Guanacaste

Location: 35 km north of Liberia in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
  
Santa Rosa Sector GPS Coordinates: 10.877586,-85.585908 (10°52’39.31″N, 85°35’9.27″W)
Murcielago Sector entrance GPS Coordenates: 10.924295,-85.694911 (10°55’27.46″N, 85°41’41.68″W)
Size: 49,515 ha (123,500 acres)
Altitude: sea level to 500m (1640ft)
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Santa Rosa National Park Phone: +506 2666-5051
Fax: +(506) 2666-5020
Guanacaste Conservation Area Telephone (ACG): +506 2666-5051
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Santa Rosa National Park Costa Rica: created as a National Monument by law on July 1st 1966, and was declared as Santa Rosa National Park on March 27th, 1971, along with the surrounding land, to commemorate and preserve an historic site where the Battle of Santa Rosa took place, including the historic mansion and corrals of stone walls. The park also protects beautiful beaches, savannahs, grasslands, mangroves and abundant wildlife, including some endangered species, and also a great extension of one of the last dry tropical forests of the world. In 1980, it was expanded with the addition of the Murcielago Sector by Executive Order.

The Santa Rosa National Park is the largest and oldest park in the country located in the Santa Elena Peninsula, which is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG in Spanish), so it has a warm climate with an average temperature of 28°C (83°F) and an average rainfall of 1500mm. Santa Rosa has more cultural, historical and geological interest than most other national parks. The rocks on the Santa Elena Peninsula are amongst the oldest in Costa Rica, dating back to some 130 million years ago.

The park is divided into two areas, the Santa Rosa Section and the Murcielago section. The section of Santa Rosa is home to La Casona, a historic mansion which contains photographs, pictures, paintings and military equipment that commemorates the Battle of Santa Rosa.

The Hacienda Santa Rosa is recorded in the pages of the Costa Rican battle history since the XIX century. The first, and the most famous, was on March 20th, 1856, when the North American William Walker and his filibusters were defeated at La Casona of Santa Rosa. The battle is said to have lasted a mere 14 minutes. The second battle occurred in 1919 against the Nicaraguans, and the third was in 1955, when the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza was put to flight. This is the sum total of Costa Rica´s recent military history, which gives and indication of how peaceful the country has been.

In this sector, you will also find well marked out walking trials, which lead visitors through spectacular forests and gushing waterfalls. Some popular trails are the Naked Indian loop trail and the Los Patos trail. Located 13 km from La Casona, are the stunning Naranjo and Nancite beaches. The white sand of Nancite Beach is famous for the nesting of Olive Ridley turtles, which combined with their ecological characteristics, makes access restriction to be required, while the gray sand of Naranjo beach, surrounded by mangroves, is home to the famous Witch’s Rock (Roca Bruja), besides being one of the best places for surfing in the world. The Murcielago sector, located 9 km from Cuajiniquil (60 km north of Liberia along the Pan-American Highway), mostly consists of extraordinary rock peaks and valleys, in which extraordinary efforts of conservation and reforestation haven been carried out, you will find an old CIA training camp, as well as the home of the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza. Visitors can also enjoy water sports at Blanca Beach, Santa Elena bay and El Hachal bay.

However, the main attraction of Santa Rosa National Park is that it is the only park in the world where you can find 10 different habitats, including deciduous forests, oak forests, mangrove swamps, littoral woodlands, evergreen forests, marshlands and savannahs which cover the entire park area, being the home of at least 115 species of mammals like White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), white-faced or capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus), spider monkeys, White-nosed Coatis (Nasua narica), agouti, tapirs, coyotes, collared peccary, anteaters, armadillos, jaguars, margays, ocelots, pumas, jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) and bats are just few of the many animals that can be found roaming freely in this park. More than 10,000 species of insects, 250 species of birds, predominating the White-throated Magpie-Jay (Calocitta formosa), Orange-fronted Parakeets (Aratinga canicularis), Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) and the Grey-necked Wood-Rail (Aramides cajanea) as well as about 100 species of amphibians and other reptiles such as the famous Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), tropical rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus) and the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis).

The Santa Rosa National Park forest is characterized by a marked difference between rainy and dry season filled with lush vegetation during the rainy season, the park turns into a tropical dry forest in summer, with many meandering trails and stunning beaches. Santa Rosa preserves the most important collection of protected dry forest of Central America, forest species such as Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), the Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba), the Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), the Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and the Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril). Another interesting feature about the dry forest trees and plants is that many of them have spines and thorns. Furthermore, in the coastal area predominates the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), as well as other species of mangrove vegetation in Costa Rica.

You can find lowlands and plains on either side of the entrance road and all throughout the park. These lands are not a natural occurrence, but the result of extensive slash and burn practices used by farmers on their lands.

Santa Rosa National Park has several ranger stations, viewpoints, research center, biological station, camping area, restrooms, drinking water, lunch area with food, information area, trails, museum and parking lot.

The park entrance station at the Santa Rosa Sector sells maps showing trails and campgrounds. The Dry Tropical Forest Investigation Center, next to the administrative center, undertakes biological research. It is not open to visitors.

Santa Rosa National Park has an internal paved road of 7 km in length that leads to the Historical Museum La Casona of Santa Rosa, camping area and administrative area. Other nearby parks include the Guanacaste National Park, Iguanita National Wildlife Refuge, Bahia Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge and Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Santa Rosa Sector

The Historical Museum at La Casona in Santa Rosa National Park contains exhibit rooms with antiquities, information and specimens from around the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG). Trails around the site lead to interesting artifacts of the various battles in the area. The Museum is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the camping area is open 24 hours. It has picnic areas with tables and charcoal cookstoves, potable water, restrooms and showers.

Getting there

From San José, drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway to Liberia and continue about 35 km (22 miles) to the Santa Rosa National Park entrance, which is on your left. This route requires a total of 5 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), follow the highway to Liberia and continue about 35 km (22 miles) to the Santa Rosa National Park entrance, which is on your left.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – La Cruz – Peñas Blancas, Nicaraguan Border, which takes 5 hours, making the stop at Santa Rosa National Park entrance (Transportes Deldú, +506 2256-9072).

By plane

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Liberia airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive to Santa Rosa National Park, which takes about 20 minutes.

Naranjo Station

Some 12 km from the administration is Naranjo Beach, a gorgeous beach where the route can be done only by foot or with a four wheel drive vehicle in the dry season, following the trail. The beach at Naranjo is popular with surfers and is home for the famous Witch’s Rock is located in Naranjo Bay. The camping area at Naranjo Beach is open 24 hours and provides picnic tables and charcoal cookstoves. Restrooms and showers are available, but no potable water.

Getting there:
Playa Naranjo is reached by an 8 mile stretch of dirt road from the Santa Rosa Station. This road is only accessible during dry season with 4WD.

Nancite Station

Some 17 km from the administration, is Nancite beach, one of the world’s largest nesting grounds for Sea Olive Ridley Turtles, along with Ostional Beach to the south. The arrivals, when hundreds of thousands of turtles arrive to lay their eggs, are primarily from July through November. This area is an absolute protected zone, with restricted access. There are very rustic lodging facilities available at the Nancite Biological Station for investigators and students. Nancite Beach can only be reached by a hiking trail from Naranjo Station through the Royal Estuary (Estuario Real).

Santa Elena Sector

The Santa Elena Sector, covering the central portion of the peninsula, was finally annexed into the Guanacaste Conservation Area in 2004. The entrance to the Santa Elena Station can be found along the Interamerican Highway, about 8 miles past the entrance to Santa Rosa Sector.

Murcielago Sector

Murcielago Sector (Murcielago is the Spanish word for bat) covers the northern portion of the Santa Elena Peninsula and provides access to multiple beaches, bays and coves along the coast. The camping area in Murcielago is open 24 hours with visitors attention from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It provides picnic tables and charcoal cookstoves, potable water, restrooms and showers. There are also a few buildings that provide rustic lodging for investigators and students. Other important beaches located in the Murcielago sector are: Blanca Beach (17 km from the camping area) and Santa Elena and El Hachal Bays.

Getting there:
Follow Costa Rica’s Interamerican Highway, about 12 miles past the entrance to Santa Rosa Sector, turn left toward the town of Cuajiniquil, and continue for 15 km (9 miles) over a dirt road until you reach the entrance to the Murcielago station from Santa Rosa National Park. Since this road is often inaccessible, it is best to stop at Santa Rosa Station ahead of time to inquire about road conditions throughout the park.

Islas Station

The Islas Station is located on a small string of islands known as the Murcielagos (Bat Islands). These islands provide a home for many marine species and are popular for scuba diving. The station is manned and camping is allowed. It has minimal facilities and no potable water. The Murcielagos Islands are accessible only by boat.

Location: north from Potrero Beach, district: Tempate, canton: Santa Cruz, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50304.
Potrero Beach GPS Coordinates: 10.4458,-85.772253 (10°26’44.88″N, 85°46’20.11″W)
Size: 22ha (54 acres)
Elevations: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Costa Esmeralda National Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: private refuge created on May 17th 1994, to protect mangroves and tropical forest areas near Punta Gorda on the Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Mangroves and estuaries scattered throughout the area are ideal for observing the incredible diversity of flora and fauna, there are thousands of species, including plants, birds, butterflies, insects, reptiles and mammals.

Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge is located in an area where the sun commands. Cool winds from northern latitudes lower temperatures pleasantly along the coast from December to April. From May to November, the prevailing is a warm and sunny weather, although occasionally may be accompanied by some rain, usually in the afternoon.

There are no public park facilities at this national wildlife refuge. Nearest tourist attractions are at El Coco and Ocotal beaches. To the south you will find the Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge and Las Baulas National Marine Park. To the north you will find Iguanita Wildlife Refuge and Santa Rosa National Park.

Getting to Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge:

From San José, drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the Pan-American Highway to Liberia until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right and follow the signs to Flamingo and Brasilito, before arriving to Flamingo you should take the exit to Potrero, that should be on your right. This route requires a total of 4 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right and follow the signs to Flamingo and Brasilito, following the signs to Flamingo and Potrero. Before arriving to Flamingo you will need to take an exit to your right, towards Potrero.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Brasilito/Conchal – Flamingo – Playa Panama, which takes 5 hours (Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666).

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Huacas – Flamingo – Brasilito, which takes from 4 to 5 hours (Tralapa, +506 2221-7202).

In both cases you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi from Flamingo to Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 15 minutes. We also recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport tothe Tamarindo airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Costa Esmeralda Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 20 minutes.

Location: just due north from Tamarindo, covering the districts: Cabo Velas and Tamarindo, canton: Santa Cruz, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Grande Beach GPS Coordinates: 10.334744,-85.847781 (10°20’5.08″N, 85°50’52.01″W)
Size: 445ha (1100 acres) on land and 22,000ha (54,362 acres) of ocean
Elevations: sea level
Ranger Station Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Las Baulas Marine Station Telephone: +506 2653-0470
Toll Free: +1 2506 653-0470
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Las Baulas Marine National Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Las Baulas Marine National Park Costa Rica: established by Presidential decree in 1990 and formalized in law on June 9th, 1991 to protect the endangered Leatherback turtles from profit-making egg poachers, being one of the foremost nesting sites for the leatherback turtle, as it supports the largest nesting colony of this turtles on the Pacific Ocean with a population size of about 800 female turtles nesting per year. The park also protects swampy mangrove coastline as well as inland forest and it is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica near the village of Tamarindo in the Province of Guanacaste. More than half the park is underwater and protected but allows recreation such as scuba diving.

It is made up of three nesting beaches, Grande Beach, which is 3.6 km long, Langosta Beach, which is 1.3 km long, Ventanas Beach, which is 1.0 km long and Carbon Beach. It also protects two mangrove estuaries, the Tamarindo Estuary and mangroves at the mouth of the Matapalo River, the largest mangrove estuary in Central America, and the smaller San Francisco River Estuary.

On Grande Beach, female leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs from October to May-an incredible spectacle to behold. Watching one of these great ancient creatures come ashore at night to continue the age-old tradition of nesting in tropical sands is a very moving experience for most people.

