Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SCARLET MACAWS
With a shocking bright-red body, blue-and-yellow wings, a long, red tail and a white face,
the scarlet macaw(Ara macao)is one of the most visually arresting birds in the neotrop-
ical rainforest. It also mates for life and can live up to 75 years, flying across the forest
canopy in pairs, squawking like pterodactyls - there are few birds in Costa Rica with such
character, presence and beauty.
Prior to the 1960s the scarlet macaw was distributed across much of Costa Rica,
though trapping, poaching, habitat destruction and increased use of pesticides devast-
ated the population. By the 1990s the distribution was reduced to two isolated pockets:
the Península de Osa and Parque Nacional Carara.
Fortunately, these charismatic creatures are thriving in large colonies at both locales,
and sightings are virtually guaranteed if you have the time and patience to spare. Further-
more, despite this fragmentation, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
continues to evaluate the species as 'Least Concern,' which bodes well for the future of
this truly emblematic rainforest denizen.
Sights
With the help of a hired guide, it's possible to visit the archaeological remains of various
indigenous
burial sites
located within the park, though they're tiny and unexciting com-
pared to anything you might see in Mexico or Guatemala. At the time of the Europeans'
arrival in Costa Rica, these sites were located in an area inhabited by an indigenous group
known as the Huetar (Carara means 'crocodile' in the Huetar language). Unfortunately, not
much is known about this group, as little cultural evidence was left behind. Today the few
remaining Huetar are confined to several small villages in the Central Valley.
If you're driving from Puntarenas or San José, pull over to the left immediately after
crossing the Río Tárcoles bridge, also known as
Crocodile Bridge
. If you scan the sand-
banks below the bridge, you'll have a fairly good chance of seeing as many as 30 basking
crocodiles. Although they're visible year-round, the best time for viewing is low tide dur-
ing the dry season. Binoculars will help a great deal.
Crocodiles this large are generally rare in Costa Rica as they've been hunted vigorously
for their leather. However, the crocs are tolerated here as they feature prominently in a
