Braulio Carrillo National Park shelters dormant volcanoes, crater lakes, crystalline waterfalls, rivers and streams, cloud forests with towering tree ferns, oversized tropical plants, orchids, colorful birds and intriguing mammals. The verdant scenery inside this protected area is stunning, with patches of mist gently clinging to emerald vegetation and myriad waterfalls cascading down steep green cliffs and sheer-sided canyons.

Location: The park is located northeast of the Central Valley, straddling the Heredia and San José provinces along the Central Volcanic Range, between Poás and Irazú volcanoes. The park extends from Alto de la Palma in Moravia to La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiquí, and includes two dormant volcanoes: Barva and Cacho Negro.

Size: 45,899.2 hectares / 113,416.9 acres

Created: April 5, 1978

Braulio Carrillo National Park contains towering volcanoes and massive mountains covered with verdant forests and innumerable waterfalls, rivers and streams. The park is located in one of the country's most rugged topographies. The steep terrain and high levels of precipitation - around 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) per year - give way to a seemingly infinite number of crystal-clear cascades and beautiful falls throughout the park.

The expansive national park contains two forest-clad, dormant volcanoes: Cacho Negro, conical in shape, and Barva, with various crater lakes. The circular Barva Lagoon has clear waters and is about 70 meters (230 feet) in diameter, while the larger Danta Lagoon is about 500 meters (1,641 feet) in diameter. Also of volcanic origin, the three distinct peaks of Las Tres Marias can be seen from the capital city of San José on clear days.

The complex variety of oversized and densely intertwined plant life inside the park remains green year-round, affording visitors an excellent excursion into cloud and rain forests teeming with exotic birds and tropical mammals. The type of forest in the park changes with the differences in altitude, topography, temperature, humidity, precipitation and other factors.

Most of Braulio Carrillo National Park contains primary forest. The tallest forests contain the greatest amount of biological richness and are found at the lower elevations in the park. At higher elevations, the trees are much shorter, sometimes even stunted, and the number of species decreases.

The park contains a mind-boggling 6,000 different species of plants - about half of the total number of plant species found in Costa Rica. Mahogany, oak, cobano and wild tamarind trees are among the most abundant species in the park.

Trees found at the park's lower elevations include wild nutmeg, kapok, wild fig, mayo, crabwood, banak and jiggerwood. The park's higher elevations contain cloud forest species such as small cypress, winter's bark tree, Poás magnolia and white oak.

The park shelters a great diversity of fauna, including about 350 species of resident and migratory birds. Among the species observed in the park are the resplendent quetzal, king vulture, bare-necked umbrella bird, black-faced solitaire, Central American curassow, crested guan, three-wattled bellbird and Costa Rica's national bird, the clay-colored robin.

Commonly seen species of mammals include white-faced capuchin, spider and howler monkeys, Baird's tapir, cougar, jaguar, collared peccary, paca, northern tamandu, kinkajou, red brocket, agouti and coyotes.

Among the reptiles living in the park is the largest poisonous snake in the continent, the bushmaster. Frogs and toads are abundant in the park. An endemic species, the Bufo holdridgei frog, is found around Barva Volcano and Bajos del Tigre.

The Central American curassow and many of the larger mammals in the park are endangered, mainly because of hunting.

This park is dedicated to Lic. Braulio Carrillo, a national benefactor and Costa Rica's third Head of State (1835-37 and 1838-42), who propelled efforts to construct a road connecting the Central Valley with Matina, on the Atlantic Coast.

The park is closed to visitors on Mondays.

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