Grande Salvaje

Known for its miles of pale sand, its lush rainforest backdrop, and the pristine waters of the Pacifc, Playa Grande shines as one of Guanacaste’s definitive destination for nature lovers and ecologically-minded tourists. A great reason this surfer haven gets to keep its inherent natural allure has to do with sharing grounds with Las Baulas National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most unique conservation areas.

Created in 1990, this national park was made specifically as a mean for protecting the endangered Leatherback turtles that had come to nest on the beautiful shores of Playa Grande since the dawn of time. Encompassing an area of 445 hectares of mangrove swamps and coastline, the park extends through 4 beaches: Grande, Langosta, Ventanas and Carbon.

Las Baulas National Park also extends 12 miles off shore, as a way to safekeep the wellbeing of the turtles from poachers and tourists. For that same reason, the beach is off-limits from 6pm to 6am during the months of October and march, when the magic ritual of the turtles happens and their eggs are waiting to hatch.

In order to experience this wonderful natural phenomenon you’ll have to schedule a night time visit with a park guide and a turtle watching tour, but the experience is more than worth it. Where else can you see such a beautiful scene happening in real time?

In addition to turtles, Las Baulas National Park also protects 174 species of birds and a number of animals part of the estuary ecosystem, making it a safe bet for all your exotic animal needs, with the assurance of a sustainable and natural environment.