Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge Costa Rica

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Werner Sauter Costa Rica

Werner Sauter Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica: created on July 19th, 1995, in order to protect mangroves and tropical forest areas, near Garza on the Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Is an important center for wildlife conservation, as it has a wide variety of animals such as capuchin and howler monkeys, raccoons, weasels and anteaters, besides some 40 species of birds, including Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula), White-throated Magpie-Jay (Calocitta formosa), Finsch’s Conure or Crimson-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga finschi), Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) and the majestic Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens).

Similarly, the shelter has a wide range of tree species such as the Tempisque (Sideroxylon capiri), Bastard cedar or Guácimo (Guazuma ulmifolia), Roble de Savanna (Tabebuia rosea), Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Muñeco or Red Manjack (Cordia collococca), the Ceibo or Kapok (Ceiba pentandra), Spiny Cedar or Pochote (Bombacopsis quinata), