Puntarenas

Location: 330 miles (523 km) southwest of Cabo Blanco in the eastern Pacific Ocean, in Puntarenas province.
GPS coordinates: 5.527958,-87.057419 (5°31’40.65″N, 87°03’26.71″W)
Size: 4660 hectares (11,500 acres)
Altitude: from sea level to 634m (2,100ft)
Cocos Island Marine Conservation Area (ACMIC) Telephone: +506 2291-1215 / +506 2291-1216
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Puntarenas port, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Cocos Island National Park Costa Rica was declared National Park on June 11th, 1978 because of its unique ecological diversity and the habitats the site provides for marine wildlife, including large pelagic species, especially sharks. In 1997, the Cocos Island National Park, located approximately 500 km off the pacific coast of Costa Rica, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and in 2002, the World Heritage Site designation was extended to include an expanded marine zone of 1,997 km². In addition, it is included in the list of “Wetlands of International Importance”.  This rugged and incredibly beautiful island is the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s many National Parks.

The island was discovered by the Spanish Joan Cabezas in 1526. Thanks to its palm trees and plentiful drinking water, this oceanic island became very well know, and today is famous because during the 17th and 18th centuries, it was a heaven and served as an excellent hide-away for pirates and corsairs, who thrived along the Pacific coast. Stories tell of buccaneers burying treasures here, like Edward Davis in 1685, Benito Bonito in 1820, and William Thompson in 1821. It is said that over 300 expeditions have gone in search of treasure, because some incidents of small caches have been discovered, leading many to believe the stories of vast pirate treasures to be true, of what some say that it was the inspiration for “The Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Cocos Island is an area that emerged from an underwater mountain range (the Cocos ridge) which has an irregular coastline. Its landmass is punctuated by four mountain peaks, the highest of which is Cerro Yglesisas, at 634m (2080ft). It is a terrain of volcanic origin with a vast number of rivers and streams which plunge over the spectacular cliffs that line its coasts. The largest rivers are the Genio and the Pittier, which drain their water into Wafer Bay. The mountainous landscape and the tropical climate combine to create over 200 waterfalls throughout the island. With four bays with safe anchorages and sandy beaches, three of them in the north side, Wafer, Chatham and Weston.

The climate of the island is humid and tropical with an average annual temperature of 24ºC (75ºF) and an average annual rainfall of over 7,000mm (275 in), resulting in a covering of lush green foliage. Rainfall is high throughout the year, although lower from January through March and slightly lower during late September and October. Numerous oceanic currents from the central Pacific Ocean that converge on the island also have an important influence.  This extremely wet climate and oceanic character give Cocos Island an ecological character that is not shared with either the Galapagos Archipelago or any of the other islands (e.g., Malpelo or Coiba) in this region of the world, being home to dense and exuberant tropical moist forests; thus is a place of great scenic beauty and an ideal laboratory for nature studies. Everywhere there are ferns, bromeliads, rivers, streams, waterfalls, valleys, cliffs and islets.

The island was never linked to a continent, so the flora and fauna arrived via long distance dispersal from the Americas. The island has therefore a high proportion of endemic species. In fact, the Cocos Island National Park has 235 known species of flowering plants, of which 70 (nearly 30%) are endemic; also 74 species of ferns and fern allies (lycopodiophytes and pteridophytes), as well as 128 species of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes), 90 species of fungi and 41 species of slime molds. The coastal forests extend from the seacoast up to 50m elevation. Purple Coral Tree (Erythrina fusca), Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), and Pond-apple (Annona glabra) are the predominant trees, as well as the endemic trees such as the Cupey (Clusia Rosea) and the Huriki (Sacoglottis holdridgei), all this with an understory of ferns, spermatophytes or phanerogams, shrubs of the Rubiaceae and Solanaceae families, sedges and grasses, mosses, herbaceous plants of the Leguminosae and Malvaceae families and the endemic Rooseveltia frankliniana palm.

The island has over 400 known species of insects, of which 65 (16%) are endemic. The greatest diversity is found among the Lepidoptera and Formicidae, as well as over 50 species of other arthropods have been described such as spiders, centipedes, millipedes and isopods. Besides, two species of lizard are found on the island, an anole or lizard (Norops townsendii) and a salamander or gecko (Sphaerodactylus pacificus); both are endemic.

Nearly 90 bird species have been reported. The island and neighboring rocks are home to large nesting colonies of migratory seabirds, including the Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), Red-footed Booby (Sula sula), Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor), White Tern or the Holy Ghost dove (Gygis Alba) and Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), as well as even species of land birds inhabit the island – including three endemics – the Cocos Cuckoo (Coccyzus ferrugineus), the Cocos Flycatcher (Nesotriccus ridgwayi) and the Cocos Finch (Pinaroloxias inornata). In the other hand, the island has five land mammal species, including pigs, deers, cats and rats. All these land mammals were introduced by humans, which is why the Costa Rican government has vowed to control the populations of these animals, as they are harmful to the local ecosystems.

The underwater world of the national park has become famous due to the attraction it holds for divers, who rate it as one of the best places in the world to view large pelagic species. The most important scuba reefs are located in Punta María, Punta Presidio, Punta Pacheco and some areas of the Iglesias, Chatham and Wafer Bays.

The rich coral reef, the volcanic tunnels, underwater caves, massifs and deeper waters surrounding Cocos Island are home to more than 30 species of corals, 60 species of crustaceans, 600 species of mollusks and over 300 species of fish. These include large populations of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), Giant Manta Rays (Manta birostris), Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), Parrotfishes, Catfishes, Giant Moray Eels, Marbled Rays, Marlins, Octopus, the exotic Red-lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini), as well as dozens if not hundreds of sharks, such as White-tip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) and Scalloped Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), the Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), the Silvertip sharks (Carcharhinus albimarginatus), the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), besides  other large marine animals like the Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus), Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea). In fact, thanks to the breathtaking marine life in its waters, Cocos Island was named one of the best 10 scuba diving spots in the world by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors).

Unfortunately it takes more than a decree to protect an ecosystem. One of the biggest problems on Cocos Island is the loss of native species to species introduced by man (pigs, goats and rats). These numerous accolades highlight the urgent need to protect Cocos Island and surrounding waters from illegal large-scale fishing, poaching and other problems. Cocos Island was short-listed as a candidate to be one of the New7Wonders of Nature by the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation.

This is why the only persons allowed to live on Cocos Island are Costa Rican Park Rangers, who have established two encampments, including one at one in Wafer Bay and other in Chatham Bay. Tourists and ship crew members are allowed ashore only with permission of island rangers and are not permitted to camp, stay overnight or collect any flora, fauna or minerals from the island.  It has been estimated that Cocos Island Costa Rica receives an annual visitation of about 1,100 people, mainly concentrated in the period between March and May. Easy anchorage can be found in Wafer and Chatham Bays, where there are also dining huts and rest areas, with sanitary services and showers.

Cocos Island in fiction

The book “Desert Island” proposed the highly detailed theory that Daniel Defoe used the Isla dell Cocoze as an accurate model for his descriptions of the island inhabited by the marooned Robinson Crusoe. However Defoe placed Crusoe’s island not in the Pacific, but rather off the coast of Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Michael Crichton novel Jurassic Park, centers on the fictitious Isla Nublar that is off of the west coast of Costa Rica. Supporting this argument is the Dreamworks Interactive game Jurassic Park: Trespasser (1998), which used Cocos Island’s topography as a substitute for the fictional island on which it takes place. Also, “Isla Nublar” is intended to mean “Cloudy Island”, and Cocos Island is the only island with cloud forests in the eastern Pacific. (Source: en.wikipedia.org)

Getting to Cocos Island National Park:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. From the port of Puntarenas Isla del Coco can be reached by boat, a journey that takes approximately 36 hours. For more updated information regarding the tours and how to get to the Cocos Island, communicate directly with the offices of the island (see telephone number below). Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway, until you get to Puntarenas. The Caldera trip takes about 1 hour from San Jose while the other takes about 2 hours.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to Puntarenas. From the port of Puntarenas Isla del Coco can be reached by boat, a journey that takes approximately 36 hours. For more updated information regarding the tours and how to get to the Cocos Island, communicate directly with the offices of the island (see telephone number below).

