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.
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