Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Camaronal Costa Rica
Camaronal Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on May 2nd, 1994, in order to protect mangroves and wildlife, including the four species of marine turtles nesting in this beach, which are the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). The Camaronal Wildlife 
Refuge is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area, on the Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica.
The uninhabited Camaronal beach is of greyish sand and blue water which stretches 3 km between the mouth of the Ora River at the west, to the cliffs called Punta Camaronal at the southeast of the beach. It has moderate to strong beautiful waves, make it a great destination for surfers, which also has a lush vegetation, as it has conserved a lot of its coastal vegetation, mainly in the mouth of the river, where predominate mangrove vegetation and trees such as Madero negro (Lennea viridiflora), Corteza Amarilla (Tabebuia chrysantha), Bastard cedar or Guácimo (Guazuma ulmifolia), Stinking Toe or Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril), Spiny Cedar or Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), Ron-Ron (Astronium graveolens), Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Wild Cashew or Espavé (Anacardium excelsum), Balsa Wood (Ochroma pyramidale) and Ceibo or Kapok (Ceiba pentandra).
The Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge is also suitable for fishing and camping, as well as to perform some kind of volunteer. Besides, during the green season in October, many of the Leatherback and Pacific Ridley turtles lay their eggs here. 
Turtles by themselves are amazing, which combined with the beautiful Camaronal beach area make this shelter a unique experience!
The refuge has a camping area with fresh water and restrooms. Other nearby Costa Rica national parks includes Werner Sauter National Widlife Refuge and Ostional National Widlife Refuge, Diria National Park.
Getting to Camaronal Wildlife Refuge?
From San José, take the Pan-American Highway north until you reach Limonal. Turn left at Tres Hermanas Restaurant towards La Amistad bridge until you get to Nicoya. Once you reach Nicoya, continue South to Samara, passing through Hojancha, continue until you reach Carrillo and then take take the right fork to Camaronal beach. This road is very steep and you need to cross Ora River, so only 4×4 cars have access. Throughout the rainy season, drivers need to take a longer alternative road, from Estrada Rávago, near Carrillo Beach. It is a very scenic route that exemplifies rural Costa Rica. This route requires a total of six hours drive from San Jose.
From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to Nicoya and from there to Samara passing through Hojancha, continue till Carrillo and then turn right towards Camaronal beach. This road is very steep and you need to cross a river so only 4×4 cars have access. Throughout the rainy season you will need to take a longer alternative road, which starts from Estrada Rávago, near Carrillo Beach. It is a very scenic route that exemplifies rural Costa Rica.
By bus
Take a local bus from San José to Samara, which takes about 5 to 6 hours, and then take a bus Samara – Carrillo, which takes about 1 hour (Terminal Alfaro, +506 2222-2666). From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Camaronal beach, which is about 15 minutes. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved. Also, with prior notification a member of Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge will pick you up at the last bus station in Carrillo and will bring you to the beach.
By plane:
You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the airport of Samara / Carrillo, either Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. With prior notification a member of the Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge will pick you up from the airport of Samara /Carrillo and will bring you to the beach.
Location: between Carrillo and Punta Islita beaches in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
GPS Coordinates: 9.863747,-85.44445 (9°51’49.49″N, 85°26’40.02″W)
Size: 220 ha (578 acres)
Elevations: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
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