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- Punta Uva to Manzanillo coastal trail: The refuge’s signature walk runs along the shore past coconut palms and driftwood, with monkeys overhead and hermit crabs underfoot.
- Punta Mona: The far southeastern point at the end of the trail, reached on foot or by boat, with a rocky shoreline and dense forest behind it.
- Gandoca Beach turtle nesting: Leatherbacks come ashore in the early months of the year, while other species nest later, and guided night walks help protect the nests.
- Gandoca Lagoon: A mangrove-fringed estuary where caimans, herons and kingfishers are common, best explored by boat with a local guide.
- Manzanillo Beach: A long strip of pale sand with calm stretches for swimming and a small village behind it with simple eateries.
- Orchid and wetland forest: The Orey wetland, the only one in
- Punta Uva to Manzanillo coastal trail: The refuge’s signature walk runs along the shore past coconut palms and driftwood, with monkeys overhead and hermit crabs underfoot.
- Punta Mona: The far southeastern point at the end of the trail, reached on foot or by boat, with a rocky shoreline and dense forest behind it.
- Gandoca Beach turtle nesting: Leatherbacks come ashore in the early months of the year, while other species nest later, and guided night walks help protect the nests.
- Gandoca Lagoon: A mangrove-fringed estuary where caimans, herons and kingfishers are common, best explored by boat with a local guide.
- Manzanillo Beach: A long strip of pale sand with calm stretches for swimming and a small village behind it with simple eateries.
- Orchid and wetland forest: The Orey wetland, the only one in the country with a native orey tree forest, is home to caimans, manatees and many birds.
- Coral reef snorkeling: Offshore reefs, among the best on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, can be snorkeled from Manzanillo when seas are calm.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.