Guayabo, Negritos and Pajaros Island Biological Reserves Costa Rica

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These four unpopulated islands (Negritos consists of two islands) were included in the national park system as Biological Reserves 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 and to guarantee that so much natural beauty could be permanently enjoyed. These four islands are located at both ends of the Gulf of Nicoya. They owe their origin to tectonic movements that led to the creation of this gulf. The climate here is hot and sunny most days of the year, with a small amount of rain falls between May and November.

Essentially steep-walled chunks of rock jutting above the ocean’s surface, these islands support low, scrubby, dry forest vegetation. The thin soil and limited annual rainfall combine to produce harsh conditions for plant growth. However, the western Negritos Island once had someone living on it, as is surmised from the remains of a wooden house and various introduced fruit trees. Pre-Columbian pottery fragments found on the same island indicate that it may have been used as a burial site by the previous inhabitants of the Nicoya Peninsula.

The four islands are refuges for marine birds, especially brown pelicans, sea snipes, laughing gulls, magnificent frigate birds, yellow-naped parrots (Amazona auropalliata) and brown boobies. Amongst the animals, besides the birds, you may see raccoons, white-tipped dove (Leptotila verreaux), red land crabs, Pacific Red Snapper (Lutjanus), spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus), yellow snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris) and the land hermit crabs. In addition, there are some populations of dolphin, tuna and mackerel around the island as well. On the other hand, Guayabo Island is an important breeding center for the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the country with a population of up to 300 birds. It also allows breeding for several other seabirds species.

The only other alternative for closer examination of these biological reserve would be to hire a small boat to take you out to them. This could possibly be done in the village of Paquera, or to visit Isla Pájaros, in you can do it from the village of Costa de Pájaros located 21 kilometers off the Inter-American Highway, north of Puntarenas. You may need a permit from the Tempisque Conservation Area.

None of the islands maintains facilities or trails for visitors, but in Puntarenas there are hotels, restaurants, markets and it is possible to hire boats, and access all islands by boat from Puntarenas. These islands are in the Gulf of Nicoya. The distance from San José is 118 kilometers via road and boat, and from Puntarenas are as follows: Guayabo 8 km south, Negritos 16.5 km south and de los Pájaros 13 km northweast.

Getting to Guayabo, Negritos and Pajaros Islands 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, Negritos and Pajaros Islands 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, Negritos and Pajaros Islands 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, Negritos and Pajaros Islands Biological Reserve.

Location: Nicoya Gulf, in Puntarenas province.
Puntarenas Ferry GPS Coordinates: 9.977431,-84.848553 (9°58’38.75″N, 84°50’54.79″W)
Size: 6.8ha (15 acres), 140ha (350 acres) and 3.8h (10 acres), respectively
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

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Puntarenas port, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Click on the links above to learn more about each island:

Guayabo Island Biological Reserve, Costa Rica
Los Negritos Islands Biological Reserve, Costa Rica
Los Pájaros Island Biological Reserve, Costa Rica