Barva Volcanoe :
Travel
to Costa Rica
Although Barva Volcano
has not been active for many millennia, it is in some
ways more attractive than either of its neighbors
in the Central Volcanic Cordillera, Poás and
Irazú. Barva's dormancy has allowed the majestic
highland forest to cover its misty summit, and thus,
the associated wildlife is more abundant here than
at the two aforementioned volcanoes. At 2906 meters
above sea level at its highest point, Barva reaches
200 meters higher than Poás, yet does not approach
the timberline as Irazú does at another 500
meters in elevation.
From the ranger station
at the entrance to this sector of Braulio Carrillo
National Park, there is a fairly flat 1.5-kilometer
trail to the Laguna Barva, a rainwater filled lake
inside a long-inactive crater. For the really intrepid
(and well-prepared) hiker, there is a trail which
descends down an elevational transect from the top
of the volcano to a mere 35 meters above sea level
at La Selva Biological Station -- in other
words, an almost 3,000 meter drop in 60 kilometers
of trail. This hike takes about four days and requires
serious planning. Prior permission should also be
obtained from the Park Service.
The epiphyte-laden cloud
forests on top of Barva Volcano are home to many beautiful
birds found only in the highlands, a few examples
being the Resplendent Quetzal, Golden-browed Chlorophonia,
Flame-throated Warbler, and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher.
Getting there: To
drive all the way to the Barva Volcano ranger station,
a four-wheel-drive vehicle with good clearance is
necessary, otherwise you'll have to park about three
kilometers down the hill from the station and walk
up. Even getting that far, however, is not easy since
the route is not well marked.
From San José,
drive to Heredia and head north out of town towards
Barva; from here, continue on to the villages of Birrí,
Porrosatí, and Sacramento (where the pavement
ends). The route winds up through coffee plantations
and dairy farms and is quite scenic, but since there
are several places where you could take a wrong turn,
it's a good idea to ask directions frequently. The
best way to see this part of Braulio Carrillo National
Park is probably to use the services of an experienced
local tour operator.
Climate: The high
elevation of Barva Volcano means cool temperatures,
so have several layers of clothing to be comfortable.
From May through November, afternoon showers are a
strong likelihood. It can be blustery and misty from
December through February. March and April are the
driest and calmest months, but even then you could
get wet. Waterproof footwear is highly recommended.
History: The creation
of the extension of Braulio Carrillo National Park
from Barva Volcano down to the Atlantic lowlands,
where the park abuts the La Selva Biological Station,
was an ambitious achievement in tropical conservation.
Declared a Protected Zone in 1982, this altitudinal
transect of almost 3,000 meters in elevation was officially
decreed as part of the park by the out-going President
Luis Alberto Monge in 1986, after an international
campaign had been successful in raising more than
two million dollars for purchasing the 12,700 hectares
of land in question.
The various life zones
protected in this extension to the park are important
not only as home to the plants and animals that are
adapted to live in each of them, but also as seasonal
home to the many creatures, particularly birds, that
migrate up and down slopes within the tropics in search
of food resources, especially flowering and/or fruiting
plants.
