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Enjoy turtle watching, nature hiking & wildlife in Nosara.

Nosara, Costa Rica in Guanacaste is actually a stretch of several beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula – from Playa Ostional to Playa Nosara, Playa Pelada and Playa Guiones.

Three top nature activities you must do on a visit to Nosara are:

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle at Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, Costa RicaTurtle watching at the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge

Every year hundreds of thousands of Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Pacific Green sea turtles come to Playa Ostional, Playa Nosara, Playa Pelada and Playa Guiones to lay their eggs. Founded in 1984, the Ostional Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica is the second largest nesting site in the world for Olive Ridley turtles.

The turtles nest at Ostional all year round, but from June to December the spectacular phenomenon of “arribadas” happens – massive arrivals of tens of thousands of turtles at one time coming ashore to nest and lay their eggs. The “arribadas” last about a week and most commonly occur during the last quarter phase of the moon or shortly after the new moon. Even BBC's Blue Planet TV series has documented these happenings as an incredible wonder of nature.

 

Hike in the Nosara Biological Reserve

Hike in the Nosara Biological ReserveLocated where the turtles meet the monkeys, the Nosara Biological Reserve is a 90-acre (35 hectare) private nature reserve on the southern side of the Nosara River. Trails take you past a large mangrove wetland and through dry tropical forest, one of the world’s rarer habitats. You can always find howler monkeys and iguanas in the trees; the reserve also is home to coatis, raccoons, armadillos, snakes, crocodiles and other reptiles, deer and wild cats. Many different birds, such as seabirds, herons, waders, toucans, motmots and Long-tailed Manakins can be found in the reserve; altogether more than 270 species of birds have been sighted.

The entrance to the Nosara Biological Reserve is at Hotel Lagarta Lodge, which manages the protected area. Set on a hill, there are great views of the river estuary and the shoreline all the way to Playa Ostional. The entrance fee of $6 is paid at the hotel; you will receive a trail map with information about trees and plants of the area. A self-guided tour takes about 2 hours, or you can arrange a guided tour with a naturalist, or guided boat tours of the mangrove estuary. The best times to hike are early in the morning or late in the afternoon to see the most wildlife.

Nosara Wildlife Rescue and Sibu Sanctuary

Nosara Wildlife Rescue and Sibu SanctuaryThe Nosara Wildlife Rescue and Sibu Sanctuary takes care of newborns, orphans, and recently injured wild animals, giving them medical care and shelter during their immediate recovery. Animals then transfer to the sanctuary to receive further rehabilitation; they live in natural habitats in preparation for reintegration back into the wild. Animals that cannot survive on their own are given a permanent home at the Sibu Sanctuary.

For more than 10 years, the nonprofit volunteer-run center has worked to educate the community to protect wildlife and their habitats. One of their main campaigns has been to fix electrical lines so they are insulated or buried underground; working with the National Electricity Institute (ICE), they have insulated nearly 30 miles of cables so far. Every year, many of Nosara's monkeys and sloths are electrocuted on power lines.

Educational tours take visitors through both the wildlife rescue and sanctuary, lasting about two hours. Visitors get to interact with rescued animals, and have the opportunity to sponsor an animal.

Hotels in Nosara, Costa Rica

L’acqua Viva Resort & Spa at Playa Guiones borders the Nosara Coastal Forest Preserve by the Wildlife Refuge. The hotel’s name means “live water,” which is a key element flowing around the spectacular Bali-style architecture. A fine white sand beach is a short one kilometer walk from the hotel. L’acqua Viva is part of the Enchanting Hotels group of Costa Rica.

The best way to reach Nosara is to take a domestic flight from San Jose or Liberia to the Nosara domestic airport. Roads in the area are rugged and not well-marked.

Article by Shannon Farley

Photo by Go Visit Costa Rica

Map of Nicoya Peninsula, by Go Visit Costa Rica

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