Leatherbacks sea turtles, known as Baulas in Costa Rica, are not only the world’s largest turtle, but its largest reptile, which can weigh from 250 to 700 kg (550 to 1,500 pounds) and more than 1 to 2m (3.3–6.6 ft) in length. Leatherbacks wander the open seas in search of their favorite food, jelly fish, which they will dive to a depth of 1,220m (4,000 ft) to pursue. Unlike other species of turtle that have external carapaces, the leatherback has a tough leathery skin and internal skeleton.

In Costa Rica, this species can be found nesting at a number of beaches on both coasts, however, two of the more heavily used beaches are Grande Beach and Langosta Beach, to the north and south, respectively, of Tamarindo Beach. Together, the aforementioned beaches make up Las Baulas Marine National Park.

Although Las Baulas is remote from even the major population centers of Costa Rica, it suffers from the same pressures as found on sea turtle beaches in Florida, Greece and elsewhere around the world. Conservation faces many challenges at Las Baulas National Marine Park, ranging from over development, through excessive tourism activities, to the stealing of eggs. The park has been chronically understaffed so that the beaches are sometimes left unprotected during the day. Because of an active education campaign which began in 1988 when Maria Teresa Koberg, the turtle mother of Costa Rica, started to bring Scouts, students and friends to the beach to help stop poaching, making local residents no longer steal (poach) eggs from the beach. In fact, local residents now protect the beach and the Park. She was also the one that campaigned vigorously to get the Park established by decree and then law. EARTHWATCH teams, concerned local residents, guides, local business leaders, scientists and Park rangers continue working to improve the protection provided by the park.

The number of leatherbacks has been declining from the early 1980’s when Peter Pritchard first “discovered” up to 200 leatherbacks a night nesting on Grande Beach, number that to 1994-95 declined to 30 turtles a night and by 1996-97 only as few as 10 turtles a night nested there. This decline is due to many years of heavy poaching, development behind the beaches, and the incidental capture of turtles in fisheries.

Protection of turtles and their nests is the responsibility of National Park guards. Research and conservation efforts are spearheaded by Dr. Frank V. Paladino, Department of Biology, Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 and his colleagues through their EARTHWATCH Inc. project which runs from late September to March each year. Professors, students and volunteers not only conduct scientific investigations of the turtles and their eggs, but help in local conservation efforts and protection.

Successful protection of 99% of the nests started in 1993 and the hatchery started to operate in 1998-99, being the time needed for maturation for a leatherback an average of 13-14 years as reported by Zug and Parham. Therefore, we might expect to see numbers of leatherbacks increasing in the next few years. The real question is whether there are enough adult leatherbacks left to keep the population healthy until the hatchlings produced thanks to beach protection over the last 10 years can reach adulthood and rebuild the population.

Incredible white-sand beaches separate the park’s protected seas from its vibrant forests that are home to 174 species of birds such as White Ibis, the Cattle Egret, the Roseate Spoonbill, the Blue-winged Teal and the Muscovy Duck as well as countless other animal species like capuchin monkeys, raccoons, crocodiles, caimans, agoutis and grey squirrels. Also, mangroves and estuaries are plentiful, packed with a biodiversity known to few places outside of Costa Rica. It consists of the six species of mangrove known on the Pacific Costa Rican coast. Red and black mangrove, which grows in almost uniform groves, are the predominant species, and other species of trees reaching as high as 30 meters.

Climate here is hot during the daytime, and evenings have a very pleasant temperature, although when the winds pick up from December through February, a jacket or sweater might be wanted while out looking for turtles. The rainy season lasts from May to November.

Las Baulas Marine National Park is a great place to visit with family, this national park also has a turtle museum and night tours during the turtle nesting season. But it is important that visitors be aware of certain things when touring this national park. All visitors on the beach at night must be accompanied by a certified local guide (available at the entrance to the beach during the nesting season). Do not use cameras with flashes or flashlights, do not approach the turtles and do not walk on the dry sand that lies above the high tide markings or else you would end crushing eggs and hatchlings in the nest. In order to see the turtles you will have to go on a tour with a certified guide, without a guide you will not be allowed on the beach.

