Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Information

It is a protected area located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, which preserves its tropical rainforest. There are beach areas, coral reefs and wetlands such as marshes and mangroves.

It has two sectors to enter, one through the village of Manzanillo and the other through Gandoca:

1. Manzanillo Sector: it is very easy to access, as it has an entrance at the end of the village of Manzanillo. There is a footbridge that leads into the protected area, and continues as a trail that passes through an operations centre. You can walk along this path through the jungle, and after 600 metres there is an access to the coast on the left, where there is a viewpoint called Miss May Point and a beach. If you continue for about 4 km more (it takes about 2 hours one way, be careful not to get lost as this section of the trail can be confusing) you will reach Punta Mona (Mona Point), which also has a beach and a small island covered in vegetation. Throughout the journey it is common to see wildlife, both mammals and a variety of reptiles and birds.

2. Gandoca Sector: to get there, from Route 36 there is a secondary road of 11 km to the small village of Gandoca, which has lodgings and a dark sandy coast. There is a protected beach where sea turtles nest and lay their eggs, of the leatherback turtle species (Dermochelys coriacea), which is in danger of extinction. There is also the Gandoca River and its marsh, important for its biodiversity.