Costa Rican National Park Volunteer Projects - Costa Rica Central Region

Parque Nacional Diriá

Location:
In Arado of Santa Cruz, on the road to Vistamar, 12 km south of Santa Cruz city.

Area Information:
It has an area of 5,428 hectares, making it the largest state-owned national park in the zone. There are howler monkeys, who greet the visitors at the entrance of the park, deer, coatis, tepezcuintles, peccary, and raccoons who wait until sundown to roam, white-faced monkeys who get settled on the banks of rivers and creeks, small rodents, and more than 17 species of bats that come out at night to feed and drop their seeds. Some of the most recognized species are cardón (cautus endémico), piñuela (bromelia endémica), guaria morada and trees such as ron ron. Its main attractions are scenic views, crystalline waters on rivers Enmedio, Diriá, and Tigre, camping zones, trails, kitchen, dining room, and housing. It is possible to do horseback rides, hiking, and adventure sports. Bird watching is also hugely popular.

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Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Sector Volcano Barba

Location:
On the Central Volcanic Mountain Range, northwest of the Central Valley. It includes Barva Volcano, el Bajo La Hondura, and Cerro Cacho.

Area Information:
Created on April 5, 1978, almost all the landscape is composed of tall mountains densely covered by forests and countless rivers. The topography and high rainfall of 4500 mm per year give place to the formation of waterfalls everywhere. The park contains two dormant volcanoes: Cacho Negro, very visible due to its conic shape; and Barva, with its various craters such as Barva Lagoon, 70 meters in diameter, circular, and with clear waters, and Danta Lagoon, of 500 meters in diameter. There are two ranger stations at Quebrada González and at Barva Volcano.

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Parque Nacional Volcán Poás

Location:
On the Central Volcanic Mountain Range, 37 km north of Alajuela, on the Alajuela-San Pedro de Poás road.

Area Information:
Created on January 25, 1971, the Poás Volcano is 2,708 meters tall and one of the most spectacular volcanoes of the country. There are several types of forests with an abundance of epiphyte plants, which grow on the trunks of the trees. The Poás crater is a huge hollow of 1.5 km in diameter, and 300 m in depth. At the bottom there is a circular hot lagoon of 350 m in diameter, and a rubble cone 40 m over it, where water temperature fluctuates between 40 and 70 degrees Celcius.

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Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú

Location:
On the province of Cartago, 31 km northwest of the city.

Area Information:
Created on July 30, 1955, the Irazú, at 3,432 m, is an active volcano with a long history of eruptions. There are four craters: the main or west crater, the Diego de la Haya, and two small craters located southeast and northwest of the main crater. The main crater is almost circular, measuring 1,050 meters in diameter, with a depth of 250 to 300 meters. The flora has suffered alterations due to the eruptions.

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Reserva Forestal Bosque del Niño

Location:
In the province of Alajuela, in San Pedro de Poás. Bordered by the Poás Volcano National Park and the Río Toro protected zone.

Area Information:
This park houses facilities for visitors and researchers. It has an area of 30 hectares, 22 of which are natural secondary forest and the other 8 are a coniferous forest. The reserve is comprised of alow mountainous wet forest, whose natural vegetation is composed of species like ciprecillo, lorito, quizarrá amarillo, quizarrá quina, cedro dulce, ratoncillo, and roble encino.

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Monumento Nacional Guayabo

Location:
On the foothills of Turrialba Volcano, in the province of Cartago, 19 km northwest of Turrialba city.

Area Information:
Created on August 13, 1973, this is the largest and most important archaeological area discovered so far in the country. Guayabo is part of the cultural region dominated by the Central Intermountainous region and Atlantic Slope of South American influence. Its human occupation seems to have ceased in 500 BC, while its greatest development and the construction of the present structures are believed to have been between 800 and 1400 BC. On the Guayabo River canyon, next to the archaeological area, one can observe a sample of the evergreen forests typical of the region.

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