Feria Nacional de la Lapa Roja (Scarlet Macaw Fair), Bijagual de Turrubares
Landmark · Jacó & Herradura · hidden gem
A free village fair in the hills above Carara National Park celebrating the scarlet macaws of the area: food made with local Turrubares ingredients, talks on wildlife and living alongside it, hands-on workshops, a cacao exhibit, games and races. It's run by the agro-ecotourism communities around Carara.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 3 h
- Best time
- late August (fair weekend)
- Kids
- 8 / 10
- View
- 4 / 10
- Crowds
- 6 / 10
- Swimming
- 0 / 10
- Effort
- 1 / 10
- Location
- 9.72755, -84.56686 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Season
- late August only; dates change every year
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Held over a long weekend in late August (2023: Aug 24–27) — confirm the dates with the organizers before driving up, and pair it with the Bijagual waterfall nearby.
Be careful
The roads in the Bijagual hills are steep and partly gravel; in the rainy season a high-clearance car is better.
Getting there
Bijagual (Turrubares) sits in the hills inland from Herradura and Tárcoles, on Route 320; the fair happens in the village around the community hall.
Places nearby
- Bijagual WaterfallParks & Wildlife · takes 3 h–4 h · from $20A rainforest hike or horseback ride in the hills above Jacó to one of Costa Rica's tallest waterfalls, ending with a swim in cool natural pools.
- Pura Vida Gardens and WaterfallParks & WildlifeHillside botanical garden above Tárcoles with trails, a waterfall overlook and Pacific views.
- Rancho ShaddayFood & CoffeeRustic hilltop restaurant near Carara where everything is cooked over a wood fire in front of you.
- Macaw LodgeParks & Wildlife · takes 1.5 h–4 h · from $40An eco-lodge on a private forest reserve in the Turrubares hills near Carara, where more than 350 bird species have been recorded.
- Tiko Restaurante MiradorFood & CoffeeClifftop mirador restaurant on the edge of Carara National Park with Pacific views, serving local dishes, homemade Asian food and fresh seafood.
- Steven Lisa'sFood & CoffeeGarden restaurant by the Tárcoles turn-off on the Costanera, with flowers around the tables and a tree where wildlife shows up.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/1833676536 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/1833676536 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/717713051 · https://ticotimes.net/2023/08/23/costa-ricas-national-scarlet-macaw-fair-2023