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Carara Biological Preserve, Mid Pacific Vacations and Luxury Travel Packages
Reachable from San Jose or Puntarenas, the Carara Preserve is to the left, directly beyond the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles. Carara means "crocodile" in the language of the Huetar Indians who originally lived in the area. With a bit of luck and patience you may be able to spot a crocodile from the bridge as it suns itself on the muddy river bank.
The popular Carara Preserve, with an area of 4,700 hectares, contains five vegetation zones. The zone at the mouth of the Rio Tarcoles is characterized by meadows and fields that average 3,000 mm of rain annually and register an average temperature of 27°C throughout the year. Many exotic animal species live in this protected environment: giant anteaters, ocelots, red-faced spider monkeys and poison arrow frogs. Birds also find this an ideal nesting area: spoonbills, storks, darters, trogons, motmots, toucans, and many pairs of bright red macaws search the mangrove swamps and rain forest for food and provide exotic subjects for visiting photographers.
The park also contains 15 different archeological sites that record nearly 2,000 years of Indian history and make the Carara a favorite destination of historians. The best time to visit is during the dry season, especially in the months of March and April.
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