×

Costa Rica🇨🇷 | national parksCarara National ParkScarlet macaws, ecotone forest, boardwalk trails, night walks | things to do and best time to go

Explore Barra Honda National ParkExplore Santa Rosa National Park

Backpacking in Carara
👌 Worth visitingnational park ranked #13
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

A scarlet macaw pair screeches overhead while I crunch a plantain-chip bag from the roadside stand, US$2, salt and lime stinging my lips. That is Carara National Park, in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, a short drive inland from Jacó. Its forest sits where dry north meets wet south, so wildlife is dense, and the trails are short, flat and muggy. The main trails are easy, but crowds arrive with tour buses by mid-morning. Entry is by timed ticket, and the animals are most active early, so go at opening and bring cash for the roadside stands.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Costa Rica Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
cities
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #13 national park in Costa RicaWhat sets this place apart

Carara National Park suits independent travelers because the main loops are short, flat and unguided, so you can walk them at your own pace. The big draw is the transition forest, home to scarlet macaws that fly through at dawn and dusk, plus Tarcoles River crocodiles just minutes away by the highway bridge. A guide adds sharp eyes for sloths and trogons, but you can see plenty alone if you walk slowly, listen and stay quiet. Cheap beach hostels in nearby towns make it easy to pair the park with surf days, with no need for a tour package.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Scarlet Macaws: Carara is best known for these red, blue and yellow parrots, which commute noisily over the canopy and river mouth around early morning and late afternoon.
  2. Sendero Laguna Meándrica: A flat loop along an oxbow lagoon, where herons, turtles and the occasional crocodile show up in the still water.
  3. Sendero Quebrada Bonita: A shaded trail through towering trees and buttress roots, with good odds of trogons, motmots and troops of white-faced capuchins.
  4. Tarcoles River Bridge: A roadside bridge on the highway with dozens of huge American crocodiles basking on the mudbanks below, free to see from the sidewalk.
  5. Sendero Las Aráceas: A short, accessible loop with a smooth surface and a nice spread of philodendrons and strangler figs.
  6. Sendero Universal: A wide, paved-style path built for wheelchair
… read more 👉
  1. Scarlet Macaws: Carara is best known for these red, blue and yellow parrots, which commute noisily over the canopy and river mouth around early morning and late afternoon.
  2. Sendero Laguna Meándrica: A flat loop along an oxbow lagoon, where herons, turtles and the occasional crocodile show up in the still water.
  3. Sendero Quebrada Bonita: A shaded trail through towering trees and buttress roots, with good odds of trogons, motmots and troops of white-faced capuchins.
  4. Tarcoles River Bridge: A roadside bridge on the highway with dozens of huge American crocodiles basking on the mudbanks below, free to see from the sidewalk.
  5. Sendero Las Aráceas: A short, accessible loop with a smooth surface and a nice spread of philodendrons and strangler figs.
  6. Sendero Universal: A wide, paved-style path built for wheelchair users, passing ceibas, understory birds and sometimes agoutis.
  7. Night Walks and River Boat Trips: Evening excursions outside the park show glowing eyes of caimans and sleeping birds along the Tarcoles mangroves.
For a first visit, start with the Sendero Laguna Meándrica at opening, when the birds are loudest and the light is soft.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Carara National Park

Jason Crocodile Tours

Jason Crocodile Tours

5.0(477) 1h 45m
From €44
per personViator
Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included)

Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included)

4.9(255)
From €41
per personViator
Birdwatching tour in Carara National Park

Birdwatching tour in Carara National Park

5.0(54)
From €62
per personViator
Carara National Park Private Tour

Carara National Park Private Tour

4.9(40) 4h
From €77
per personViator
Carara National Park Tour

Carara National Park Tour

4.7(34)
From €28
per personViator
Guided tour in Carara National Park

Guided tour in Carara National Park

5.0(16)
From €45
per personViator
Carara National Park Small-Group Tour

Carara National Park Small-Group Tour

5.0(12) 3h
From €32
per personViator
Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.

Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.

5.0(5) 2h
From €59
per personViator
Carara National Park Birdwatching Group Guided Tour Experience.

