Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica

The Arenal National Park in Costa Rica is located in the northern region, north of the Sierra de Tilarán. It belongs to the cantons of Tilarán, San Carlos and San Ramon. Its area is about 2920 hectares.

Before 1968, this was considered an extinct volcano and was even believed that it was not a volcano. It was known as Cerro Arenal in Costa Rica. On July 29, 1968 it began an active period opening three craters into the west side. The crater A, with an altitude of 1000 meters, caused the explosion, emanating a pyroclastic flow, which devastated 12 km, disappearing village of Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacon and killing about 87 people. In September of that year began broadcasting lava from the crater A, which remained active until 1973, when the activity migrates to the crater C at an altitude of 1450 meters. This crater is still active to this day, is characterized by lava flows on an ongoing basis, of basaltic andesite and explosions of pyroclastic materials and constant emission of gases.

Is considered an aquifer recharge zone in Costa Rica, where water draining to the Arenal Reservoir for use in the production of hydropower and agricultural projects in the Irrigation District of Moravia. The climate of the region in Costa Rica is very diverse and has influences from both the Pacific and Atlantic. The annual temperature varies between 21 and 27.5 ° C. The average annual precipitation is 3,500 mm to 5,000 mm. Altitudes ranging from 40 meters to 2000 meters. The rainy season is from May to January and February to April dry.

Arenal National Park in Costa Rica has three areas of life: premontane very wet forest, premontane pluvial rainforest and the montane pluvial forest. In these areas of life the most common species of flora are the guava bush, the laurel, the cocobolo, the nispero, the balsa and others. This park is a living laboratory, given its rich geological and geomorphological features and the complexity in the development of biological processes, from a pioneer vegetation to a dense  primary forest.

Among the most conspicuous species of plants we can find the Guayabo de Monte, the cebo, the Ceiba, Cirri, Laurel, Higuerones, Pilón, guarumo, Balsa, different species of palms, heliconias, orchids, ferns and bromeliads including endemic species: Pitcaimia Funkiae. In the park there are different evolutionary stages of soil and vegetation, it can be seen as a colonizing plants, such as the orchid Epidendrum genre. The main species of fauna are the tepezcuinte, tapir, deer, jaguar, peccaries, pizotes, howler monkeys, colored and white face monkeys and a variety of snakes. Birds like parrots, sergeants, orioles, brown magpie, little parrots, hummingbirds, bird bell and quetzals also can be found in this beautiful park.

Braulio Carrillo National Park in Costa Rica

Braulio Carrillo National Park in Costa Rica bears the name of meritorious Dr. Braulio Carillo, a benefactor and the third national president elected in Costa Rica. The park is located in one of the most difficult region to access in the country; almost all land is made up of skyscrapers Mountain of volcanic origin.

The flora of the park is composed by green and thick vegetation, with a very complex structure. The composition of the forest changes depending on environmental conditions, such as terrain, drainage, temperature and precipitation levels.

Braulio Carrillo National Park is considered of great importance because it protects many of the streams that are born and flows through the Central Valley. With its high and rugged mountains, lush forests, two extinct volcanoes, beautiful waterfalls, winding rivers and its wonderful rain forest, the travel trough this park can be an unforgettable experience for those who love nature.

The park is habitat for more than 500 species of birds, 6000 species of trees and plants and over 135 species of animals. The Braulio Carrillo National Park is the home of the magnificent Quetzal and also the habitat of two almost extinguished species of trees, the palm tree and the tepezcuintle. The toucans, iguanas, eagles, jaguars, tapirs and monkeys are some of the birds and animals that can be seen throughout the park. You can also find in this park the Bushmater, the most poisonous snake in Central and South America.

Braulio Carillo National Park is located 20 kilometers north-east of San Jose, the most visited section is in the south of the park, accessible by road to the Atlantic coast or by the town of Siquirres. It has an area of 45,899 hectares.

Poas Volcano National Park in Costa Rica

The Poas Volcano National Park is on the Cordillera Central of Costa Rica and was created on January 25, 1971. The Poas Volcano National Park in Costa Rica is one of the greatest natural attractions for tourism nationally and internationally. It is one of the areas of the system National Parks that receives greater influx of visitors.

Poas is a volcano that is over 2700 meters high. This is one of the most impressive volcanoes in Costa Rica, with tropical scenes that make you lose your breath. The land in this area is ideal for growing products and is an area of considerable potential for hydrological and geothermal energy.

Costa Rica Poas Volcano Lake

The Poas Volcano of Costa Rica is one of the most spectacular volcanoes in the country with and extraordinary scenic beauty. It has several types of habitats such as little forests, areas with low vegetation, an area of myrtles and beautiful cloud forests. In the last type of forest, there are an abundance of epiphytic plants like mosses, ferns, bromeliads and orchids that grow on tree trunks. However is most common to identify four major habitats that are dominated by the high mountain forest, with pygmy vegetation, also is possible to find cloud forest and areas with little or no vegetation. The flora of this area includes, but is not limited to cedar and cypress.

Some of the animals living in the park are the marmots, bats, toucans and quetzals, among the most common.  Additional to the main crater Botos, there is the Botos Lake and the cone von Frantzius and at least half a dozen other pyroclastic cones in the vicinity, consisting of dried lava and ash.  This park is located on the north-east of Alajuela, located adjacent to San Jose (the capital of Costa Rica) in a distance of 37 kilometers away, in the so-called Central Valley. The park has an area of 5599 hectares.