Overview
Carara National Park is Costa Rica's premier wildlife watching destination, famous for its large population of scarlet macaws and American crocodiles. The park sits on the mid-Pacific coast in the Tárcoles River basin, offering pristine rainforest trails where macaws fly overhead and crocodiles sun themselves along the riverbanks.
Day Trips · Nature · Trekking · Wildlife
Before you go
Safety
Stay on marked trails. Do not feed or approach crocodiles. The Tárcoles River bridge is a popular crocodile viewing point but has fast traffic.
Transport
Tárcoles village is the base for park visits. Taxis from Jacó (15-20 min) are the easiest way to reach the ranger station.
Weather
The park is humid year-round. Visit early morning (before 9am) for best wildlife viewing and to avoid the heat.