Carara National Park Birdwatching Group Guided Tour Experience.

5.0(4) 8h
From €231
per personViator
Private Jungle Tour in the Carara National Park

Private Jungle Tour in the Carara National Park

0.0(0) 2h
From €308
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Dry Season (December to April): Mornings run 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F) with highs near 33°C (91°F), and trails stay firm. Daylight lasts about 11 hours. Scarlet macaws fly over at dawn, but tour buses from the coast arrive by 9 a.m., and lodging costs peak around Christmas and Easter.
  • Green Season (May to November): Expect 22 to 31°C (72 to 88°F) and afternoon downpours that start around 1 p.m. Mud is common on the Laguna Meándrica loop. Crowds thin, rooms drop 20 to 40 percent, and frogs and birds are active.
  • September and October: The wettest stretch, with heavy rain nearly daily and occasional trail or road closures.
Arrive when the gate opens at 7 a.m., since the heat and animal activity both fade by late morning.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
when-to-go

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutCosta Rica Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Costa Rica
The digital guide (287 pages) contains:
✅ 90 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 5, 10 & 15-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

There is no lodging inside Carara National Park, so most backpackers sleep in Tárcoles, Jacó or Orotina. Tárcoles is the closest, about 5 minutes from the park entrance, and has small family-run cabinas and a few mid-range lodges with birding gardens, from roughly US$30 to 90 a night. Jacó, about 25 minutes by road, is the real backpacker hub, with hostels with dorm beds at US$12 to 25, private rooms at US$40 to 70, surf schools, groceries and plenty of restaurants. It is loud at night, so choose a hostel away from the main strip if you want to be up for opening time. Orotina, about 30 minutes … read more 👉
There is no lodging inside Carara National Park, so most backpackers sleep in Tárcoles, Jacó or Orotina. Tárcoles is the closest, about 5 minutes from the park entrance, and has small family-run cabinas and a few mid-range lodges with birding gardens, from roughly US$30 to 90 a night. Jacó, about 25 minutes by road, is the real backpacker hub, with hostels with dorm beds at US$12 to 25, private rooms at US$40 to 70, surf schools, groceries and plenty of restaurants. It is loud at night, so choose a hostel away from the main strip if you want to be up for opening time. Orotina, about 30 minutes inland, is cheaper and quieter but has few hostels. Playa Herradura is a calmer option with beach condos and a marina.
Best hostels in Costa Rica


Best quality hotels in Costa Rica

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Visiting Carara National Park costs about US$62 to 117 per day for a backpacker based in Jacó or Tárcoles. Prices are for the high season and you pay in colones or by card.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$10 to 12Foreign adults pay at the gate, and cards are accepted. Children pay less.
AccommodationUS$12 to 40Jacó dorms cost US$12 to 25, and private rooms US$30 to 40. Prices fall in the green season.
Local transportUS$3 to 10Buses on the Jacó to San José route run along the highway, and taxis from Jacó cost around US$20 to 30 one way.
Food and suppliesUS$12 to 20Sodas serve a casado for US$5 to 8, and supermarkets in Jacó help with trail snacks.
Guide (optional)US$25 to 35Group walks of about 2 hours add a lot of wildlife sightings. Private guides cost more.
Total Daily BudgetUS$62
… read more 👉
Visiting Carara National Park costs about US$62 to 117 per day for a backpacker based in Jacó or Tárcoles. Prices are for the high season and you pay in colones or by card.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$10 to 12Foreign adults pay at the gate, and cards are accepted. Children pay less.
AccommodationUS$12 to 40Jacó dorms cost US$12 to 25, and private rooms US$30 to 40. Prices fall in the green season.
Local transportUS$3 to 10Buses on the Jacó to San José route run along the highway, and taxis from Jacó cost around US$20 to 30 one way.
Food and suppliesUS$12 to 20Sodas serve a casado for US$5 to 8, and supermarkets in Jacó help with trail snacks.
Guide (optional)US$25 to 35Group walks of about 2 hours add a lot of wildlife sightings. Private guides cost more.
Total Daily BudgetUS$62 to 117The low end skips the guide and uses a dorm bed.


