THE OLDEST LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE MONITORING AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN LATIN AMERICA.
The Reserve
Established in 1989, Pacuare Reserve is dedicated to conservation, research and education. Hidden between the Tortuguero Canals and the Caribbean Sea, it is accessible only by boat. Pacuare Reserve comprises 800 ha (2000 acres) of tropical forest and 6 km of beach, considered to be the most important nesting site in Costa Rica for endangered Leatherback sea turtles. The reserve provides an important habitat for thousands of species of flora and fauna, including the largest Agami heron colony (a rare species) in Central America, which is located on a small island in the middle of a protected lagoon.
From March to July, every visitor is invited to join us during the turtle census and witness at close range the nesting process – an unforgettable experience. From June to September, visitors are welcomed to experience the hatching process of thousands of baby leatherback turtles. While visiting and studying at the reserve, visitors and students have access to the surrounding canals, which are rich in wildlife, where more than 300 recorded species of animals, 3 species of monkeys, over 200 species of birds, and other rare species such as the jaguar and ocelot may be found.
Ecology Project International
Pacuare Reserve is now under the stewardship of Ecology Project International which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nature conservation. All proceeds go straight back to the Reserve. With your visit, you directly support our work on behalf of the turtles and all the other species that have found refuge at Pacuare Reserve.
