|
Location: Puntarenas Province, 339 km. from San Jose, located near the Golfito harbor, on the Osa Peninsula
See South Pacific Tourism Region
Size: 6,943 acres
Date of Creation: November 1988
Part of: Osa Conservation Area
About:
The Golfito National Wildlife Refuge is located on coast of the Gulfo Dulce. It's a long way away from anything, but worth the journey if you would like to explore a dense, primitive, humid tropical forest.
The Reserve protects dense, evergreen, forested areas and unspoiled beaches. The forests found here house one of the tallest canopies found in all of Central America, averaging 100- 140’ in height. The dense forests abut the beaches and do not experience a true dry season and are, therefore, green all year round.
Other attractions: You'll see resident and migratory dolphins and humpback whales during their December to April migration season. There are beautiful coral reefs in the reserve, along with some wet and colorful mangrove swamps.
Found here also: archaeological diggings at several sites on the peninsula. Scientists find these interesting because of the odd, spherical stones scattered around the sites.
There is another odd rock formation in the refuge. This one juts some 400 meters (1,312 ft.) out into the sea, created (geologists think) by the action of plate tectonics.
Back to Top
Weather:Average Temperature: 27 C (81 F)
Annual Rainfall: 6000 mm (150 - 200 inches)
Activities:
Camping is permitted with a permit. Contact the MINAE office in Río Claro at (506) 789-9092.
Facilities:There are no public facilities in the park.
Trails: There is a trail system that is accessed through the town of Golfito.
Flora & Fauna: Flora: manwood, butternut, plomo and purple heart trees, which are all on the threatened species list, plus fern, wild plantain, philodendron and cow trees.
Fauna: collared peccary, paca, agouti, common raccoon, white-nosed coati, common barn owl, poison dart frog, beach ghost crab, various rodents and felines.
Getting There:
There is an airport nearby and the Inter-American highway passes near the reserve as well. Follow it south from San José to Río Claro. Turn right onto Route 14, it winds around to the reserve.
Nearby Parks:
Gulfo Dulce Forest Reserve
RHR Blancas Wildlife Refuge
Piedras Blancas National Park
Donald Peters Hayes Wildlife Refuge
Contact info:
MINAE office in Río Claro at 506-2-789-9092
Back to Top
|
Help protect Costa Rica's wildlife by not feeding them. Animals that expect to be fed by people can become aggressive, harassing people for food when they are hungry.