source: visitcostarica.com
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsExploring Carara: trails, terrain, and views

Carara National Park has a handful of short, well-marked trails, all gentle, so they suit first-timers with sturdy sandals and bug repellent.
  • Sendero Universal: About 1 km, 30 to 40 minutes, easy. Wide, smooth surface through shaded forest; suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
  • Sendero Quebrada Bonita: About 1.2 km, 45 minutes, easy. Packed earth with a few muddy patches, passing a seasonal creek and giant trees.
  • Sendero Las Aráceas: About 1.2 km, 45 minutes, easy. Rolling path with log steps and a view of aroid plants and fig trees.
  • Sendero Laguna Meándrica: About 4 km round trip, 1.5 to 2 hours,
… read more 👉
Carara National Park has a handful of short, well-marked trails, all gentle, so they suit first-timers with sturdy sandals and bug repellent.
  • Sendero Universal: About 1 km, 30 to 40 minutes, easy. Wide, smooth surface through shaded forest; suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
  • Sendero Quebrada Bonita: About 1.2 km, 45 minutes, easy. Packed earth with a few muddy patches, passing a seasonal creek and giant trees.
  • Sendero Las Aráceas: About 1.2 km, 45 minutes, easy. Rolling path with log steps and a view of aroid plants and fig trees.
  • Sendero Laguna Meándrica: About 4 km round trip, 1.5 to 2 hours, moderate. Flat, hot and open in places, with birds, turtles and lagoon views.
  • Sendero Araceas Extension: About 2 km, 1 hour, easy to moderate. Slightly steeper stretches and roots through quieter forest.
Wildlife includes agoutis, coatis, three-toed sloths, monkeys and birdlife, with macaws overhead. Humid air and mosquitoes are constant, so wear long, light clothing.
The park sits right beside the main coastal highway, so buses between San José and the Pacific can drop you at the entrance road. Crowds peak mid-morning when tour groups arrive, so aim for opening time. Entry is paid at the gate in cash or card, and tickets are limited by timed entry, so check ahead in busy weeks.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Carara National Park is straightforward, with well-marked, mostly flat trails, though heat and humidity catch first-timers out. Start at 7 a.m., carry at least 2 liters of water, and wear closed shoes because the paths turn muddy after rain. Wildlife is the main thing to respect. Keep a few meters from the snakes, including the occasional fer-de-lance, and watch where you place hands and feet. Never feed monkeys or coatis. The famous crocodiles live at the Tárcoles River bridge outside the park, so stay on the sidewalk and keep back from the edge. Use insect repellent, and do not leave valuables in cars at the parking areas, where break-ins are the usual real problem.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Carara

One full day is enough for Carara National Park, and a half day covers the main trails. The Laguna Meándrica loop takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the Sendero Universal is a short, flat 1 km path. Add a second morning if you want guided birding or a visit to the Tárcoles River bridge for crocodiles.
Yes, Carara National Park works well without a car. Buses between San José and Jacó stop at the Tárcoles highway, roughly 2 hours from the capital, and the entrance is a short taxi ride or walk from there. From Jacó, a taxi takes about 25 minutes and costs around US$20 to 30, and some local tours include pickup.
Yes, Carara National Park charges an entrance fee of about US$10 to 12 for foreign adults, paid at the gate with cards accepted. No separate permit is needed for day hikes on the marked trails. It opens around 7 a.m. and closes in the afternoon, and arriving early is best for wildlife.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Costa Rican national parks near Carara

Explore more nearby:


💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Costa Rica including Carara and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all national parks

Or checkout all Costa Rica has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Costa Rica
Country photo of Costa Rica
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Carara National Park needs one morning, not a full day, since the trails are short and the forest quiets by midday. I would pair it with an overnight at a nearby beach town, arrive at opening and stay for two or three hours before the heat and tour buses take over.

✈️ When did I visit Costa Rica?
Costa Rica I visited during my half year trip through South and Central America back in 2003

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Costa Rica, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story