Central Valley & Adjacent Highlands - Braulio Carrillo National Park

(Local Name: Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo) Established in 1978, the Braulio Carillo National Park covers 32,389ha/80,000ac of virgin forest. Many different habitats exist in the park due to the variety in elevation, which ranges from the top of the Barva Volcano (2,906m/ 9,533ft) to less than 50m/164ft in the Caribbean lowlands.

The terrain features rugged mountains, waterfalls, canyons, dormant volcanoes and montane rainforest. There are various hiking trails, including a few that reach the summit of the long extinct Barva Volcano.

Many species of plants are found in the park including several varieties of orchids, palms, mosses and ferns. The huge leaves of the distinct Gunnera plant can protect hikers from sudden downpours, earning the plant the nickname of the "poor folks umbrella". The thick vegetation can sometimes make it difficult to spot the park's elusive mammals such as the jaguar, puma, tapirs and sloths, although monkeys are often seen. Easier to see and hear are the several species of birds including the Quetzal (national bird), toucans, trogons, eagles and umbrella birds.

The Braulio Carrillo National Park was created when a modern highway was proposed to link San José to the Caribbean coast in the 1970s. While the development would prove certain economic growth for the country, conservationists were concerned of the effects on the virgin rainforest. A compromise was reached when the national park was established allowing one single highway to bisect it. Many travellers see the park simply by driving through en route to other destinations.