The Park is located on the volcanic Cordillera Central mountain range between San josé and Puerto limón on the Caribbean sea. It is available from the highway the lemon, which bisects the Park North-West to South-East, and from the Canton of Barva in the North. The Park is divided into three main sectors – Zurqui, Quebrada Gonzalez, and Barva. The different types of nature value you find here will blow your mind in various ways, the roots from the great tall trees, to the luscious waters of the sucio river that takes you through most of the beautiful park. 

The park protects 117,300 acres 183 square miles, 140 times the size of central park NYC, 4/10ths the size of Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado) and elevations range from 36 to 2900 meters (118 to 9514 feet). The habitats represented in Braulio Carrillo are cloud forest, margin/edge, regenerating tropical rainforest-lowland and tropical rainforest-upland. The plant life is an amazing life forms to look at, you can feel the oxygen being let off Because the landscape of Braulio Carrillo is so varied, so too is the vegetation found in the park.

There are great jungle views on all three of the Quebrada Gonzalez sector trails. This area of the Caribbean slope gets a lot of rainfall throughout the year so everything is lush and green. Moss, ferns, orchids, and bromeliads seem to be growing on and out of every surface. Some very large trees are found along the trails with huge canopies towering overhead. On the Ceibo Trail, there is a lookout point where you also can catch a glimpse of the Rio Sucio (Sucio River). This river is unique in that it carries volcanic minerals in its waters, which make the otherwise clear water change to a rusty brown. It was a little muddy when we visited but we could still see the rust-stained rocks along the banks.

This is a very interesting part of the National Park of Heredia, only accessible with a 4×4 vehicle (or at a long, extra walking distance). This is the Sector Barva Volcano, a long extinct volcano. You will have to pay 8$ for admission.

There is even a Highway Route in the works, in Costa Rica’s Caribbean-bound Route 32 Braulio Carrillo highway will remain open Thursday, contrary to earlier reports, the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) said Wednesday. Authorities had announced Monday the roadway would be closed Wednesday and Thursday morning between kilometers 20 and 28 so that the National Geological Institute could perform studies. The geological studies have been postponed and the highway will be open all day on Thursday. A new date for the studies has not been announced.

At the foot of the 2906 m high peak is the lagoon Barva, the crater with a diameter of 70 meters and a maximum depth of 8 m. Most of the lake is in the mist; the Lord of the Rings characters would have been happy in this forest. Above the first viewing point, you can climb a hiking trail to admire the lagoon from above. Another crater lake is after a relatively strenuous walk, the Laguna Copey. From the ranger station at the entrance to this sector of Braulio Carrillo National Park, there is a fairly flat 1.5-kilometer trail to the Laguna Barva, a rainwater filled lake inside a long-inactive crater. For the really intrepid (and well-prepared) hiker, there is a trail which descends down an elevational transect from the top of the volcano to a mere 35 meters above sea level at La Selva Biological Station– in other words, an almost 3,000 meter drop in 60 kilometers of trail. This hike takes about four days and requires serious planning. Prior permission should also be obtained from the Park Service.

Barva’s nearly 10,000-foot summit rises above the misty cloud forests and lush rainforests of Braulio Carrillo National Park. The national park is one of Costa Rica’s largest, spanning about 184 square miles within Heredia Province and San Jose Province. Barva and its surrounding park are located within the larger Central Volcanic Conservation Area, which protects several of Costa Rica’s famed volcanoes as well as several other parks and wildlife refuges. The dense vegetation of the area is home to the rare and brilliantly kaleidoscopic quetzal, which boasts a well-earned reputation as one of the most beautiful birds in the world. The region also plays host to a dizzying array of other creatures, including jaguars, pumas, peccaries, tapirs and several species of monkeys.

With its variety of volcanic peaks, misty cloud forests, vibrant wildlife and great outdoor recreational opportunities, Costa Rica is one of the hottest vacation destinations in the world. The small Central American country offers something for everyone, from challenging hikes and adrenaline-filled activities for younger travelers to beautiful, placid retreats for couples and retirees. Perhaps Costa Rica’s most popular features are its many volcanic peaks. Scenic mountains like Arenal and Poas draw visitors from all around the world, but if you’re looking for something a bit further off the beaten path, a trip to Barva volcano may be exactly what you seek.