BUS TO PUNTARENAS

Take a local bus from San Jose – Puntarenas, which takes about 3 hours (Empresarios Unidos, +506 2222-0064).

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco Costa Rica

Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve Costa Rica protects tropical forest and beach areas at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica. Cabo Blanco received its protected status in October 21st, 1963, due primarily to the efforts of the late Olof Wessberg, who a decade earlier had come to Costa Rica from his native Sweden. Living on a farm in the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula, Wessberg was saddened by the amount of deforestation in the region and took steps to interest the government in doing something to save a patch of remaining forest. He was instrumental in gaining the financial support of conservation organizations in Sweden, England, Austria and the United States. Enough funds were contributed to allow the purchase and administration of what is now the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve. Cabo Blanco is the only government protected area created before the inception of the park service in 1970 that has survived to this day.

The absolute part comes from the fact that for the first 25 years of its existence Cabo Blanco was absolute and completely a nature reserve and nothing else, where no visitors were allowed. Offshore from the point lies the Cabo Blanco Island (“White Cape”), from whence the area’s name is derived. This rugged piece of rock is devoid of plant life, but harbors abundant roosting seabirds. It is estimated that more than 800 Brown Boobies alone live here, making it the largest colony of this species in Costa Rica. The accumulated guano from so many birds causes the white color visible from the mainland.

Even though this sector of the Nicoya Peninsula receives an average of 2.3 meters of rain annually, making it the wettest part of the region, there is still a pronounced dry season from December through April. In fact, the southern zone of the peninsula receives more rain than the area to the north which results in a different look and feel to the forest, with some 2300mm (58in) more than the rest of the area. Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve is characterized by tropical moist forest with many evergreen areas, although numerous plant species found in the tropical dry forest also occur here. One of these is the spiny cedar, or “Pochote”, which can be identified by the sharp, conical spines protruding from the bark, with white “shaving brush” flowers are pollinated at night by bats.

About a15% is primary forest, with the remaining secondary forest some 50 years old. Around 150 trees have been identified in the zone; evergreen species predominate, but dry forest types are found as well. Among the most common trees are Bastard Cedar, Wild Plum, Gumbo-limbo, Lancewood, Frangipani and Spiny Cedar – mentioned before.

The forest is home to a wide variety of animals, including Howler, Capuchin and Spider Monkeys, Armadillos, Coaties, Anteaters, Agouties, Porcupines, Kinkajous, Curassows, Crested Guans, Brocket Deers, Collard Peccaries and Raccoons. Smaller cats such as the Ocelot and Margay leave traces, but are unlikely to be seen, and with some luck even the Jaguarundi, the most diurnal of Costa Rica’s six species of wild cats. The shoreline is inhabited by many sea birds, such as Brown Pelican, Laughing Gulls and Frigatebirds, while Cabo Blanco Island is the nesting site of up to 800 pairs of Brown Boobies. The forest contains a rich array of birds, such as the Magpie-Jay, Motmots, Long-tailed Manakin, Crested Caracara, Elegant Trogon, White-bellied Chachalaca and Sulphur-winged Parakeet. Butterflies, such as the Blue Morpho and Owl Butterfly are common. Beware of snakes, Boa Contrcitor have been reported.

There is an area along the beach at the southern end of the cape where marine fossils dating back at least 20 million years can be found in the exposed rocks, where an extinct species of giant oyster is among the more common fossils.

The rich concentration of nutrients from the seabird colony on Cabo Blanco provides for abundant fish life around the point and ocean currents bring in pelagic species such as billfish and tuna making for excellent sport fishing opportunities.

Despite its restrictive sounding administrative category, visitors allowed into the reserve are only permitted to use one of the existing trails that run for 5km (3 miles) down through the forest to the beach. Visitors to Cabo Blanco are limited to 40 a day, so it is better if you book in advance and report to the Ranger Station.

