Scarlet Macaw Clay Lick Gathering — Carara National Park

About this spectacle

At Carara National Park's clay lick, scarlet macaws descend in raucous, colour-saturated flocks to gnaw mineral-rich clay from exposed riverbank or roadside faces. Visitors witness the sky erupt with crimson, yellow, and cobalt as pairs and small groups wheel overhead, their calls filling the humid Pacific-slope forest. The lick itself is a theatre of constant motion: birds arrive cautiously, scatter at the slightest alarm, then regroup in nearby canopy before descending again. Early-morning light catches the macaws' scarlet plumage against the green forest backdrop, making this one of Costa Rica's most photographically dramatic wildlife encounters. The park straddles the transition between dry and humid tropical forest, and the macaw gathering coincides with predictable daily routines, making sightings highly reliable for patient visitors who arrive at the right hour.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Dec — Apr

Getting there

Nearest airport: SJO. Nearest city: Jacó.

Booking options

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