Las Baulas National Marine Park: leatherback turtles at Tamarindo
Area | 936 terrestrial acres - 54,000 marine acres |
Location | Guanacaste Province |
Date of Creation | July, 1991 |
Las Baulas National Marine Park (Parque Marino Las Baulas) is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica near the town of Tamarindo. It supports the largest nesting colony of leatherback sea turtles (baulas) on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, with a population size of about 800 female turtles nesting per year. Nesting season is approximately November through April.
Although Tamarindo Beach is not included in the National Park, it has a 50-meter protected zone. This is the case with all coastal areas in Costa Rica. The first 50 meters above median, high tide, is a protected public lands zone.
The National Park is comprised of the 50-meter zone of four beaches (Carbón, Ventanas, Grande and Langosta), as well as the Tamarindo estuary and mangroves at the mouth of the Matapalo River and the San Francisco River Estuary. To the north, the Cerros Morro and Hermosa are also included.
The ranger station at Playa Grande is open from 8 am to 4 pm. For minimum impact, the number of visitors allowed each evening is limited.