There are trails that lead between the Administration Station and Cabo Blanco Beach, Balsitas Beach and the San Miguel Station – the San Miguel Biological Station of Costa Rica was developed to promote and support teaching, research, and environmental education, taking advantage of the well-protected tropical marine and dry forest habitats present on site. Potable water and restrooms are available at stations, picnic areas and showers at Playa Cabo Blanco and the San Miguel Biological Station include classrooms, laboratories and a reference library.  Camping permits are limited.

Getting to Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. Probably the easiest way to get there is by taking the Ferri to Tambor or Paquera. (Tambor Ferri is the largest and most comfortable, we recommend you get to Puntarenas an hour before the ferry leaves), and then drive through Tambor, Cobano and Cabuya. The Administration Station is 2 miles south of Cabuya. To get to Montezuma, continue south for approximately 40 km from Paquera. The reserve lies 11 km south of the funky beach village of Montezuma (the nearest accommodations). From Montezuma, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is practically a necessity, even during the dry season. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway, until you get to Puntarenas. The Caldera trip takes about 3 hours from San Jose while the other takes about 5 hours.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south through Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Nandayure, Lepanto, Paquera, and then drive through Tambor, Cobano and Cabuya. The Administration Station is 2 miles south of Cabuya. It is a very scenic trip as you go down the coast (this route exemplifies rural Costa Rica and is very beautiful).

By bus

Take a local bus from San Jose – Malpais – Montezuma, which takes about 5 hours (Transportes Rodriguez, 2642-0219). We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.

You can also take a shuttle bus that goes several times a day from Montezuma to the park entrance.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Tambor Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, which is about 15 minutes.

Location: 11km (7miles) from Montezuma, in Puntarenas province.
GPS coordinates: 9.562392,-85.112881 (9°33’44.61″N, 85°06’46.37″W)
Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 1175ha (2903 acres)
Altitude: sea level to 150m (942ft)
Ranger Station Schedule: from Wednesday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve Telephone: +(506) 2642-0093
San Miguel Station Telephone: +(506) 2645-5277 / 2645-5890
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +(506) 2686-4967 / 2686-4968
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Fax: +(506) 2686-4969
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, Puntarenas, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Location: southern Nicoya Peninsula in Puntarenas, Costa Rica

  

Paquera GPS Coordinates: 9.821142,-84.935581 (9°49’16.11″N, 84°56’08.09″W)
Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 61 ha (150 acres)
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve Costa Rica was established on October 10th, 1994 in order to protect tropical forest and beach areas at the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula near Montezuma, Costa Rica. The edge of the reserve can be reached by walking 2 km along Montezuma beach. This protected area is dedicated to the memory of the great conservationist Nicolas Wessberg.

Olof Wessberg (known as Nicolas) and Karen Mogensen arrived in Costa Rica in the 1960s in the pursuit of finding happiness in harmony with nature. They chose to establish themselves in the Nicoya Peninsula. Soon after establishing near Montezuma, they set up on an expedition to the Cabo Blanco area in search for native tree seeds to reforest their newly acquired farm. Upon arriving to the area, they were amazed at the abundant wildlife and the size of the trees in the area. This was like an oasis in the midst of a desert as all lands around had been devastated to give way to low-yield pasture and agricultural lands.

This experience was what triggered their determination to save and preserve this “natural jewel”. With the aid of an international agency, they bought 1250 hectares of land in 1963 and turned these lands into the first protected area in all of Costa Rica. Nicolas died in 1975 and Karen in 1994. Their bodies are buried at the Nicolas Wessberg Natural Reserve which was the original farm they bought when first arrived in the Montezuma area.

The Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve contains a moist tropical secondary forest, with approximately 150 identified trees, where evergreen species predominate, but dry forest species are found as well, such as, the spiny cedar (Bombacopsis quinatum), the wild plum (Spondias mombin) and the espavel (Anacardium excelsum).

