Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo
Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo
Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo
4.5
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4.5
338 reviews
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José Luis M
63 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Good, although I think that the Canopy and tickets to the national parks should have the same price for nationals as for foreigners. The opposite fosters the culture that outsiders must be charged more without valuing the effort to get there. It seems to me to be a very bad practice in Costa Rica in general.
Written 9 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mnzamora
Costa Rica162 contributions
Feb 2022
We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and wanted to visit a different national park in Costa Rica and close to San Jose. We decided to visit Braulio carillo and chose the second entrance of this park which is the easiest and most popular the Zurqui ranger station. It is just 12 miles (20 km) northeast of San Jose along the Guapiles Hwy (32) and we surprised with a mysterious but lovely animal (An anteater) that was hidden in a tree, this was the first time we ever saw an anteater in the wild such a lovely animal.
Written 21 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fatima Delgado Salas
Heredia, Costa Rica33 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
It is a National Park in Heredia that is little talked about, very cheap for nationals.
In April 2024 they only accepted card payment and you pay on site, not purchase through the SINAC website like other national parks.
The trails are small and easy to access so you won't get too tired, it is perfect to get out of the routine near San José, if you pay attention and are lucky you will be able to see monkeys, snakes, frogs, toads, insects, birds and many more species.
In April 2024 they only accepted card payment and you pay on site, not purchase through the SINAC website like other national parks.
The trails are small and easy to access so you won't get too tired, it is perfect to get out of the routine near San José, if you pay attention and are lucky you will be able to see monkeys, snakes, frogs, toads, insects, birds and many more species.
Written 1 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul M
New Hampshire23 contributions
Feb 2020
Very nice! Rode through the rainforest in a covered gondola. Saw/heard a couple animals but this is more of a botanical adventure. Guide was very informative and friendly. About an hour from San Jose' as I recall and a beautiful drive between the two points.
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Surie C
San Jose, Costa Rica6 contributions
June 2018 • Couples
My life partner was killed when a rotten tree fell. We were not advised that we should get out when it rains. Maintenance of the trails should trail should include checking on the health and safety of the trees around the trails. Ranger station didn’t had rescue kit. Ranger didn’t even know how to check her pulse. Worst day of my life. A living nightmare. Please be more aware. Hope it never happens again and this helps. Love You Allison.
Written 26 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric O
Madison WI37 contributions
Braulio Carrillo NP is a huge expanse of park between San Jose and the Carribean coast. Much of it is inaccessible except to the most hardened hikers, climbers and rafters, but there are three points of entry that are much more straightforward for tourists who want the experience of entering a large swath of primary rainforest or cloud forest without either travelling too far or dealing with throngs of other tourists.
In the north, there's puesto Barva, which is near Sacramento. We unfortunately did not have the time to get up there. The scenery and experience would be quite different, as the northern areas of the park are roughly 3000 feet higher in altitude than the central and southern lowlands, offering a completely differnet ecosystem.
Along Highway 32 out of San Jose (to Guapiles) you'll pay a small toll and then you're in the park. There are two stations, one at the Zurqui tunnel, and one further northeast at Quebrada Gonzales. Zurqui has no public sanitary facilities, but has a very nice hiking trail. Gonzales has facilites and three trails. One trail loops into the forest to the south, the other two connect on the north end, and skirt the banks of the Rio Sucio. The Sucio is a bright orange, due to sulfur deposits, and some of the views of the river from the trail are quite striking. The trails are often steep, rocky, and wet, and on one of them it did require wading across a stream. It's also hot and humid, so dress accordingly. The combined trails by the rio sucio are about 3-5km, although will take longer than a comparable walk because of the changes in terrain. The area is also teeming with wildlife, so keep a sharp eye out for various birds, leafcutter ants, and reptiles. It's also a birder's paradise, so bring binoculars.
Parking/use of the park is roughly $6. The park is, however, not heavily-staffed, so don't leave your vehicle at locations other than the ranger stations. There are many breathtaking lookout points along the highway, viewing the Rio Patria and Cerro Cacho Negro - they're great spots for pictures but don't be tempted to wander off down impromptu trails - they're not monitored regularly, not maintained at all, and may make you easy prey for petty crime.
