The Curu Wildlife Reserve is located in the province of Puntarenas, in the Nicoya Peninsula, by the little village of Curu. It became a protected forest in 1981 and the Curu National Wildlife Refuge was finally created in 1983. The family that originally settled on the land is still there today and they turned to the government for help in order to protect this little haven. The trails of the Reserve vary in range of difficulty. In fact some of these trails are only accessible during the dry season. Some of the easier trails to do include the Laguna, the Toledo, the Monos, the Finca and La Ceiba. Each trail represents a specific habitat, making the refuge resemble a life-size museum!

Check here for nearby Nicoya Peninsula vacation rental options for visiting the Refuge

Curu’s rich biodiversity attracts nature lovers, tourists and explorers alike for its abundance of flora and fauna. While the whole Reserve measures 1496 hectares, only 75 of it encompasses the refuge and the remaining land is used for low-impact agriculture.

The abundant wildlife of the refuge includes the Capuchin monkeys, the Howler monkeys, the Spider monkeys, peccaris, coyotes, coatis, anteaters and more. Seventy eight species of mammals have been discovered to date in Curu including some big cats like the pumas, ocelots and margay.  However, because they are usually nocturnal and shy away from people, they are not very easy to see. Sightings of the Boa Constrictor are equally difficult  as they usually escape at the approach of humans. Curu is actually home to 87 species of reptiles. (more…)

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