adult sloth at Puerto Viejo on Southern Caribbean coastline

If you are thinking of traveling to Costa Rica to the Southern Caribbean Coast then you need to read all the valuable information about  this web site that I am going to tell you about.

It’s called greencoast.com and was designed and managed by a network of small hotels and locally owned tour companies of this area.  From Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo. This web site includes only community owned businesses that adhere to responsible and green minded ecotourism policies.

It’s all about:  1.  The southern Caribbean’s palm fringed beaches   2. It’s  rain forest  filled with sloths, toucans, and howler monkeys.  3. The Indigenous community of the people of Talamanca. 4. Locally owned and operated small hotels  5.  Locally owned and operated tour operators with knowledgeable local guides.

costaricalearn.com  organizes it’s information into categories which you can find on page one.  Please take a look at these categories to help you find valuable information on many topics related to Costa Rica tourism and also All About Living and Retiring in Costa Rica.

If you want to learn more about Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast  go to  www.greencoast.com

Map Las Baulas National Marine Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

SPEAK FOR THESE CREATURES WHICH CAN NOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

The leatherback sea turtle is the world’s largest sea turtle and is in danger of becoming extinct. In Costa Rica, it nests on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park during  the months of March through May.  One can go with a park ranger at night to see these turtles nesting but you may not take photos  because the light disturbs the turtles.    These turtles have survived for over one hundred million years but now are considered endangered and are under protection because their numbers are decreasing around the world.  The Leatherback sea turtle can be found in every ocean in the world except the Arctic Ocean and and Antarctic  Ocean.

If you are vacationing in Costa Rica during the months of February through May you have a great chance to see Leatherback sea turtle  nesting in the southern Caribbean coastlines of Costa Rica.  Especially in a protected area called Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve on the very southern tip of Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coastline.

Also the Leatherback sea turtle  nests on the Northwestern Pacific beaches of Costa Rica in large number in Las Baulas National Park during the months of November through April.
This area is especially popular with tourists because  it is near by the popular tourist town of Tamarindo where tourist from all over world come to enjoy the sunshine and the warm Pacific Ocean.

There are many reasons that the Leatherback sea turtle is endangered.  1.  Eggs are stolen from the nesting sites for consumption by the locals.  They claim the eggs are  aphrodisiacs.
Killed in fishing lines and struck by boats.  3. Coastal developments damage and destroy nesting sites.  Examples of this is homes and condos being built along the beach, bringing  large numbers of people who interfere with the turtles nesting rituals.
4. Global Warming which warms the temperatures of the oceans is affecting the food supply of the leatherback.  Also,  large amounts of plastics are  being dumped into  the oceans by boats and the leatherback sea turtle  thinks it is good to eat, but it is very harmful to the turtles digestive system.

It is estimated that only one in one thousand hatchlings survive to adulthood.

How can We  help Protect the Leatherback Sea Turtle? By joining the efforts of The World Wildlife Fund  which works with fisheries around the world to decrease the numbers being caught.  Also local communities ban together and protect critical nesting sites.  We see this in Tortuguero, Costa Rica on the Northwest Caribbean Coast and  also in the Northwestern Beaches of Guanacaste where the Costa Rica government has established the Las Baulas National Park to work with the locals to protect these turtles and also to give tourist an opportunity to learn about the world’s largest marine turtle.

Tourism to Costa Rica has brought a large number of dollars into the country and  part of this money  has been used wisely by the Costa Rican government to help develop these National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.    Costa Rica Learn strives to provide those of you thinking of a vacation in Costa Rica with on going helpful travel tips and other valuable information on travel to Costa Rica.  Our information  is categorized on page one of our web page.  so please check out these categories to find information on your  topic of interest.

It is difficult to realize just how large the leatherback sea turtle is by looking at the photo below.  They can grow to a shell length  of 1.7 meters and weight up to 900 kg (approx 2,000 lb). Indeed the largest sea turtle on earth!

Learn more about Las Baulas National Marine Park at  www.costarica-nationalparks.com/lasbaulasnational marinepark.html

Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle, Costa Rica

Created in 1985 the refuge  has a unique feather in that it allows local communities to continue to live within the park.

South of Puerto Viejo we come to the Cocles River.  Here is where Refuge National de Vida Silvestre Gandoca Manzanillo  begins and continues south to the Sixola River, at the Panamanian border.

What is the main attraction?  Well, there are many but the most famous is the park’s coastline lined with fine, beige-white sand beaches and aquamarine waters, where you will see swimmers as well as surfers.  However, beware of the riptides  (undertows)   Ask the locals before entering the water or ask where the calm waters for swimming are located.

What if I want to go snorkeling or scuba diving?  Yes, there is spectacular beauty under the water, located only about 200 meters off shore!   Especially February through April when there is less river silt run off.  There are so many different species of coral and sponges, algae, and mollusk.  Plus sea cucumbers and  Venus sea fans.  Most popular area for snorkeling is Punta Mona but you need to hire a boat ,  the distance is too far to walk.  If you decide to snorkel on you own be very careful of the riptides! To get a diving excursion check with the Coral Reef information center  (Aquamor Talamanca Adventures)   2 759 0612  www.greencoast.com/aquamor.htm

The Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge  was formed to protect many living things. 1. lowland  rain forest, home to the many species of birds and animals  found here.  In the months of November and December you can see millions of migratory birds flying over head.  2. quiet swamps and  988 acres of marshlands  are home to  Costa Rica’s  sajo tree and the holio palm. (no other place in Costa Rica do you find these trees).  3.  the red mangroves,  found only in this spot in Costa Rica. They provide protection to a natural oyster bed, and is the only intact mangrove swamp on the Atlantic.  4. on the south side of the refuge, the Gandoca River Estuary is home to spawning Atlantic  tarpon and West Indian manatees, as well as crocodiles.

The green sea turtle and the leatherback sea turtle nest here during the months of March to July with a peak in April and May.

Inland , rolling farmland blends into dense lowland rain forest. We can see white face monkeys. howler monkeys, two and three toed sloths,  and iguanas.

Highly recommended to see the most variety of plants and animals as well as marine life in Costa Rica!  Hire a naturalist guide to get the best experience.

How to Get There? Go east from San Jose to the city of Limon.  Before entering the city you will turn south to Cahuita, then Puerto Vieja, then Manzanillo.  The park is located 7 miles (12 km) south of Puerto Viejo.  And it is not very accessible.  Many of the roads that lead to the park are dirt and gravel.  The sign are not very good so just stop and ask if you feel lost.

The  refuge encompasses three small villages Punt Uva,  Punta Mona, Home Creek, and Manzanillo.

Thanks for choosing costaricalearn.com

Weather in southern Caribbean coast Hot and humid.  Rains a lot here.  Driest months are September, October, and March.  But it is hard to predict the rain.

If you rent a car to get to Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Reserve,  it should be a 4×4.

You can take a public bus direct, from the San Jose public bus station Caribe or  Caribbean.   Taxi drivers in San Jose will know how to drive you there. Takes around 4 hours.

white face monkey

red mangroves