Both the large size 108.970 acres of national Park Braulio Carrillo, and its varied altitude of 3.000 meters 9.800 m between the highest and lowest points, make it a few ecoregions. Ranging from highland cloud forests to lowland rainforest, it has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Costa Rica. More than 90% of the Park territory is covered with forest. 

Braulio Carrillo is a large park, protecting some 47,500 hectares or 117,375 acres of land.  The terrain is varied, ranging from 36 – 2,900 meters or 118 – 9,514 feet in elevation.  The park protects several habitats including cloud forest, rainforest, and river habitats.  There are many hiking trails, though the primary trails are located just off of Rt.32 at the main park entrance.

The Park contains landscapes representing the Talamancan ecoregions of montane forests at high elevations and the Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests at low altitudes. Imagine walking through a wonderful bright green rainforest and seeing giants trees that stand above you like skyscrapers but instead of glass and bricks, there full of life and woods that will help nourish the other plants and us with tons of oxygen.

Visitors can admire the manu, caoba, roble, caobilla, gavilan, among others, and trees like the botarrama, ceiba, yos, lorito and ojoche. There are many various types of plants and trees found here throughout the whole park but some of the main ones are what you see daily walking but what if you go deeper to discover other secret living organisms and plants. Each plant can tell you a story of their life, with the way there nourished and brought out of the rich soil with pure water, sun and love from others animals and plants surrounding them. The life of plants and greens is something that will take your breath away with more information on how they grow with communication through the soil. Theres more to plants than green colors!

Here are some of the most seen plants found in Costa Rica parks, Many are hidden under giants trees and moss but will bloom through there magnificent colors that are breathtaking.

Strangler fig (Ficus aurea) — This parasitic tree gets its name from the fact that it envelops and eventually strangles its host tree. The matapalo (“tree killer”) begins as an epiphyte, whose seeds are deposited high in a tree’s canopy by bats, birds, or monkeys. The young strangler then sends long roots down to the earth. The sap is used to relieve burns. 

Cecropia (Cecropia obtusifolia) — Several cecropia (trumpet tree) species are found in Costa Rica. Most are characterized by large, handlike clusters of broad leaves, and a hollow, bamboo-like trunk. They are “gap specialists,” fast-growing opportunists that can fill in a gap caused by a tree fall or landslide. Their trunks are usually home to Aztec ants. 

Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) — The bark of the gumbo limbo is its most distinguishing feature: A paper-thin red outer layer, when peeled off the tree, reveals a bright green bark. In Costa Rica, the tree is called indio desnudo (naked Indian). In other countries, it is the “tourist tree.” Both names refer to its reddish, flaking outer bark. The bark is used as a remedy for gum disease; gumbo limbo–bark tea allegedly alleviates hypertension. 

Guaria morada (Cattleya skinneri) — The guaria morada orchid is the national flower of Costa Rica. Sporting a purple and white flower, this plant is also called the “Easter orchid,” as it tends to flower between March and April each year. 

Heliconia (Heliconia collinsiana) — More than 40 of the world’s species of tropical heliconia are found in Costa Rica. The flowers of this species are darkish pink in color, and the underside of the plant’s large leaves are coated in white wax. 

Hotlips (Psychotria poeppigiana) — Related to coffee, hotlips is a forest flower that boasts thick red “lips” that resemble the Rolling Stones logo. The small white flowers (found inside the red “lips”) attract a variety of butterflies and hummingbirds.