Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Reserva Biológica Isla Guayabo Costa Rica
Guayabo Island Biological Reserve Costa Rica located in the Gulf of Nicoya, was included in the national park system on December 27th, 1982, to preserve plentiful populations of marine birds, its flora and fauna, to protect seabird nesting colonies and to spare them from other developments. The island is part of the Guayabo, Negritos and Pajaros Biological Reserve. The climate here is hot and sunny most days of the year. The small amount of rain falls between May and November.
Guayabo Island is an important block that towers 50 meters high. It’s mostly composed of sedimentary rock amongst 60 to 80 million years old. It has the shape of a rhomboid and access to it is difficult from the pebble beach, which is the result of a former landslide. The rest of the surrounding area consists of cliffs jutting out into the sea.
The vegetation covering it consists of bushes, shrubs and small plants scarcely over 1m high. It’s importance lies in being the largest of the four known nesting areas for the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the country with a population of up to 300 birds. Besides, it is also a breeding place for boobies, laughing gulls, frigate birds and the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). Near Guayabo, there is a sunken ship, which has enabled a small coral reef and a bank of mussels (Brachidontes puntarenensis) to establish. Except for the birds, the wildlife just includes small insects and crustaceans like crabs. The boat from Puntarenas to Paquera passes close by the cliff-bound rocky islet and you can watch the crowds of circling birds.
The Guayabo Island Biological Reserve service maintains no facilities or trails for visitors on the island, but in Puntarenas there are hotels, restaurants, markets and it is possible to hire boat for closer examination. Also, to visit the island you may need a permit from the Tempisque Conservation Area.
Getting to Guayabo Island Biological Reserve:
From San Jose take the Pan-American Highway to the Puntarenas exit, passing through San Ramon and Barranca. Probably the easiest way to see the Guayabo Island is to take one of the daily cruises from Puntarenas to Tortuga Island, since the route taken on these excursions passes by these islands. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway, until you get to Punta Morales, passing through the Puntarenas entrance. The Caldera trip takes about 1 hour from San Jose while the other takes about 2 hours.
From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south on the Pan-American Highway to Puntarenas. Probably the easiest way to see Guayabo Island is to take one of the daily cruises from Puntarenas to Tortuga Island, since the route taken on these excursions passes by these islands.
By bus
Take a bus from the route San Jose – Puntarenas, which takes about 2 hours and then take a boat, preferably to Tortuga Island, to observe Guayabo Island Biological Reserve.
Location: 8 km south Puntarenas, in Nicoya Gulf.
Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 6.8ha (15 acres)
Altitude: sea level up to 50m
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +(506) 2686-4967 / 2686-4968
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Fax: +(506) 2686-4969
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
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