It serves as habitat for many animals such as white-faced and howler monkeys, White-tailed deer, pacas, armadillos, anteaters, collared peccaries, coyotes, porcupines, raccoons, coatis, ocelots, jaguarondis or margay cats.

There are no public facilities at Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve. Other nearby Costa Rican parks include Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, Romelia National Wildlife Refuge, La Ceiba National Wildlife Refuge and Curu National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. Probably the easiest way to get there is by taking the Ferri to Tambor or Paquera (we recommend you get to Puntarenas an hour before the ferry leaves), and then drive through Tambor, Cobano and Cabuya. To get to Montezuma, continue south for approximately 40 km from Paquera. The Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve lies south of the funky beach village of Montezuma. From here, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is practically a necessity, even during the dry season. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway (route 27), until you get to Puntarenas. The Caldera trip takes about 3 hours from San Jose while the other takes about 5 hours.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south through Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Nandayure, Lepanto, Paquera, and then drive through Tambor, Cobano and Cabuya until you get to Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve. It is a very scenic trip as you go down the coast (this route exemplifies rural Costa Rica and is very beautiful).

By bus

Take a local bus from the route San Jose – Malpais – Montezuma, which takes about 5 hours (Transportes Rodriguez, +506 2642-0219). We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.

By plane

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Tambor Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve, which takes about 15 minutes.

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Montezuma, Puntarenas, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Location: near Cabuya in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Cabuya GPS coordinates: 9.598406,-85.089364 (9°35’54.26″N, 85°05’21.71″W)

  

Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 93 ha (183 acres)
Altitude: sea level to 150m (942ft)
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Cueva Murcielago Wildlife Refuge in Puntarenas, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Cueva Murcielago Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica was created on November 25th, 1998 in order to protect tropical forests in the coastal areas of the southern Nicoya Peninsula near Cabuya, Costa Rica.

Even though this sector of the Nicoya Peninsula receives an average of 2.3 meters of rain annually, making it the wettest part of the region, there is still a pronounced dry season from December through April. In fact, the southern zone of the peninsula receives more rain than the area to the north which results in a different look and feel in the forest.

Cueva Murcielago Wildlife Refuge is characterized by tropical moist forest with many evergreen areas, although numerous plant species found in the tropical dry forest also occur here. Around 150 trees have been identified in the zone, such as the Spiny Cedar, or “Pochote” (Bombacopsis quinata), which can be identified by the sharp, conical spines protruding from the bark, with white “shaving brush” flowers that are pollinated at night by bats, as well as the Wild Plum (Prunus americana), Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba), Lancewood (Pseudopanax crassifolius) and Common Frangipani (Plumeria rubra).

Cueva Murcielago National Wildlife Refuge is home to a wide variety of animals, including Howler, Capuchin and Spider Monkeys, Coaties, Armadillos, Anteaters, Kinkajous, Agouties, Porcupines, Brocket Deers, Collard Peccaries and Raccoons, and also smaller cats such as the Ocelot and Margay leave traces, but are unlikely to be seen, although with some luck you may see the Jaguarundi, the most diurnal of Costa Rica’s six species of wild cats. A large number of birds have been recorded in the area such as the Magpie-Jay, Motmots, Long-tailed Manakin, Crested Caracara, Elegant Trogon, White-bellied Chachalaca, Sulphur-winged Parakeet and Curassows, Crested Guans. The shoreline is inhabited by many sea birds, such as Brown Pelicans, Laughing Gulls and Frigatebirds. Butterflies, such as the Blue Morpho and Owl Butterfly are common, and beware of snakes, constrictor boas have been reported.

Beaches nearby the park include Tambor, Malpais, Carmen and Santa Teresa. There are no public park facilities at Cueva Murcielago National Wildlife Refuge. Other nearby Costa Rica parks include Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, Romelia Wldlife Refuge and Curu National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Cueva Murcielago Wildlife Refuge:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. Probably the easiest way to get there is by taking the Ferry to Paquera (we recommend you get to Puntarenas an hour before the ferry leaves), and then drive through Tambor, Cobano and Cabuya. To get to Montezuma, continue south for approximately 40 km from Paquera. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway (route 27), until you get to the Puntarenas Ferry. The Caldera trip takes about 3 hours from San Jose while the other takes about 5 hours.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south through Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Nandayure, Lepanto, Paquera, and then drive through Tambor, Cobano and Cabuya. It is a very scenic trip as you go down the coast (this route exemplifies rural Costa Rica and is very beautiful).

