Barbilla National Park

Barbilla National Park is located on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica, within the SINAC Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area. The park protects 11,938 ha (29,500 acres) of humid lowland rainforest along the Caribbean slopes of the Talamancan mountain range.

The park also protects the Dantas River Watershed, an important water source for the people and animals of the region. In addition, Barbilla National Park is a part of the Talamanca-La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, located next to the Chirripó Indigenous Reserve.

Barbilla National Park is home to one of the largest indigenous groups in Costa Rica, with a population of nearly 17,000: the Cabécar, which continues to lead a modestly traditional existence.

Many Cabécar settlements today are located inside reserves established by Costa Rican law to protect indigenous ancestral homelands. Today, the Bribri and Cabécar indigenous groups are known collectively as the Talamanca.

Barbilla National Park is one of the country's least-visited parks, which has allowed the park to remain ecologically rich and diverse. Rare and even endangered species live within the park, including jaguars, ocelots, pumas, tapirs, howler and spider monkeys, and rare birds like the sun heron or Tolomuco.

Altitudes and weather conditions are changeable throughout the park. The highest point is Cerro Tigre, with a peak of 1,167 m (3,828 ft). The lowest valley has an elevation of only 110 m (360 ft). Low clouds and fog routinely cover sections in mist and shade.

Annual rainfall of 3,500 - 4,500 mm (137 - 177 in) keeps the park wet and verdant, allowing biological diversity to flourish. Unfortunately, several species are endangered, including the puma, jaguar, ocelot, tapir, and several birds of prey.

The Barbilla Biological Station, which the National Institute of Biodiversity runs, is located within the park.