Gondoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

The Manzanillo Eco Lodge lies in a zone of the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.  We are the only lodge operator in the entire zone we occupy!

The Wildlife Refuge is situated in one of the most stunningly beautiful regions of Costa Rica.

Among the plethora of wildlife found here are; crocodiles, pacas, manatees, caimans, tapirs, tarpons, dolphins, sea turtles, frigate birds, woodpeckers, parakeets, eagles, pelicans, toucans and motmots. Explore the tide pools out front hosting reef fish, eels, crabs, and lobster.  Snorkel or scuba the clear blue waters in front of our lodge to find octopus, turtles, sting rays and over 125 species of fish.

The refuge's best hiking trails begin in at our front door and wind through 988-acres of forest, marshland and coastline along the refuge's southern tip. Inside the forest, under the dense cover of cacao trees, strangler fig and coastal almond trees, capuchin and howler monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, tapirs, agoutis and raccoons. Among the lagoons, visitors can find caimans, freshwater turtles, emerald basilisk lizards and a variety of other wildlife creeping to the water's edge for a drink.

Walk on hard packed sand trails along the Caribbean coast and sandy beaches washed daily by turquoise tides.  The Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is the jewel of Costa Rica's southern Carribean spanning nearly 25,oo areas of such jungle, marshland, lagoons, reefs, coves and coastline!

WEATHER

Annual average temperature: 79 degrees
Annual average rainfall: 98 inches

There is no clearly defined wet or dry season in the southern Caribbean, though the driest months are September through October and March through April. Even during the drier months, afternoon or evening showers can roll into the area.

ACTIVITIES

All below activities available directly from the front steps of our lodge!

Bird and wildlife watching: The southern Caribbean is populated with howler and capuchin monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, toucans, iguanas, butterflies, frogs, snakes, raccoons, anteaters and other wildlife. Leatherback turtles, the largest sea turtles in the world, nest on Gandoca Beach from March through July while populations of green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles nest in smaller numbers.

Hiking: The refuge is an excellent choice for light hikes along meandering trails. Several area tour operators offer informative, guided hiking tours. Note: During heavy rains, the trails may be very muddy and difficult to walk.

Surfing: Surfing is popular at the eastern end of Manzanillo Beach. Rent Surfboards at any of several beachfront shops, or from individuals offering surfing lessons.

Scuba diving: When the waters are calm and the visibility is good, divers can enjoy more than 20 dive sites between the shores of Cahuita and Manzanillo, which together are home to Costa Rica's only two living coral reefs. The colorful, underwater worlds are full of life, including angelfish, triggerfish, nurse sharks and parrotfish.

Snorkeling: Snorkelers can also enjoy the area's living coral reefs, which host more than 35 species of coral and 125 species of fish.

Kayaking: Join a local tour or rent kayaks from local hotels for excursions through the canals of the refuge and out into the ocean.

Sport Fishing: Spend a few hours or the entire day walking the coastline in each for a myriad of species.  Depart with one of the lodge guides to test your skills at the hard fighting local population of Tarpon!

FLORA & FAUNA

Punta Mona, a 988-acre slice of the park, is home to Costa Rica's only jolillo palm and sojo trees, in addition to migrating and permanent-resident birds, including the red-lored parrot, the red-capped manikin, the collared aracari, the chestnut-mandibled toucan, the rare harpy eagle and more than 360 other avian species.