The views are, however, magnificent. Enormous vistas of green, even in the dry season (which, is never really dry). The mornings are often foggy and overcast, however.
At the southern end of the park are some commercial entites offering canopy tours. Not affiliated with the park directly, but close enough as to make no odds, these may be more family-friendly than a slippery hike into the rainforest. Additionally, since it's on the highway from San Jose to the coast, it's at the very least nice scenery and photo ops on a trip to Puerta Vieja or Tortuguero.
Regardless of how you visit, it's really a fantastic experience. It's a rare chunk of ecosystem filled with rare and unsual wildlife and plants, and it's less than 30 minutes from a major city.
In the north, there's puesto Barva, which is near Sacramento. We unfortunately did not have the time to get up there. The scenery and experience would be quite different, as the northern areas of the park are roughly 3000 feet higher in altitude than the central and southern lowlands, offering a completely differnet ecosystem.
Along Highway 32 out of San Jose (to Guapiles) you'll pay a small toll and then you're in the park. There are two stations, one at the Zurqui tunnel, and one further northeast at Quebrada Gonzales. Zurqui has no public sanitary facilities, but has a very nice hiking trail. Gonzales has facilites and three trails. One trail loops into the forest to the south, the other two connect on the north end, and skirt the banks of the Rio Sucio. The Sucio is a bright orange, due to sulfur deposits, and some of the views of the river from the trail are quite striking. The trails are often steep, rocky, and wet, and on one of them it did require wading across a stream. It's also hot and humid, so dress accordingly. The combined trails by the rio sucio are about 3-5km, although will take longer than a comparable walk because of the changes in terrain. The area is also teeming with wildlife, so keep a sharp eye out for various birds, leafcutter ants, and reptiles. It's also a birder's paradise, so bring binoculars.
Parking/use of the park is roughly $6. The park is, however, not heavily-staffed, so don't leave your vehicle at locations other than the ranger stations. There are many breathtaking lookout points along the highway, viewing the Rio Patria and Cerro Cacho Negro - they're great spots for pictures but don't be tempted to wander off down impromptu trails - they're not monitored regularly, not maintained at all, and may make you easy prey for petty crime.
The views are, however, magnificent. Enormous vistas of green, even in the dry season (which, is never really dry). The mornings are often foggy and overcast, however.
At the southern end of the park are some commercial entites offering canopy tours. Not affiliated with the park directly, but close enough as to make no odds, these may be more family-friendly than a slippery hike into the rainforest. Additionally, since it's on the highway from San Jose to the coast, it's at the very least nice scenery and photo ops on a trip to Puerta Vieja or Tortuguero.
Regardless of how you visit, it's really a fantastic experience. It's a rare chunk of ecosystem filled with rare and unsual wildlife and plants, and it's less than 30 minutes from a major city.
Written 21 December 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alook09
Chicago, IL41 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
We stayed overnight at Braulio Carillo within the National Park in their Rainforest Lodge. I'm not sure many people know that this is an option - you can stay in a bungalow in the middle of the rainforest for a very decent price (about $80/night)! The bungalows are very spacious and VERY nice. Probably the nicest accommodations we saw while in Costa Rica. It is PITCH BLACK at night and very quiet. Only the noise of the nature surrounding you! Staying there was a great experience.
When we arrived at the park we sat down with the staff and they put together a package deal for us. We stayed for two days - two nights in the lodge, had two tram rides with a guide, had a night walk with a guide, had all our meals at the restaurant on site, did white water rafting and zip lining. They gave us a GREAT deal for all of that. The rafting and zip lining was great!
The staff at the park is VERY service-oriented, friendly, and helpful. The food at the restaurant was good too. The park was not overrun by tourists and we had a quiet, relaxing time exploring the rainforest.
Highly recommended!
When we arrived at the park we sat down with the staff and they put together a package deal for us. We stayed for two days - two nights in the lodge, had two tram rides with a guide, had a night walk with a guide, had all our meals at the restaurant on site, did white water rafting and zip lining. They gave us a GREAT deal for all of that. The rafting and zip lining was great!