By bus

Take a local bus from the route San Jose – Malpais – Montezuma, which takes about 5 hours (Transportes Rodriguez, +506 2642-0219). Take the Paquera Ferry and from there take Paquera – Cóbano bus. We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.

By plane

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

Location: 8km (5 miles) south of Paquera, in Puntarenas province.
GPS Coordinates: 9.793208,-84.925692 (9°47’35.55″N, 84°55’32.49″W)
Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 84ha (207 acres) 173 acres
Altitude: sea level to 20m (66ft)
Curú National Wildlife Refuge Telephone: +506 2641-0100 / +506 2641-0590
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +506 2686-4967 / +506 2686-4968
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Fax: +(506) 2686-4969
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Paquera, Puntarenas, Costa Rica at Google Maps

The desire of Federico Shutz and his family to spare this beautiful beach area from development and over harvesting of its marine resources, led to the creation of the Curú National Wildlife Refuge on February 25th, 1983, which purpose is to protect tropical dry forests on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, near Tambor, in Costa Rica.

Based on a old Costa Rican hacienda, this small reserve has a variety of life zones, including primary dry forest, mangroves and a beautiful white sand beach on which Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles nest. The largest beach is excellent for swimming and offers good snorkeling possibilities. Humpback whales are often seen offshore in the nearby Bahia Ballena (Whale Bay), being January the best month to appreciate them, while mangroves extend along the small Curu River.

The climate here is hot with sunny mornings, throughout the year. Afternoon showers are a possibility from May through November. The existing habitats include semi-deciduous forest with a mixture of evergreen and semi-deciduous species, low growing forest near the beach, mangrove swamps and littoral woodland. Some of the largest trees in these forests are the silk cotton, the Panama and the redwood.

Despite its small size, it houses a great variety of birds, terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Guided walks are led by the resident scientists and you might see Capuchin, Spider and Howler monkeys, Agouties, Variegated Squirrels, Coaties, Raccoons, White-tailed Deers, Opossums, Coyotes and Armadillos, and there’s also a lot of lizards species, the most common is the Ctenosaura (the green iguana) and Boa Constrictor. The birds are typical of the dry tropical forest and included are the Black-headed Trogons, Turquoise-browed Motmots, Rose-throated Becards, Lesser Ground Cuckoos, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Thicket Tinamous, Canivet’s Emeralds and Green-backed Heron, while offshore, Royal Terns, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Brown Pelicans, Laughing Falcons, Broad-winged Hawk and the Cattle Egret are a common sight.

Aquatic life includes nocturnal hermit crabs, which are very numerous on the beach and on land. There is an almost extinct species of oyster (Ocypode occidentalis) that can be found here, as well as lobsters, chitons and mouthless crabs.

The ecological-mindedness of the Shutz family, the farm’s proprietors, has maintained natural habitat along the ridges, river courses, and beach areas in the refuge and the farm. Several trails go all over the area and permit good wildlife viewing opportunities, a map of which is available at the station near the beach at Curu Bay.

Additionally, an area of mangrove swamp and three picturesque beaches are part of the refuge. The largest beach, Curú Beach, is an excellent swimming beach with very little wave action. The crystalline waters off the other two beaches, Poza Colorada and Quesera, offer good snorkeling around some coral formations. On top of Quesera Point a large shell can be seen, that is evidence of pre-Columbian habitation of this easterly end of the Nicoya Peninsula. In the other hand, fishermen from the small fishing village of Tambor in Bahia Ballena run sunset bird watching cruises through the mangroves of the Pochote Creek.

