Playa Dominical, South Pacific, Costa Rica, courtesy David Thompson
My First View of Costa Rica, courtesy David Thompson
Beach in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Playa Herradura, Central Pacific, Costa Rica, courtesy David Thompson
Central Valley Landscape, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio Beach, Central Pacific, Costa Rica, courtesy David Thompson
Osa Peninsula Sunset, Costa Rica
Playa Herradura, Central Pacific, Costa Rica, courtesy David Thompson
Playa Esterillos Este, Central Pacific, Costa Rica, courtesy David Thompson

Southern Guanacaste

Southern Guanacaste - Tucan and the lizard

BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK

Located 22 km northeast of the city of Nicoya, Barra Honda National Park protects an important geological resource and a system of numerous caverns with stalactite and stalagmite formations. Only about 19 of the caverns have been explored so far. According to scientists, the 250-meter high Barra Honda hill was formed by ancient coral reefs that were pushed up to the surface over the ages by earthquakes. The park provides a parking lot, drinking water, lodging, trails and observation points that include a view of the Tempisque River basin.


OSTIONAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE

Ostional National Wildlife Reserve is the most important nature reserve on the Pacific Coast, where female Parrott, Baula and Green turtles come to nest. Once a year a phenomenon known as the ‘arribada’ (arrival of the turtles), occurs here from September to November, when thousands of Parrott turtles emerge out of the ocean, night after night, to lay more than 100 eggs each, into holes that they dig on the beaches of the reserve. The spectacle of the arribada is amazing and unforgettable. Those who join the reserve’s tour are provided additional information that explains the arribada phenomenon in full magnitude. In view of the tens of thousands of eggs laid each year, a law has been established to permit local residents to extract a certain number of eggs for commercial purposes without affecting the nesting process; and a neighborhood association has been established that patrols the area to ensure that no one abuses this law.


BOSQUE DIRIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE

Bosque Diria National Wildlife Reserve is located in Santa Cruz in the Nicoya Peninsula, protecting the region's river system and some 1500 hectares of forest. Spreading over an area of over 700 meters in elevation, the reserve predominantly consists of evergreen species, along with mosses and huge bromeliads.
 

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