The staff at the park is VERY service-oriented, friendly, and helpful. The food at the restaurant was good too. The park was not overrun by tourists and we had a quiet, relaxing time exploring the rainforest.
Highly recommended!
Written 7 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GT2_Law
Atlanta, Georgia, United States160 contributions
June 2014 • Family
We went on the aerial tram tour. It offers breath taking views of the rainforest. You truly get to see the diversity of the rainforest from up high and down low while in the tram. This was a wonderful experience. We saw beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds flying by us. (Wear a red shirt and the hummingbirds will think you are a flower, at least, until you move.) We also heard the sounds of toucans and howler monkeys. Our guide was knowledgeable and very friendly. We did not have the opportunity to go on the trails but they looked well marked. We'll have to do that next time. This is a beautiful park. I highly recommend you visit it as a day trip from the San Jose area.
Written 12 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trek-Always
Alpharetta, GA2,522 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
We drove all the way through the park going north on highway 32. It is winding, crosses the continental divide, and quite lovely the whole length. We saw sloths, toucans, and many kinds of flora unique to this area.
We took a short hike on an old construction road just beyond Sibu Chocolate (a must see activity) in the cloud forest. On such a hike conditions are often muddy, rocky, and require good shoes and a rain jacket. Walking through dense, primary, tropical forest land is an experience to be treasured. Lots of flora and fauna to be seen up close.
It took about 2.0-2.5 hours from San Jose to drive all the way through the park not including side trips and stops. Worth the time.
If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.
We took a short hike on an old construction road just beyond Sibu Chocolate (a must see activity) in the cloud forest. On such a hike conditions are often muddy, rocky, and require good shoes and a rain jacket. Walking through dense, primary, tropical forest land is an experience to be treasured. Lots of flora and fauna to be seen up close.
It took about 2.0-2.5 hours from San Jose to drive all the way through the park not including side trips and stops. Worth the time.
If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.
Written 12 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kitajenn8709
Atlanta, GA115 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
We took the 6 in 1 rainforest tour from San Jose which included a direct pickup from our Condo.
Pros:
- Our tour guide for the animals, tram and in the van (Edgar) was great! He was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Costa Rica and the wildlife.
- We got to see a hummingbird exhibit which was really cool!
- We learned about the different species of frogs and snakes in Costa Rica.
- We took an amazing tram ride of the upper and lower rainforest! The sights were amazing!
- Our tour guides for the zipline tour (Joseph & Dennis) was incredible! The entire experience ziplining was sooo much fun and something I always wanted to do. The ziplining was very safe and secure. The sights were amazing!
- Lunch was provided with our tour which was a traditional Costa Rican meal which was delicious.
- Lockers were available to rent to store your baggage.
- I saw a sloth lol!
Cons:
- If going during the rainy season as I did, you will get caught in rain while on the tour. But that made the rainforest tour even better! But we did miss the butterfly exhibit.
- Our driver, Andreas, was terrible! He almost got into an accident going to the park and back to San Jose. On the way to the park, he was not paying attention and almost ran into the back of the vehicle in front of him. Returning from the park, he tried passing a gasoline truck into oncoming traffic. He ran out of space and almost crashed into the truck or an oncoming vehicle. That was TERRIFYING and which is why I am not giving the tour a 5 star rating.
Overall I would do the tour and recommend it but ensure Andreas is not my driver!
Pros:
- Our tour guide for the animals, tram and in the van (Edgar) was great! He was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Costa Rica and the wildlife.
- We got to see a hummingbird exhibit which was really cool!
- We learned about the different species of frogs and snakes in Costa Rica.
- We took an amazing tram ride of the upper and lower rainforest! The sights were amazing!
- Our tour guides for the zipline tour (Joseph & Dennis) was incredible! The entire experience ziplining was sooo much fun and something I always wanted to do. The ziplining was very safe and secure. The sights were amazing!
- Lunch was provided with our tour which was a traditional Costa Rican meal which was delicious.
- Lockers were available to rent to store your baggage.
- I saw a sloth lol!
Cons:
- If going during the rainy season as I did, you will get caught in rain while on the tour. But that made the rainforest tour even better! But we did miss the butterfly exhibit.
- Our driver, Andreas, was terrible! He almost got into an accident going to the park and back to San Jose. On the way to the park, he was not paying attention and almost ran into the back of the vehicle in front of him. Returning from the park, he tried passing a gasoline truck into oncoming traffic. He ran out of space and almost crashed into the truck or an oncoming vehicle. That was TERRIFYING and which is why I am not giving the tour a 5 star rating.
Overall I would do the tour and recommend it but ensure Andreas is not my driver!
Written 5 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In 2 weeks we should be in Costa Rica and on our way to Tortuguero would like to Visit Braulio for tram ride. Can we buy tickets for the tram ride at the Park without doing other activities And if are the rides timed.
Thank you
Written 5 February 2020
Yes you can do just the tram, that was all I did. Note that it is not actually in the National Park but adjacent in the Rainforest Adventures venue on border of park. The tram opened at 8 AM and was not busy that early, but you have a boat to catch for Tortuguero, so I would call Rainforest Adventures and ask about the time. It is the longest tram in CR and I think takes more than an hour, depending on how many people the are loading, etc.
Written 6 February 2020
On our drive to Tartuguero we would like to stop and do tram ride without tour as we have only 2 hours available. Does anybody know whether this is possible and whether we can book tickets in advance. Thank you
Written 5 February 2020
Yes it is possible even without a reservation if not too busy, but 2 hours is pushing it for the longest tram in Costa Rica. Call them and tell your situation. And don't miss your boat to Tortuguero! :-)
Written 5 February 2020
bette
Trussville, Alabama
Hi, we will be traveling on Mar 26, 2019, and will have all our luggage in the car when we stop. Is it safe to leave our luggage unattended while we visit the park?
Written 22 March 2019
Hi, In my opinion it is safe. I think that you won't have any problem. Have a nice trip.
Written 24 March 2019
florenceberlioz
Lyon, France
Où se trouve l entrée du parc quand on vient de san José par la route 32 ?
Written 6 October 2017
Hola, puede tomar en San Jose el Autobus que va a Guapiles
mpresarios Guapileños, +506 2222-2727 / +506 2222-0610)
Le indica al chofer que requiere bajarse en el parque
Tambien puede llamar a estas lines de autobus
(Rapiditos Heredianos, +506 2233-8392 / Busetas Heredianas, +506 2261-7171 / Transportes Unidos La 400, +506 2222-8986) y de ahà tomar otro autobús con la ruta Heredia – Sacramento – Volcán Barva
Written 21 November 2017
hola, cuanto te costo el recorrido en el teleférico y la entrada al parque? hay algún lugar cerca para almorzar sabroso¡¡?
Written 20 September 2017
En cuanto al costo lo pagamos a una agencia de viajes con otros tours y el costo estaba incluido en el , asi que no te lo puedo informar. Dentro del Parque hay un restaurante de tenedor libre que se come bien y rico
Written 22 September 2017
rcano33
Leon, Mexico
Costo de entrada , tiempo de recorrido, que incluye y como llegar. Gracias por el apoyo
Written 22 July 2017
Gracias Beatriz S. es la segunda vez que vamos a costa Rica y lo básico lo hemos visto, por eso querÃamos algo diferente relativamente cerca de San José.
Written 26 May 2017
Merece la pena Braulio Carrillo por su fauna? Se ven muchos animales? la entrada es mejor por el volcán barva o por quebrada González? y si me pueden indicar algún parque Nacional cerca de San José donde se vea más fauna que en Braulio Carrillo se lo agradezco. gracias
Written 26 May 2017
Hola, me parece que el Braulio Carrillo tiene muchos animales, yo he visto muchos pájaros, una serpiente y cantidad de insectos. Los animales más grandes son muy difÃciles de ver, como las Dantas o los felinos. Nosotros entramos al parque por Quebrada Gonzalez. Hay parque a ambos lados de la carretera y el guardaparques indica que hay algunas diferencias en fauna dependiendo del lado de la calle.
Desconozco sobre la comparación en fauna con otros parques.
Written 26 May 2017
Cuanto tiempo toma llegar ahà desde San José? Cada cuanto pasan los buses? Se puede ir en un dÃa y volver?
Written 29 April 2017
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