Last week we had the chance to experience a true Costa Rica Adventure Tour. We went to Curú National Wildlife Refuge, in the Nicoya Peninsula, in Puntarenas. You will definitely love this place. We tell you why.
The area is teaming with abundant wildlife and hosts one of the most beautiful beaches and protected bays on the Nicoya Peninsula. The area offers easy access to seeing some of the most sought-after species such as White-faced Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Scarlet Macaws, White-tailed Deer, Collared Peccary, Coati, Raccoons, Coyotes, Iguanas, and hundreds of species of tropical and migratory birds.
Curú contains Costa Rica’s first private National Wildlife Refuge and is an example of a successful sustainable development program. The hacienda still includes low levels of cattle grazing and produces tropical fruits such as mangos on an annual basis. However, tourism and visitation by school groups and researchers are the focus of Curú today. Curú National Wildlife Refuge and farm is managed sustainably to produce a profit and local employment while also protecting its threatened and endangered forested habitats such as mangroves, tropical moist and dry forests, and coral reefs.
We did the the bioluminescence tour in a boat. That was a one of our favorite Costa Rica adventure tours. The bioluminescence occurs in warm water lagoons that connect to the sea via a narrow channel. They respond to any type of movement, and you can stick your hand in the water to make them shimmer. This bioluminescence tour is more than just an hour trip sea kayaking at night. It’s a three-hour interactive experience.
The tour leaves at 5pm from the calm bay of Curú beach toward Quesera beach, a beautiful white sand beach that is part of this protected area. It usually takes about 20 minutes paddling on a kayak to reach of Quesera beach. But on Saturday February 29th there was a green alert because it was too windy, so kayaks were forbidden for that night. We were 12 people on the boat. At the beginning of the tour, you can relax on fine white sand to watch the beautiful sunset, while enjoying fresh fruit and drinks on the house. There is time to swim in the clear waters of Quesera beach.
When night falls, you can observe the phenomenon of the lights in the water, caused by organisms that react to movement. You can observe the bioluminescence from the edge of the beach or dare to swim, so you can enjoy the halo of light around the body when floating on water. The snorkeling masks allows you to see the beautiful underwater natural neon lights. The trip back will start at 7:30 pm to be on the Curú beach.
We strongly recommend doing this trip and specially staying at the one of the 5 cabinas that are located on the beach.
Useful information for your Costa Rica Adventure Tour:
- Only visitors staying in the cabins may stay after 4:00 p.m. All others must vacante the wildlife refuge.
- The cabins have no hot water and no fridge.
- Right of admission for foreigners $15 per person and nationals ¢3000 per person.
- Open between 7 am and 4 pm
- Horse Tours (Quesera Beach $25 for 3 hour) and (For the Curú farm $15 for one hours)