Getting to Curú National Wildlife Refuge:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. Probably the easiest way to get there is by taking the Ferri to Tambor or Paquera. (Tambor Ferri is the largest and most comfortable, we recommend you get to Puntarenas an hour before the ferry leaves), and there you must take the local bus. The entrance to the park is on the road between Paquera and Tambor, 5 km south of Paquera, and from the farm gate (first one on your left after leaving Paquera) to the refuge is another 1.5 km. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway, until you get to Puntarenas. The Caldera trip takes about 2.5 hours from San Jose while the other takes about 4 hours.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south through Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Nandayure, Lepanto and Paquera until you get to Curú National Wildlife Refuge. It is a very scenic trip as you go down the coast (this route exemplifies rural Costa Rica and is very beautiful).

By bus

Take a local bus from the route San Jose – Malpais – Montezuma, which takes about 5 hours (Transportes Rodriguez, +506 2642-0219). We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Tambor Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to Curú National Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 15 minutes.

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

La Ceiba Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica was created on July 20th, 1995 in order to research and protect tropical forests and beach area. It is covered by tropical dry forest, is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area, and protects tropical forests on the Nicoya Peninsula, within the Nicoya Protected Zone, near the small village of San Rafael de Paquera in Puntarenas Province.

La Ceiba National Wildlife Refuge has a variety of life zones, including primary dry forest, mangroves and a beautiful white sand beach on which Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles nest. The refuge also houses a great variety of birds and terrestrial and marine biodiversity, such as monkeys, coatis, agoutis, kinkajous, raccoons, squirrels, White-tailed Deer, anteaters, peccaries, coyotes, opossums, armadillos, lizards, ocelots and margays and snakes like Boa Constrictor. The birds are typical of the dry tropical forest and include Black-headed Trogons, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Turquoise-browed Motmots, Lesser Ground Cuckoos, Rose-throated Becards, Canivet’s Emeralds, Thicket Tinamous, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Green-backed Heron, Royal Terns, Brown Pelicans, Laughing Falcons, Broad-winged Hawk and the Cattle Egret are a common sight.

The largest beach is excellent for swimming and offers good snorkeling possibilities. Humpback whales are often seen offshore in the nearby Bahia Ballena (Whale Bay), being January the best month to appreciate them.

The weather is typical of the zone, hot and sunny mornings, throughout the year. Afternoon showers are a possibility from May through November. The existing habitats include semi-deciduous forests with a mixture of evergreen and semi-deciduous species, low growing forest near the beach, mangrove swamps and littoral woodland. Some of the largest trees in these forests are the silk cotton, the Panama and the redwood.

La Ceiba National Wildlife Refuge has a small camping site and two cabins inside the reserve used for ecotourism, which helps fund the project. Other nearby Costa Rican parks include Curu National Wildlife Refuge and Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, Romelia National Wildlife Refuge and Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve.

Getting to La Ceiba Wildlife Refuge:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. Probably the easiest way to get there is by taking the Ferri to Paquera (we recommend you get to Puntarenas an hour before the ferry leaves). Once in Paquera follow the signs to La Ceiba Wildlife Refuge. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway (route 27), until you get to Puntarenas. The Caldera trip takes about 3 hours from San Jose while the other takes about 5 hours.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south through Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Nandayure, Lepanto and Paquera.

By bus

Take a local bus from the route San Jose – Malpais – Montezuma, which takes about 5 hours, making the stop at Paquera (Transportes Rodriguez, 2642-0219). We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Tambor Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive, or take a bus or taxi to La Ceiba Wildlife Refuge, which takes about 25 minutes.

Location: southern Nicoya Peninsula in Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Paquera GPS Coordinates: 9.821142,-84.935581 (9°49’16.11″N, 84°56’08.09″W)
Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 273 ha (674 acres)
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +(506) 2686-4967 / 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Paquera, Puntarenas, Costa Rica at Google Maps

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

San Lucas Island National Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica was declared on February 12th 2001, to protect an island in the Gulf of Nicoya, just offshore from Puntarenas, approximately 550 km (340 mi) from the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, the largest of the islands in the Gigante Bay.

