La Cangreja National Park
Puriscal, Costa Rica
the youngest national park in Costa Rica - La Cangreja National Park has an area of 2520 hectares and is located in the western central valley. La Cangreja was only declared a national park in 2002, making it the youngest national park in Costa Rica.
The park belongs to the Puriscal region and forms one of the main biological zones, tropical moist forests. The national park impresses with its very varied vegetation.
A number of endemic plant species are protected here; the jungle shows a typical transitional forest between tropical rainforest and dry forest. Numerous rivers, streams and waterfalls are located in the very attractive jungle area.
Particularly worthy of mention is the Rio Negro with the Quebrada Grande , beautiful jungle rivers with numerous swimming opportunities. The eponymous Cerro La Cangreja is a pointed thimble made of sparsely covered rock that is a "must" for sporty visitors.
Endemic plant species are: Plinia puriscalensis and the Ayenia Mastatalensis . Rare animal species: Cebus cappucinus (capuchin monkey), Tinamus Major (great tinamou, a strange species of duck), Dendrobates Auratus (golden treecreeper, a black and green poisonous toad, poison dart frog), Agalychnis Callidryas (red-eyed tree frog) and the critically endangered red macaw (lapa roja ). The NP Cangreja represents a very important flight path for the Lapa roja.
Historical:
The national park got its strange name "Cangreja", or cancer in German, from the 1305 m high boulder, which resembles a crab when viewed from the air. The valleys on the sides represent, with imagination, the legs of the crab.
In addition, the Indians tell in their legends that a long time ago an immense cancer reigned here and blocked the inhabitants of the forests from access to the sea. This situation lasted until a brave warrior cut off the crab's leg in battle. In his anger over the defeat, the injured crab then turned into a stone. 
Location:
Province: San José, Cantón: Puriscal, Distritos: Mercedes Sur and Chires
Area de Conservation Pacifico Central
Climate: Tropical forest, with the rainy season from May to November and dry season from December to March. Annual rainfall varies between 2000 and 4200 mm.
Excursions:
La Cangreja National Park is ideal for self-guided tours and excursions if you are traveling by rental car. Easy to reach as a day trip from the Central Valley (it takes about 1.5 hours to get there from Santa Ana) or as a stopover on the way to the Central Pacific.
