Carara National Park, Tropical rainforest national park in Garabito Canton, Costa Rica.
Carara is a tropical rainforest national park covering about 4,700 hectares between 100 and 500 meters elevation, with sections of regenerating and dry forest. The landscape shows different forest types that support diverse plant and animal life throughout the protected area.
The area was established as a biological reserve in 1978 and became a national park in 1998. This change reflected growing recognition of its importance for protecting the region's natural environment.
Carara comes from the Huetar language and named the Grande de Tárcoles River before the Spanish arrived; it means "river of the lizards". The Huetar people also left fifteen pre-Columbian sites in the park, including the Carara site with a 6 x 4 metre limestone and river-rock base from the Cartago phase (800–1500 AD).
The park offers five hiking trails of varying difficulty, including one that is wheelchair-accessible with adapted facilities for all visitors. Signage is available in English, Spanish, and Braille to help you navigate and make your visit easier.
The park's universal footpath, designed by architect Ibo Bonilla and built through public contribution, includes animal sculptures, haptic maps and Braille signs, with slopes under 6 percent and benches for rest. Fifteen pre-Columbian sites lie within the park, among them a 6 x 4 metre limestone and river-rock base from the Cartago period (800-1500 AD).
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