The ranger station at Playa Grande is open to the public, where guided tours are available with bi-lingual park employees. For minimum impact, a limited number of visitors are allowed each evening. Other nearby Costa Rican parks include Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge and Diria National Park.

You can help the leatherbacks of Las Baulas by joining an EARTHWATCH expedition, taking a tour to the beach to see a leatherback with the local guide associations, and by contributing to the Leatherback Trust.

Getting to Las Baulas Marine National Park:

From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway to Liberia until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, go straight ahead following the signs to Las Baulas Marine National Park for 9 km (5.5 miles) passing through Matapalo, until you get to the park entrance. This route requires a total of 4 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, go straight ahead following the signs to Las Baulas Marine National Park for 9 km (5.5 miles) passing through Matapalo, until you get to the park entrance.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Tamarindo, making the stop at Huacas which takes 4 to 5 hours (Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666).

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Huacas – Flamingo – Brasilito, which takes from 4 to 5 hours (Tralapa, +506 2221-7202). In both cases you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi from Huacas to Las Baulas Marine National Park, which takes about 15 minutes. We also recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport tothe Tamarindo airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Las Baulas Marine National Park, which takes about 20 minutes.

Location: district: Tamarindo, canton: Santa Cruz, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Tamarindo GPS Coordinates: 10.299858,-85.841369 (10°17’59.49″N, 85°50’28.93″W)
Size: 385ha (953 acres)
Altitude: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Tamarindo National Widlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on 1987 in order to protect mangrove swamp areas around the estuary and river mouth of the Matapalo River and in a response to the perceived threat the estuary faced from plans to build large tourism complexes on its fringes, near Las Baulas National Marine Park. In fact, this small reserve is now part of Las Baulas National Marine Park and is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area too. This river empties into the Pacific Ocean between Tamarindo and Grande beaches, being an unusual river, since it doesn’t receive a freshwater input for nearly half a year, and given the severity of the dry season in this coastal region of northern Guanacaste, the creeks that feed the estuary during the rainy season completely dry up after the rains have stopped, from December to April.

There are three beaches that form this park, Grande Beach, Ventana Beach and Langosta Beach. The Langosta Beach is a beautiful estuary with beautiful sands, while Grande Beach, part of Las Baulas National Marine Park, is one of the most important nesting sites for the leatherback sea turtle, but as well the Pacific Green turtles, Olive Ridley turtles and Hawksbill turtles nest here. The leatherback turtle can measure up to 2m and weigh 700 kg. These creatures come for nesting between the months of November till February and about 200 of them can arrive to lay eggs in one night. In fact, Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge got the status of the wildlife refuge due to its importance as a nesting site and the threat it faced from the development of tourist complexes around the area.

The part of the beach set aside as a refuge extends 1 km. long and corresponds to the main sector where the turtles arrive every year to dig their nests in the sand. The rest of the refuge is made up of the Tamarindo mangrove swamp.

There are five species of mangroves (botanically unrelated trees that have each evolved methods for tolerating life in a salty water environment where the soil is so waterlogged that oxygen cannot readily be obtained through the underground roots) that flourish here, the black, white, tea, buttonwood and the red mangrove, which is the most abundant of all. The mangroves can be seen in the estuary and when the tide is out, the protruding vertical roots can be seen sticking out of the mud, which helps to aerate the plants. During the dry season, you can also see how this species of mangrove plant exudes particles of salt on the surface of its leaves (in the rainy season the salts are washed off and do not accumulate so as to be visible). These mangroves are also a breeding site and provide an important spawning site for many fish and other marine creatures.

Life in the mangroves is varied, many of them seasonal migrants from North America, with some 57 species of birds, including Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Blue Herons, White Ibis, Muscovy Duck, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Roseate Spoonbill, frigate bird and sandpipers. An unusual species here is the nocturnal Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis), related to the European Nightjar and the North American Whip-poor-will, which spends the daylight hours lying camouflaged on the mangrove branches. Howler monkeys are sure to be heard and there is a good chance of seeing White-faced monkeys as well as raccoons, white-nosed coati, iguanas, basilisk lizards, spinytail iguanas (ctenosaura), crocodiles and caimans, and a great variety of marine life such as the famous roosterfish, snappers, mullets (Mugilidae), Crevalle Jack, snook and stingray. Crabs can be seen scurrying around the mud. Boats may be hired at Tamarindo to tour the mangroves, being early in the morning the best time to see the most species.

The Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge is a pleasure for all the water sports lovers with its beautiful beaches and blue waters. You could go for some scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and kayaking. You can also go for bicycling or horse riding in the mountainside or perform some sport fishing, as the refuge is located in the most developed part of the country for deep-sea fishing. There are several operators offering charter boat services between El Coco and Tamarindo beaches. There’s action year long on the coast and the favorite sporting targets are Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Pacific Sailfish, Dorado (Mahi-mahi), Wahoo and Roosterfish. And, just 30 minutes away from the refuge, there are two world- class golf courses- Hacienda Pinilla and Hotel Melià Conchal Golf Course.

The Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge has a hot climate year round and the dry season lasts from mid-November to mid- May. Other nearby national parks include Las Baulas National Marine Park and Diria National Park.

Getting to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge:

From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway to Liberia until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right to Tamarindo for 8 km (5 miles), turn right and follow the road for 4 km (2.5 miles) until you get to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge. This route requires a total of 4 hours from San José.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south until you reach Belen. There, turn right and continue on the road until you get to Huacas. Once in Huacas, turn right to Tamarindo for 8 km (5 miles), turn right and follow the road for 4 km (2.5 miles) until you get to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Tamarindo, which takes from 4 to 5 hours (Alfaro-Tracopa, +506 2222-2666). We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Tamarindo airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 5 minutes.

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional Costa Rica

Ostional Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on October 24th, 1997, in order to protect one of the world’s most important nesting beaches of the marine turtle Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) or Lora as it is known locally, as well as the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and the Pacific Green (Chelonia mydas) turtles at Ostional Beach on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. The massive turtle arrivals, called “arribadas” in Spanish, at this refuge, encompassing the beaches of Ostional, Nosara and Guiones, are considered the largest in the world, with as many as a million sea turtle eggs laid in the beach nesting areas each year. This phenomenon takes place around 4 to 10 times during this period, lasting roughly between 3 to 10 days each. Besides, this refuge also looks after and safeguards the marine wildlife and birds in the area as well.

The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, located between Punta India on the north, and Punta Guiones and Nosara on the south, was officially created in 1984 but was declared a protected area in 1982. The refuge was initially construed as being 200m wide from Punta India to the mouth of Rio Nosara. This area was increased to include the 200m strip to Punta Guiones in 1985, which extends inland along the estuaries of the rivers and mangrove swamps, protecting also large colonies of birds. Finally, in 1992, with the institution of the new “Wildlife Law”, came the final definition of the refuge and in 1993 the amplification to the three mile maritime limit as it is today. In 1994, the functions of the forestry service, the park service and the wildlife service were combined under the umbrella of the “National System of Conservation Areas” (SINAC) directly responsible to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE). Under this system, the Refuge falls under the control of the “Tempisque Conservation Area” (ACT) which has a wildlife ranger station as its representative in Ostional.

The beach of Ostional is the scenery for a rarely-seen biological wonder. Although some believe that arrivals may be correlated with moon phases and tides, there are turtles laying eggs at Ostional Beach throughout most of the year. However, the theory is that, at least once a month and, in some months, may occur even twice, around the beginning of the last quarter of the moon cycle, hundreds, and sometimes hundreds of thousand sea turtles come to Ostional beach during an arrival to dig their eggs into the black, volcanic sand, between the months from August through November, on the rainy season.

Some days or weeks before an expected arrival, visitors may observe an increasing number of turtles swimming close offshore. This is then the gathering of this particular group of turtles that will be taking part in the next event. At first, a few hundred turtles will come out on the beach, followed by a steady stream of animals for the next three to seven days. The largest arrival thus far recorded in Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, took place in November 1995 when a calculated 500,000 females sea turtles came on shore to nest. As the arrivals occur during the peak of rainy season it is sometimes not possible to get, or to leave from Ostional.

As marine turtles are normally shy and easily disturbed when nesting, arrivals are even more exciting and strange. These animals, now in “arrival mode”, will come out during the night and day and be almost oblivious to disturbance by man or animal, light or sound. Bumping into each other, crawling over each other, they are automatons on their way to fulfill a predetermined task; lay their eggs at all cost.

The turtles generally ride in on the high tide at night, but during an arrival they start arriving around 4 p.m. and keep coming until 7 a.m. the next morning. Used to a life in the ocean, the turtles drag their heavy bodies over the beach until they get over the high tide line. There, flicking clouds of sand, they dig a nest with their flippers to deposit about 105 white, ping pong-shaped eggs. Over the course of a five-day arrival nesting turtles will leave up to 10 million eggs on Ostional beach.

The baby turtles hatch within 45-54 days depending on incubation temperatures, which will also determine if they will become male or female. In general the baby turtle’s hatch at night, but it may also happen that you are sitting in the afternoon on the beach and suddenly, next to you, the sand becomes live and small heads pop up.

As soon as the hatchlings have struggled out of the sand, the race to the ocean begins. With eyes barely opened, the baby turtles smell the breeze and instantly know the right direction. Women and children from the community of Ostional accompany the hatchlings as they clamber toward the sea, protecting them from dogs and vultures. If visitors also want to help the small turtles they shouldn’t carry them all the way to the beach as they need the run to develop their lungs. You can carry them a piece of way over the hottest stretch of sand and let them run the rest just trying to provide them some shade and keep the vultures away.

Having reached the ocean, the baby turtles still aren’t safe, as the next cast of predators awaits them under water. Most hatchlings don’t reach maturity, but those who make it will remember the smell of their beach, and some 10 or 15 years later, they will return to their place of birth and lay their eggs into the black sand of Ostional.

The vegetation of this reserve is sparse dry forest, consisting of the white-flowered sweet-smelling Frangipani tree (Plumeria), cacti and other drought-resistant vegetation. Most of the coastline is sandy beach, but Punta India at the north end of the reserve, is an interesting rocky headland containing some great tide pools. Besides, the Nosara river mouth is surrounded by mangrove swamps with crocodiles, howler and capuchin monkeys, raccoons and coatis, as well as around 100 bird species.

Undoubtedly, one of the most amazing ecological experiences in Costa Rica, a great place to take the entire family, especially children. Without the occurrence of an arrival visitors can walk alone to the beach which is littered with the white shreds of broken turtle eggs. But, when there is an arrival you must check in with the ranger booth at the southern end of Ostional where you pay the entrance fee and for the guide, without whom you may not go to the beach, as the nesting beaches are patrolled by guards who are paid by the village of Ostional. No flashlights or flash photography are permitted.

The ranger station at Ostional beach is open to the public, where guided tours are available with bilingual park employees. Since this refuge has no lodging facilities or accommodations, most visitors usually stay in Nosara, San Juanillo or Samara. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Werner Sauter National Wildlife Refuge, Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge and Diria National Park.

Getting to Ostional Wildlife Refuge:

From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway towards Liberia until you reach Limonal. Turn left at Tres Hermanas Restaurant towards La Amistad bridge until you get to Nicoya. Once you reach Nicoya, continue your drive taking the road to Samara. Once in Samara turn left towards Nosara for about 26 km (16 miles), passing through Barco Quebrado, Garza, Guiones and Pelada until you reach Ostional Wildlife Refuge. This route requires a total of six hours from San Jose.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to Santa Cruz and from there to Nosara passing through 27 de Abril, Lagarto, Frijolar, Pitahaya, Azul and San Juanillo until you reach Ostional Wildlife Refuge.

By bus

Take the bus San José – Nosara, which takes about 5 to 6 hours (Empresa Alfaro, 2222-2666 / 2682-0297). From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Ostional Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 10 minutes. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved and if you are driving to the beach, a 4×4 vehicle is highly recommended.

You can also take a bus San Jose – Santa Cruz, which takes 5 to 6 hours (Tralapa, 2221-7202 / 2680-0392), and then take a bus from Santa Cruz to Ostional, which takes about 3 hours (however, the bus can’t make the trip during heavy rains).

