands of nearly black and nearly white. Coatis are common and quite easy to spot as ther are active day and night and often travel in troops of a dozen or more
Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) flying
Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) flying back to a roost with a palm fruit
Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) landing
Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) landing to feed on palm fruits
Spiny tail iguana
Spiny tail iguana
Splitleaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) fruit
The Splitleaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) or Swiss cheese plant is a common epiphyte that can be found on trunks up to 50 feet off the ground. Seedlings start on the ground and grow towards darkness (most plants seek light) seeking a trunk to latch onto and climb up to the light. All parts of the plant contain potassium oxalate which is poisonous to humans but if the fruits (shown here) are picked and stored in a cool dry place until the outer rough layer dries and drops off. The inner flesh is edible and tastes a bit like a sweet version of jackfruit.
Chestnut-mandibled toucan
Chestnut-mandibled toucans, or Swainson’s toucans (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii) are common in the hills above the Tarcoles river and can be spotted easily because of their piercing call that’s something between the ringing of a bell and an fading whistle.
mouth of the Tarcoles
The mouth of the Tarcoles River opens onto a broad sandbar
White headed monkey
White headed or bare throated capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus) watching me from a tree top perch in Carara national park Costa Rica
Wild bananas
Wild bananas come in dozens of varieties but all are easy to recognize by their distinctive leaves, flowers and bunches of fruit.
Yellow butterfly on a purple flower
Yellow butterfly on a purple flower

 

Ray & Sue

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