OSTIONAL BIOLOGICAL RESERVE

 This 248 hectare wildlife park on the west coast of Nicoya protects the breeding grounds of the warana sea turtle (see sea turtles page). The animal's instincts and limited choice of potential nesting sites mean that very large numbers of these tortoises regularly migrate to this site, called arribadas, especially from July to December when the moon is in its last quarter is. Between November and January you can sometimes also find leatherback turtles here, but real hawksbill and soup scallops are very rare here.