Gandoca Manzanillo National Park is a mixed National Wildlife Refuge. The most important ecosystems within the Refuge are the wetlands: swamps, lagoons, flooded forests, the reef and marine plant and alga floors. It protects the habitat of endangered species such as manatee or seacow (Trichechus manatus) and marine turtles such as leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), which nest on the costs of the Refuge.
Also, it gives shelter to mammals and birds. South of Punta Mona there is the only cativo (Prioria copaifera) forest left on the South Caribe of the country. Conservation and sustained management of these ecosystems, with the participation of the local communities, is the main objective for the activities of this Refuge.
Location
Gandoca Manzanillo National Park is located on the South-East Caribbean coast, between the mouths of Cocles and Sixaola rivers, in the Province of Limon, canton of Talamanca, district of Sixaola. The Refuge is located 203 kilometers from San Jose and 71 kilometers from Limon. Gandoca Sector is 95 kilometers from Limon, by the Bri Bri - Sixaola road.
Flora and fauna
In Gandoca Manzanillo National Park marine and terrestrial environments provide a very diverse habitat, which allows the permanence of fringing, patch, barrier reef. Wetlands are conformed mainly by golillo palm trees (Raphia taedigera), mangroves, cativo trees and herbaceous swamps. Alluvial forests in drained terrains and forests on hills hold species such as golillo palm trees, orey, cativo, sangrillo, caobilla and several species of mangrove.
Herbaceous swamps are formed by species such as uña de gato (cat claw), varilla negra (black stick) and floating vegetation. Hillside forests contain enormous trees of almendro de montaña, cerillo, caobilla, cativo and sangrillo. The coral reef and marine plant and alga floors provide shelter and food to species such as manatee and the thorny lobster. Other protected species are crocodiles, caimans, otters, peccaries, pacas, spider monkeys, toucans, parrots and great curassows.
Interest facts
Extension: It is 9.449 hectares (4.436 of them marines and 5.013 terrestrial)
Climate: The climate of the Refuge maintains the typical pattern of the Southern sector of the Costa Rican Caribbean coast. Rainfall diminishes between January and April and from the end of September until the beginning of October
Life zone: Humid Tropical Forest.
Highest altitudes: 185 meters above sea level on Cerros de Manzanillo.
Main attractions
Sport Fishing
Bird Watching
Caribbean Diving (at the reef sector)
Surfing
Sea kayaking
Enjoying the sun, sea and pristine beaches
Guided tours for observing the leatherback turtle nesting, between February and May
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