Braulio Carrillo National Park

Located just north of San Jose, this park is dedicated to Lic. Braulio Carrillo, a national benefactor and Costa Rica’s 3rd Chief of State.  Bisecting the park is a highway built in 1987 that connects San Jose to Limon (home of one Costa Rica’s most valuable ports.) This road is the result of careful planning between politicians and conservationists and offers travelers many spectacular scenic overlooks.  The park lies on one of the most rugged regions of the country, where rivers have cut steep vertical canyons through mountains of thick virgin forest. The yellow waters of Rio Sucio (dirty river) carries volcanic minerals while the waters of Rio Hondura are crystal clear. Topography and high rate of rainfall (average 4.5 mm per year) combine to form an infinite number of waterfalls. Parque Nacional Braulio Carillo’s watershed is San Jose’s most important water source.

The park includes two extinct volcanoes, Barva and Cacho Negro. One of the many lakes at the foot of Volcan Barva is Laguna Barva, a green lake in an extinct crater.  About 95% of the country is covered with tall, dense, evergreen forest.  The tallest are those which grow in the lowlands facing the Caribbean plain.  It has been estimated that about 6,000 plant species exist in the park.  Tree ferns, heliconias, palm trees, oaks, bromeliads, and auraceous plants are abundant.  Birdlife is plentiful with 333 species recorded to date. These species include the barenecked umbrella bird, the solitary eagle, the clay-colored robin (Costa Rica’s national bird), and the quetzal (considered the most exquisite bird in the Americas).

San Jose Costa Rica

San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica. San Jose Costa Rica rests in the center of the wide and fertile Meseta Valley (Central Valley). Numerous museums and other sites dot San Jose Costa Rica, making it an interesting destination.

San Jose Costa Rica was originally settled in 1737 when the Catholic Church placed an edict which forced the populace to colonize near churches. In 1840 the capital was moved from Cartago to San Jose Costa Rica. The population of San Jose Costa Rica grew from 70,000 people in 1940 to being one of largest cities in Central America. San Jose Costa Rica was the third city in the world to have public electric lighting and one of the first to have public telephones. San Jose Costa Rica was also the first country in Latin America to offer free public education and allow girls to attend high school.

Downtown San Jose is small and best on foot as parking is difficult. Barrio Amon is a great place to walk. This area of town contains some of the remaining coffee baron mansions in San Jose Costa Rica. Most have been converted to restaurants or office buildings.  Teatro Nacional (National Theater) is in the center of town and is probably the most beautiful building in Costa Rica. It’s marble, tropical woods, gold, bronze, crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains, and intricate murals are stunning. Café del Teatro Nacional features changing art exhibits and serves salads, specialty coffee, and desserts.  Adjacent to The National Theater of San Jose Costa Rica is the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, where one can enjoy refresco natural on the veranda and listen to live music. The Plaza de la Cultura is a downtown area where artisans, traders, vendors, painters, and street musicians of San Jose Costa Rica meet. West of Plaza de la Cultura is Parque Central, an excellent place for people-watching. Open air concerts are sometimes featured here on the weekends for visitor and residents of San Jose Costa Rica. Parque Nacional is San Jose Costa Rica’s largest park and a perfect shaded place to sit and enjoy a snack.

Museums in San Jose Costa Rica are plentiful.  Museo de Oro (Museum of Gold) is perhaps the most noteworthy in San Jose Costa Rica.  It features over 2,000 pre-Columbian artifacts, a national coin collection, and occasional exhibitions of modern art. Museo de Ninos (Children’s Museum) of San Jose Costa Rica has brilliant interactive exhibits that engage children and adults alike.  Museo de Jade (Jade Museum) is a must see in San Jose Costa Rica and is located on the 11th floor of the INS building. Inside the Fabrica Nacional Licores (National Liquor Factory), also called the Centro Nacional de la Cultura y la Cienca (National Center of Culture and Science), is the Museum of Contemporary Arts and Design. This San Jose Costa Rica museum contains changing exhibits of photography, sculpture, and paintings. Museo National (National Museum) provides an overview of Costa Rica’s history and culture, including mysterious ancient stone spheres. San Jose Costa Rica also holds the Museo de Arte Costarricense (Musuem of Costa Rican Art).  Museo de Postal (Post Office Museum) houses an extensive national stamp collection. The eccentric Museo de Salle (aka Museum of Natural Science) contains a variety of exhibits ranging from stuffed animal bodies to a scaled model of a US space shuttle. Pueblo Antiguo (Old Village) is a recreation of old Costa Rica complete with actors.