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Curu Wildlife Refuge

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Last Updated on Thursday, 21 May 2009 20:35

Location: Nicoya Peninsula; 4 miles southwest of Paquera; 45 minutes east of Montezuma

Size: 3,707 total acres and 656 feet of coastline

Date of Creation: February 1983

Part of:Tempisque Conservation Area

See North Pacific Tourism Region

About:

Picture pristine, white sand beaches teeming with monkeys. Waves of sand crabs roam the sparkling coast, and there is but a handful of humans in sight. Wildlife is ubiquitous throughout the stunning Curu National Wildlife Refuge. Animal encounters are inevitable, and visitors’ senses of sight, smell and sound are overwhelmed by the biodiversity surrounding them.

Curu National Wildlife Refuge, located on the southeast tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, has an interesting past. The land was purchased from the Pacific Lumber Company in 1933 by a Costa Rican named Frederico Schutt de la Croix. He paid 12,000 Costa Rican colones, or today’s equivalent of about $24 U.S. dollars. De la Croix halted the felling of trees and began growing food and grazing cattle in an environmentally friendly manner. In 1974 squatters settled the area, and part of the refuge transformed into the small town of Valle Azul. Curu received support from the Costa Rican government to protect its wildlife seven years later, and in 1983 the area officially became the Curu Wildlife Refuge.

Privately owned, the refuge is exceptionally well cared for and more exclusive than most public parks. Bathe and kayak in the tranquil white sand Bay of Curu, or hire a boat taxi to the crystal waters of Turtle Island, locally known as Isla Tortuga, for some of the best snorkeling in the country. Here, scuba diving lessons are offered by PADI certified instructors. A special ‘discovery’ session for visitors who don’t have enough time to complete the entire course is highly recommended.

For horse lovers, the riding tour from Curu Beach to Quesada Beach is unforgettable. Bilingual guides are able to accompany guests through the foot trail to Curu’s Monkey Sanctuary, pointing out animals and sharing interesting facts along the way. It is important not to remove anything – not even a single seashell – from the reserve. Park rules and regulations are designed to keep excessive human contact from negatively impacting the park and its wildlife.

Horseback to Curu

Today, Curu serves as a living laboratory for students, scientists, and independent researchers. The refuge hosts school outings and educational events, and also facilitates conservation projects protecting migratory birds – particularly the scarlet macaw. Other projects include restoring artificial and coral reefs, parrot conservation, and reintroducing spider monkeys into the wild.

Activities:

Wildlife Watching: Curu features 17 peaceful trails, where visitors can spot wildlife in a variety of ecosystems, including mangrove swamps and tropical wet and dry forest. The refuge is incredibly diverse, and is home to 78 species of mammals, 87 species of reptiles, 232 species of birds, and over 500 species of plants. Raccoon, coatimundi, whitetail deer, armadillo, collared peccary, puma, skunk, and kinkajou are plentiful. Playful capuchin, spider, and howler monkeys are frequently spotted lingering in the trees. Giant toads, boa constrictors, iguanas, Anolis lizards, crocodiles and nesting sea turtles can also be found on the property.

Birdwatchers will delight in the wide variety of species found in the refuge: parakeets, parrots, scarlet macaws, woodpeckers, osprey, common black hawks, brown pelicans, and herons are commonly spotted.

Hiking: Hiking trails include Monkey Trail (Sendero Finca de los Monos), Lagoon Trail (Sendero de Laguna), and Quesera Trail (Sendero Quesera). Follow the main road from the park’s entrance for a peaceful walk leading all the way to the beach.

Monkey Trail is an easy walk and a great trail for wildlife lovers. The best time to hike it is early in the morning between 7 and 8 a.m., when animals are waking up to feed and drink. The trail ends at Curu’s famed Monkey Sanctuary, where injured monkeys are rescued and nursed back to health to be reintroduced into the wild.

Snorkeling: A tour operator associated with the park also offers guided boat tours to the nearby island of Isla Tortuga, known for its wonderful snorkeling. The tour makes for a lovely day, and includes a barbeque lunch with fresh fruit, soft drinks, water and beer.

Scuba Diving: PADI certified instructors offer one and two tank dives amid the sparkling waters of Tortuga Island. Discover dives are available for those who don’t have time to complete a full course.

Kayaking: Kayak the bright beaches of Curu solo, or with a guide. A single kayak can be rented for $15 per hour, and a double for $20.

Facilities:

Curu Wildlife Refuge and ranch is a sustainable development, protecting the wildlife that shares its grounds. Visitors can stay in one of Curu’s three rustic cabins situated 150 feet from the white sand beach. To minimize the park’s environmental footprint, the cabins are lit by candle only. Cabins feature restrooms, showers, potable water, and a nearby visitors’ center with souvenir shop.

Fees and Schedule:

Schedule: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fees: $10 entrance fee per person per day in the refuge

$10 per person for a bed in a cabin, each cabin sleeps up to 8

Getting There:

Driving: Take the hour-long ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera. From Paquera, drive along the main road about 30 minutes to Curu. Roads here are well cared for, and 4WD is not necessary. The entrance will be on your left.