No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsTravel and TourismCosta Rica's Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge

Costa Rica’s Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge

Tucked away between the major tourist attractions on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, the Punta Mala wildlife reserve goes easily unnoticed. Few of even the most intrepid Costa Rican travelers have set foot in the turtle nesting ground, but a new burst of investment in the area could soon change that. A partnership between conservation NGO Costa Rica Forever and Playa Hermosa’s Local Council for Conservation Areas is launching a new plan to bring sustainable tourism to the area.

Through nocturnal turtle tours and surfing excursions to Playa Hermosa’s famous La Curva, the refuge will soon be easier to access for ecotourists.

A maximum of 40 photographers will get the opportunity to travel to the refuge with a professional photographer guide for a private tour of the reserve. Photographers can then submit their top two photos for judging and the chance to win a $200 prize. The tour costs $50 per person and includes transportation, breakfast and lunch. 

Until then, enjoy some of our photos from the area.

Costa Rica's Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Costa Rica's Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Costa Rica's Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Birds in Costa Rica's Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Costa Rica Birdwatching at Costa Rica's Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Costa Rica National Parks
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Crabs in Costa Rica
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Surfing in Costa Rica
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times
Surfing in Costa Rica
Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times

Trending Now

OIJ Reports Shift in Costa Rica Car Thefts Toward Newer Vehicles

For years, concerns centered on the theft of older vehicles for resale as spare parts. Criminal groups now target newer models more often. They...

Costa Rica Coffee Braces for Lower Payments and Possible Losses

Costa Rica coffee producers need to prepare for a difficult period in 2026. The Coffee Institute of Costa Rica (ICAFE) issued the warning as...

Quepos Reinvents Itself from a Costa Rican Banana Port to a Sportfishing Hub

Over nearly a century, the Central Pacific Coast town Quepos has evolved from the banana-driven economy of the United Fruit Company to a popular...

Guatemala’s Sanctioned Attorney General Applies for Third Term

Guatemala's Attorney General Consuelo Porras has submitted her application for a third consecutive term, despite international sanctions labeling her as corrupt and anti-democratic. The...

Panama Canal Operations Continue Normally After Port Takeover Officials Say

The Panamanian government said Tuesday that trade has not been affected after it took control of two ports operated by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison...

US Bases Proposed in Limón, Puntarenas and Guanacaste to Target Drug Traffickers

Fabián Silva Gamboa, a constitutional lawyer who advises President-elect Laura Fernández, proposed a reform to the Political Constitution that would allow the United States...
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica