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Carara Biological
Reserve
Carara presents a wide variety of plant life
with evergreens being particularly predominant.
The reserve possesses several ecosystems,
including marshlands, a lagoon, and primary,
secondary and gallery forests.
The marshland is rich in waterfowl, wading
birds, amphibians and reptiles that are found
in these environments. The lagoon is completely
covered with water hyacinths and other floating
aquatic plants. The primary forests occupying
most of the reserve are species-rich, multi-layered,
and have an abundance of creeping vines and
epiphytes. The tallest trees include such
species as espave, silk cotton, wild fig,
nargusta and quamwood, a very spectacular
tree during the dry season when it is covered
with yellow flowers.
Amphibians and reptiles are abundant. Crocodiles
measuring up to three meters long are widely
distributed and easy to sight in the Grande
de Tarcoles River. Waterfowl such as roseate
spoonbills, anhingas, jacanas, pied-bellied
grebes and Mexican tiger-bitterns are also
in attendance. The fauna is abundant in spite
of the isolated location of the reserve. Among
the mammals, the four-eyed opossum, two-toed
sloth, agouti, kinkajou, tayra, margay cat,
collared peccary and white-tailed deer are
found. A particularly conspicuous bird in
Carara, notable for its beautiful bright blue,
red and yellow plumage, and the fact that
it has all but disappeared from the Dry Pacific,
is the scarlet macaw. Other species include
the collared aracari, American egret, great
tinamou and turkey vulture.
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Surfing
Snorkeling
