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- Mangrove labyrinths — Dense mangrove forests split by winding tidal channels create a green maze that’s both photogenic and ecologically critical. These roots are nursery habitat for fish and crabs, and paddling or boating through them feels like entering another world.
- Sea-turtle nesting beaches — Long, quiet Pacific beaches in the park are important nesting sites for leatherback and olive ridley turtles. Seeing tracks or (with a trustworthy local guide) a nesting female is unforgettable — bring a headlamp and follow local rules to avoid disturbing them. (Personal favorite.)
- Birdwatching and shorebird flocks — Mudflats, mangroves and estuaries attract herons, egrets, kingfishers and migratory shorebirds in big numbers. Binoculars + low tide = excellent wildlife viewing from small boats
- Mangrove labyrinths — Dense mangrove forests split by winding tidal channels create a green maze that’s both photogenic and ecologically critical. These roots are nursery habitat for fish and crabs, and paddling or boating through them feels like entering another world.
- Sea-turtle nesting beaches — Long, quiet Pacific beaches in the park are important nesting sites for leatherback and olive ridley turtles. Seeing tracks or (with a trustworthy local guide) a nesting female is unforgettable — bring a headlamp and follow local rules to avoid disturbing them. (Personal favorite.)
- Birdwatching and shorebird flocks — Mudflats, mangroves and estuaries attract herons, egrets, kingfishers and migratory shorebirds in big numbers. Binoculars + low tide = excellent wildlife viewing from small boats or the shoreline.
- Tidal flats and sandbars — The landscape is constantly shifting with huge tides: exposed sandbars, sculpted mudflats and bubbling channels that reveal hundreds of crabs and invertebrates. Great for short exploratory walks at low tide, but respect timing — the water comes in fast.
- Boat trips through estuarine channels — Most exploration happens by boat, which gets you close to wildlife, mangrove tunnels and small islets unreachable on foot. Hire a local skipper — they know the tides, where the birds and turtles concentrate, and the safest routes.
- Wild Pacific beaches and dunes — Miles of remote coastline with dramatic sunsets, casuarina-lined dunes and little-developed camping spots if you arrange it with communities. Expect moonlike solitude and strong surf — not a sunbather’s beach, but spectacular.
- Local fishing communities and conservation projects — Small Afro-Colombian fishing villages live inside and around the park, and many run community ecotourism or mangrove restoration efforts. Visiting them gives insight into local livelihoods and practical conservation work on the ground.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.