Carara National Park

Protected Rainforest

Carara National Park

Where scarlet macaws cross the rainforest canopy

15 minutes from Macaw Crest 12 km away

The Place

Carara National Park sits at the biological transition zone between the dry forests of the northwest and the rainforests of the south — making it one of the most biodiverse parks in Costa Rica relative to its size. Its most famous residents are the scarlet macaws that nest in the park and fly across the Tarcoles River valley each evening, a spectacle visible from the park's trails and the highway bridge.

The park's flat, accessible loop trails make it one of the few Costa Rican reserves where families and casual hikers can experience primary rainforest without a strenuous trek. Wildlife is abundant: trogons, manakins, agoutis, white-faced capuchins, and the occasional crocodile along the riverbanks.

From Macaw Crest, Carara is a 15-minute drive down the mountain — close enough to become a regular morning walk. The same macaw flocks that nest in Carara fly up to the Bijagual ridge, which is why they are a daily sight from the homesites.

What You'll Experience

Signature moments near Carara National Park

Scarlet macaw nesting and evening flyover spectacle

Flat, family-friendly loop trails through primary rainforest

Transitional biodiversity — dry-forest and rainforest species overlap

Trogon, manakin and capuchin sightings

15 minutes from Macaw Crest

Stories from Carara National Park

The area, through the Macaw Crest lens

2026-08-26 · Journal

Experiencing the Magic of Carara National Park

Discover why Carara National Park is a top destination for nature lovers and how Macaw Crest offers the perfect luxury gateway.

Latest from Carara National Park

Enhanced Trail Access at Carara National Park

New improvements to the primary loop trails at Carara National Park make exploring the rainforest easier than ever for residents of Macaw Crest.

Your Basecamp

Live above it all at Macaw Crest Estates

Twenty-six homesites rise 1,500 feet above the Pacific, minutes from Carara National Park yet worlds apart in serenity. Claim your ridge — and let the coast, the canopy, and the waterfall be your everyday.

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