Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Location
The Gandoca- Manzanilo Wildlife Refuge ( REGAMA) is strategically located at the south-eastern most tip of the Caribbean slope. It is surrounded by the sixaola River at the Panamanian border to the east, a row of mountains from the Talamancan range to the south and bathed on the north side by the white sand beaches and rich coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea.

REGAMA is a component of a complete system of Costa Rican protected areas which offer the visitor a broad spectrum of cultural, ethnical and ecological diversity, including the neighboring Hitoy-Cerere Biological Reserve, Cahuita National Park, Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, Bribri indigenous Reserve and Cabecar Indigenous Reserve of Talamanca, Telire indigenous reserve, Tayni indigenous Reserve and the Amistad International Park.

Compromised of 5,013 land mass hectares and 4,436 marine hectares, the REGAMA ocupes nearly 70% of the Southern Caribbean region (Caric Sur). The remaining 30% include the equally attractive areas of Cocles, Old Harbour ( Puerto Viejo) and Black Beach.

History
Although there is evidence that the region was inhabited by indigenous groups in the past, the more recent colonization began during the 19th century with the arrival of Afro-Caribbean?s arriving from the bordering Nicaraguan and Panamanian coast. They developed agricultural activities and founded the majority of the local communities which taday are known as Old Harbour, Cocles River, Little Bay, Grape Point, Manzanillo and Monkey Point.

Attracted to the coastal area by the agricultural activity of the afro-Caribbeans, indigenous Cabecar people from Alto Coen and Bribri people from Alto Lari came down to the area taday known as the Refuge and its surroundings at the turn of the century. For years these people co-exist with the blacks harmoniously, while maintaining contact with their families in upper Talamanca, until the spirits call them back up into the hills and mountains which today are designated as indigenous reserve which surround and protect the Refuge.

Biodiversity
The land eco-systems best represented in the Refuge are the wetlands. There are several areas in Costa Rica designated of special international importance under the RAMSAR Wetland convention, including the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge.

The biological richness increases with the Refuges marine coastal areas: coral reefs, sandy beaches, fossil lined coral caves, brackish creeks, mangroves, varying marine floors from silt to sand to rock to coral.

When you make a tour reservation or arrangements thru the Tree House Lodge, you are contributing with the Green Iguana Foundation, dedicated to the preservation of the Green Iguana, an specie in danger of extinction. And you can get free the Iguana Conservation Tour that is given every week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Click here to learn more about this program >

 

 

Related Links

• Puerto Viejo
• Cahuita NationalPark
• Surfing
• Waldorf School
• White Water Rafting
• Restaurants
• Activities
• Iguana Verde Foundation
• F.A.Q.

Facts

The wetlands and surrounding forest areas contain a great diversity of species, many only locally sited, endemic to this area: crocodiles, alligators, otters, wild bores, ocelots, pumas, pacas, sloths, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, white-throated capuchin monkeys, and numerous other species of birds, reptiles and amphibians.

More Info

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