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Nosara airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Ostional Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 10 minutes.

Location: between Nosara and San Juanillo beaches in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
GPS Coordinates: 9.996714, -85.702931 (9°59’48.17″N, 85°42’10.55″W)
Size: 352 ha (869 acres) on land and 800 ha (19.767 acres) of ocean
Elevations: sea level
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ADIO (Ostional Development Association) Telephone: +(506) 2682-0470
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +(506) 2686-4967 / 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Ostional National Widlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Werner Sauter Costa Rica

Werner Sauter Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on July 19th, 1995, in order to protect mangroves and tropical forest areas, near Garza on the Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Is an important center for wildlife conservation, as it has a wide variety of animals such as capuchin and howler monkeys, raccoons, weasels and anteaters, besides some 40 species of birds, including Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula), White-throated Magpie-Jay (Calocitta formosa), Finsch’s Conure or Crimson-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga finschi), Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) and the majestic Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens).

Similarly, the shelter has a wide range of tree species such as the Tempisque (Sideroxylon capiri), Bastard cedar or Guácimo (Guazuma ulmifolia), Roble de Savanna (Tabebuia rosea), Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Muñeco or Red Manjack (Cordia collococca), the Ceibo or Kapok (Ceiba pentandra), Spiny Cedar or Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), Ron-Ron (Astronium graveolens), Corteza Amarilla (Tabebuia ochracea) and Papaya (Carica papaya), amongst others.

The Werner Sauter National Wildlife Refuge is located in the northern Pacific slope of the country, so it experiences an intense dry season, in which no rain may fall for several months. The forests of the North-West are to a large extent deciduous, letting their leaves fall in order to conserve water. The rainy season begins in May and runs its course until November, where mornings are often sunny and pleasant, and rainy afternoons.

Werner Sauter was born in San José, Costa Rica on August 20th, 1928, at his home near the Pacific train station. Is a person who has remained tied to commercial tours, sports activities and remains a lover of nature which has been part of his experience. It was one of the first people to climb the Chirripó in March, 1960 and also was one of the first people to inhabit Samara Beach with his friend Fritz Read, where is the forest reserve that bears his name.

Certainly Mr. Werner is a hard worker, humble, courageous and proud to be tackled to life. One of the most famous of the Sauter family, a tireless motivator of caring for nature, of good resources uses and of recycling.

There are no public park facilities at the Werner Sauter national wildlife refuge. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge and Diria National Park.

Getting to Refugio de Vida Silvestre Werner Sauter, Costa Rica?

From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway towards Liberia until you reach Limonal. Turn left at Tres Hermanas Restaurant and continue to La Amistad bridge until you get to Nicoya. Once you reach Nicoya, continue your drive taking the road to Samara passing through Hojancha. Once in Samara turn left towards Nosara for about 16 km (10 miles), passing through Buena Vista and Barco Quebrado until you reach Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge. This route requires a total of five hours from San Jose.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to Nicoya and from there to Samara passing through Hojancha. Once in Samara turn left towards Nosara for about 16 km (10 miles), passing through Buena Vista and Barco Quebrado until you reach Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge.

By bus

Take a local bus San José – Nosara, which takes about 5 to 6 hours (Empresa Alfaro, 2222-2666 / 2682-0297). From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge, which takes about 20 minutes. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

You can also take the bus San Jose – Nicoya, which takes 5 to 6 hours (Terminal Alfaro, 2685-5032), and then take another bus from Nicoya to Nosara – Garza – Guiones, which takes about 2 hours (Empresa Rojas, 2686-9089).

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Nosara airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge, which is takes about 20 minutes.

Location: near Samara in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
Samara GPS Coordinates: 9.881075,-85.52765 (9°52’51.87″N, 85°31’39.54″W)
Garza GPS Coordinates: 9.910222,-85.644819 (9°54’36.80″N, 85°38’41.35″W)
Size: 139 ha (346 acres)
Elevations: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +(506) 2686-4967 / 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Werner Sauter National Widlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

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

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Camaronal Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps