Nosara - Ostional National Wildlife Refuge

(Local Name: Refugio Nacional Fauna Silvestre Ostional) Only 8km/5mi in length, this wildlife refuge is a narrow strip of land found on the western coastline of the Nicoya Peninsula. With a total land area of 162ha/400ac, the refuge also includes 587ha/1,450ac of the adjoining Pacific Ocean. The reserve was created to protect the nesting grounds of the olive ridley sea turtle.

The refuge includes two beaches, one of which hosts hundreds of turtles in large groups annually. Ostional Beach is also is home to a tiny village in which residents are allowed to harvest some of the early batches of turtle eggs, which are popular snacks in Costa Rican bars. Unregulated harvesting was another factor in the creation