Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica
Details of the Park and its Surroundings
Las Baulas is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa
Rica, approximately 100 kilometres from the border with Nicaragua.
The limits of the park extend from 50 metres inland of the mid
tide line to 5 kilometres out to sea.
Playas Grande, Ventanas and Langosta form the park
and are under the control of MINAE and its local park administrators.
Development within the park is not permitted, and entry of persons
at night during the turtle nesting season is restricted.
Playa Ventanas and Playa Grande.
The town of Tamarindo is located to the south of
Las Baulas, across the Tamarindo Estuary. Tamarindo is a popular
tourist destination and many of the visitors to Las Baulas stay
there. The Tamarindo Estuary is a Wildlife Refuge and entry is
restricted. The mangrove estuary contains a wide variety of native
animals, including crocodiles, fish, crabs and many species of
birds. The area surrounding Las Baulas is mainly agricultural
land, but there are pockets of undisturbed forest left. These
are home to howler monkeys, armadillo, vultures, racoons, coyotes
and many other animals and plants.
Estero de Tamarindo and one of its inhabitants.
The climate has a distinct wet and dry season, with the rains
occurring mainly between June and November. During this time the
conditions are warm and humid, with vegetation being very green.
During the dry season the temperature is higher and humidity is
quite low. The turtle nesting season begins in the late part of
the wet season, so that by the time the hatchlings begin to emerge
the rainy season is over and the sand is quite dry.
