Refugio Gandoca Manzanillo – Manzanillo

National Refuge Gandoca Manzanillo - Manzanillo

Manzanillo, Costa Rica

The Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is located in the South of Costa Rica, at the Caribbean coast, 14 km from Puerto Viejo. It’s less touristy than Cahuita. The roads are good,you can make it even with a Fiat Punto you can make it.

The walk from Manzanillo's entrance to Punta Mona takes 5-6 hours (both ways), although wandering and getting lost in the middle of nowhere is a good option too. The refugee has two different entrances where you will only have to pay a voluntary donation. Unlike Cahuita, there are not many defined paths.

The refuge is a very humid area. It rains for almost the whole year. It spans multiple habitats such as tropical jungle, wetland and mangrove swamp.

It has a 10km-long beach, a forest of 740 acres, a coral reef and two swamps. It’s also a turtle nesting area of leatherback sea turtles, whose season goes from March to May. You could also spot manatees, crocodiles or dolphins among others.

Regarding terrestrial animals, you can find ferrets, gautusas, monkeys (capuchin and howler), sloths, typical butterflies of Costa Rica (Morpho, owl, tigger…).If it’s a rainy day, you will have the opportunity to spot frogs smaller than 2 cm. You can find poisonous snakes such as eyelash viper, terciopelo or the dreaded matabuey, whose bite could be lethal.

Early in the morning is the best moment of the day to see the fauna. Go slowly and silently. Be nice with the forest ranger, they might help you to find animals ;)

Trees are impressive, with their big and wide roots that grow everywhere. It 's also common to see “vergonzosas”. These plants close their leaves when you touch them.

You can’t miss the cave, the secret bridge and Manzanillo’s viewpoint .

You can have private guided tours if you want, normally they know where to find wildlife.

Quite near you can find the Jaguar rescue center, which is a temporary or permanent home for ill or injured wild animals. Tour around 25$

Don’t forget your taking an insect repellent, otherwise, they will eat you!

You can’t leave the area without visiting the park!!