Leatherback Turtle Marine National Park (Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas)

 

Las Baulas Marine National park is located in Guanacaste, in the Santa Cruz canton and it was created in 1991. The Wildlife refuge has an area of 500 hectares and the national park 112 hectares.

This park is highly important because it is the nesting site of the Leatherback Turtle. These turtles weigh up to 500 kilograms and they are over 2 meters long. The Nesting season goes from September to March. This species is in tremendous danger of extinction and needs protection this is why the Las Baulas Marine National Park was created.

 In the area there is quite abundant flora, mangrove trees are greatly common and for instance monkeys and crocodiles can be observed in the park area. The park is the ideal place for hiking and after that sunbathing and relaxing at the lovely Playa Grande.

Surrounded by 445 hectares of mangrove forests and rugged coastlines, the Las Baulas National Marine Park has four beaches, Playa Grande, Playa Langosta, Playa Avellanas and Playa Carbón.

Besides being the nesting site of thousands of leatherback turtles, the Las Baulas Marine Park protects 174 species of birds and a number of animals living in the estuary. Home of the white ibis, heron cattle and the blue wing teal duck, also protects capuchin monkeys, raccoons, crocodiles, and gray squirrels.

To reach the park you can fly to Tamarindo airstrip or to Liberia International Airport and then drive to the town of Tamarindo, here take the north road to Playa Grande. Another way to get to the park is by boat through the estuary of Tamarindo.

When visiting the park you are not allowed to use flash cameras or flash lights, and to approach a turtle. This national park is an ideal place to visit with the family since it has a museum and there are night walks during the nesting season.