San Lucas Island has held a fascination on people for many years. Indigenous groups lived on San Lucas and the surrounding islands. In fact, the indigenous people used the island as a burial place from around 1,500 to 800 B.C. There are eight known archeological sites on the island, including apparent houses where stone tools, jade, gold, clay and metal pieces were found in the late 1970s.

The island continues to fascinate, it is a remote and peaceful island. Although, there are many poignant reminders of the brutal past when the island operated as a prison modeled on Devil’s Island. The San Lucas Island was founded by the dictator Tomás Miguel Guardia Gutiérrez as a penal colony from 1873 to 1991, for some of the worst criminals in Costa Rica. It had the reputation of being the roughest jail in Costa Rica, which is why its 117 year history is rich with tales of violence. Being sent to San Lucas Island was a terrible prospect as prisoners lives were short and often spent in torture. Ironically, Guardia was the one who abolished the death penalty a year after establishing the prison. Today the prison walls are crumbling in ruins and a lonely caretaker might let you go around on the island.

The former buildings of the penal island are considered “Patrimonio de Cultura,” or cultural heritage sites. The buildings include a historic dock that is still in use after the first dock was destroyed, a church, a medical building, temporary holding cells, a three story main office, a large concrete disc used to hold a water tank and water pumps. In addition, there are prison cells of varying security levels depending on the prisoners’ crimes. The prison cells contain the typical graffiti of older Latin American prisons, such as religious phrases, pornographic images, signatures and drawings. There are also several water pumps and a cemetery under excavation on the island.

In 2008, Costa Rica declared the island part of the national wildlife reserves, a ceremony which featured a speech by former prisoner León. (José León Sánchez, was a prisoner of the island, who wrote “La Isla de los Hombres Solos,” translated into English as “The Island of Lonely Men,” based on his time in the prison at San Lucas Island. León claimed that he was unjustly imprisoned for a robbery that he did not commit).

It is one of only 2 islands in the gulf of Nicoya with natural fresh water, and this has encouraged the biological diversity you can enjoy today. The island includes a wide variety of wildlife, such as howler or congo monkeys, spiders, pheasants, raccoons, anteaters, peccaries, armadillos, squirrels, skunks and other mammals. Similarly, they have recorded around 17 species of reptiles, including snakes such as the becker (Boa constrictor), the “guardacaminos” (Conophis lineatus) and the Loxocemus bicolor. In addition, over the mangroves you can observe crocodiles.

About 40 species of birds have been identified, 9 are migratory and 31 resident, as the frigate (Fregata magnificens), the pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), the tailed dove (Columbina inca), and the vulture (Coragyps atratus). Also there are at least 8 species of bats on the island, many of whom live in or near the old prison buildings. The waters surrounding the island are home to hammerhead sharks, rays and turtles.

In the vegetation area, around some 90 species have been found, all native to the area, among which stand the mango and “jocote” trees, the matapalo, the Bursera simaruba, the “carao”, the “cenizaro” and the “ceibo”, which are the preferred site of howler monkeys. Now you can visit the island and see for yourself the beauty and history that keeps this wonderful island. A caretaker lives on San Lucas Island, and is available for tours.

Getting to San Lucas Island National Wildlife Refuge:

From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas exit, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. Probably the easiest way to see the San Lucas Island is to hire a boat in Puntarenas to take you to the island. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway, until you get to Punta Morales, passing through the Puntarenas entrance. The Caldera trip takes about 1 hour from San Jose while the other takes about 2 hours.

From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south on the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas. Probably the easiest way to see the San Lucas Island is to hire a boat in Puntarenas to take you to the island.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Puntarenas, which takes about 2 hours and then hire a boat in Puntarenas to observe San Lucas Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Location: Nicoya Gulf, in Puntarenas province.
GPS coordinates: 9.940639,-84.903817 (9°56’26.30″N, 84°54’13.74″W)
Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 470ha (1156 acres)
Altitude: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +(506) 2686-4967 / 2686-4968
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Fax: +(506) 2686-4969
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Puntarenas port, Costa Rica at Google Maps