Carara National Park gets universal access trail

Environment Minister René Castro and National System of Conservation Areas Executive Director Rafael Gutiérrez participated in an inauguration ceremony for the new trail on Monday. It is made of permeable concrete, and provides easy access for disabled and elderly visitors, with special ramps, wooden sculptures for visually impaired visitors to touch and nine multimedia stations with information about the park.

“This trail allows any person to safely and comfortably enjoy the national park, regardless of that person’s physical capabilities,” Gutiérrez said.

It was built in six months with the collaboration of private businesses, 400 volunteers, and the “Un Parque Para Todos” campaign, an initiative by Teletica Channel 7, Fundación ProParques and Valdesol, in which 150,000 donors gave money via text messages.

The Carara National Park is located 1 hour and 30 minutes from San José, 40 minutes from Puerto Caldera, and is close to the Costanera Sur, a route frequented by tourists visiting the central and south pacific part of the country.

The park is rich in flora and fauna biodiversity, and has one of the largest remaining populations of scarlet macaws in the country.

Castro also announced that another universal access trail soon will be inaugurated at the Volcan Tenorio National Park, in northwestern Costa Rica.