Braulio Carrillo National Park
Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, was established in 1987 and covers an area with almost 47.582 has. It is located to only one hour of San jose, towards the northeast. The Park is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Braulio Carrillo, the third Chief of State of Costa Rica. Mr. Carrillo always dreamed about a route that he connected with the coast of the Atlantic; and although he has passed away without being able to see his dream made reality, when the Park was based, dedicated it to his efforts and their vision.
The topography and the high rate of annual precipitations of 4.500 mm are combined to give form him to an infinite number of cataracts that gave rise to the deep tubes and of the great declivity of the mountains that distinguish to this park, that offers seen magicians, that one can admire when descends by the route that takes it to the Atlantic.
Encompassing five life zones ranging from tropical wet to cloud forest, Braulio Carrillo provides a home for 600 identified species of trees, more than 500 species of birds, and 135 species of mammals, including howler and capuchin monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, deer, pacas, raccoons, and peccaries. Highlights include hundreds of butterfly species and excellent bird-watching. Quetzals are common at higher elevations. The rare solitary eagle and umbrella bird live here. And toucans, parrots, and hummingbirds are ubiquitous.
The park protects several tree species fast disappearing elsewhere from overharvesting: among them, the palmito, valued for its "heart," and the tepezcuintle, which has been chosen as the park's official mascot. Those elephant-ear-size leaves common in Braulio Carrillo are sombrilla del pobre (poor man's umbrella).
Entrances
The main entrance is approximately 19 km northeast of San José, where there is a tollbooth on the Guápiles Highway. Zurquí, the main ranger station, is on the right two km north of the tunnel. Drive slowly; you come upon it suddenly on a bend. The station has basic maps, sold in the information center. The Puesto Carrillo ranger station, 22.5 km farther down the road, has a tollbooth in the center of the road for those entering the park from Limón.
Two other stations--Puesto El Ceibo and Puesto Magsasay--lie on the remote western fringes of the park, reached by rough trails from just south of La Virgen, on the main road to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. You can also enter the Volcán Barva sector of the park via the Puesto Barva ranger station, three km northeast of Sacramento (see the Slopes of Barva section, above), and via Alto Palma and Bajo Hondura, accessible from San José via San Vicente de Moravia or from the Guápiles Highway at a turnoff about three km south of the main park entrance. Entrance costs $6.
