Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge

This is a wildlife refuge, which is part of the Tortuguero Conservation Area, in Limón Province in the northeastern area of Costa Rica. Barra del Colorado is the second largest rain forest preserve in the country and protects areas that contain hot humid forests, mangroves, canals and marine areas. The Refuge is bounded in part by the San Juan and Colorado rivers. Barra del Colorado is world famous for being the habitat of the endangered West Indian manatee as well as many caymans, crocodiles, and fish. You could also spot some tapirs, jaguars, cougars, monkeys, ocelots, and other mammals. Birds found include in the reserve are osprey, toucans, cormorants, herons, hawks, and many more. Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge was created in 1985. This refuge is one of the protected areas in the country forming part of that 26% of protected land and contributes to the significant value of diversity of flora and fauna of Costa Rica. Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge covers an area of 81,177 hectares of land, that includes some coastal areas, lakes, rivers, herbaceous swamps, flooded forests, and forests of small hills that do not exceed 718 feet (219 meters) above sea level. This is a mixed Wildlife Refuge, which means that conservation goals are carried out hand in hand with local communities that are embedded within the protected Wilderness area, feature that makes the Wildlife Refuge Barra del Colorado an amazing destination for rural tourism in Costa Rica. At the southeast area of the refuge, you will find the Cerro Tortuguero, with an altitude of 390 feet (119 meters) above sea level, it is a small volcanic cone, which was formed about 1.8 billion years ago. Cerro Tortuguero features an area of approximately 25 hectares and is the highest point of the entire Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, offering spectacular panoramic views of the forest and canal´s dynamic. Furthermore, it has become a micro habitat for many animals and plant species. Cerro Tortuguero is located on the border between Tortuguero National Park and the community of Barra de Colorado.