About relatively Barbilla National Park

Barbilla National Park Costa Rica originally established as a biological reserve dated in March 16, 1982 to conserve and preserve and wet tropical lowland rainforests on the Talamanca Mountain Range's Caribbean slope. It was later designated as a national park in 1998. It is part of the Talamanca La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, which was established by UNESCO to conserve the country's major ecological systems.

The Cabécar, Costa Rica's second biggest indigenous community, has a rich culture and history, and they live in the park. Hunting and fishing, as well as the planting of bananas, yucca, and grains, are their main sources of income. It is, in fact, adjacent to the Chirripo Indigenous Reservation, which maintains a traditional modest lifestyle.

Protecting flora and fauna

The main goal of the Barbilla National Park is to protect a large area of pristine Tropical Rain Forest with a wide range of flora and fauna, including pumas, jaguars, ocelots, tolomucos (Eira barbara), tapirs, monkeys, and many endangered bird species. Birdwatchers will enjoy the park because it is home to rare species of birds such as the heron.

The Dantas River Basin, the Dos Ramas Sector, Ayil Lagoon, and Cerro Tigre, the park's highest point, are also protected. The lowland tropical rainforest of Barbilla National Park is almost totally covered in species such as the banak (Virola sebifera) as well as the palms.

This region is extremely wet, with innumerable rivers rising there and flowing into the Pacuare River, housing a wide variety of sizes tropical wet forest and tropical very wet forest, making the park's region an important water resource of vital importance for supplying potable water to nearby communities and animal life.

What makes Barbilla National Park Costa Rica special

It has the distinction of being one of Costa Rica's least visited national parks, as well as being relatively pristine and environmentally diversified.. The park's major appeal is rugged hiking routes that generally follow the Dantas and Barbilla rivers. The area is highly moist, with annual rainfall ranging from 3,500 mm to 4,00 mm, requiring the maintenance of forest cover to avoid fast erosion induced by intense rainfall.

The National Biodiversity Institute administers the Barbilla Biological Station, which includes an administrative building with potable water, sanitary services, electricity, and a radio communication system in Brisas de Pacuarito town, where research efforts are focused on species classification and insect parataxonomy. 

The park, which is around 20 kilometers from Siquirres, is difficult to reach. As a result, and due to the lack of basic amenities, trips are only recommended for those who are accustomed to hiking in these conditions and should be guided by local guides. Pacuare River Forest Reserve and La Amistad International are two other neighboring parks.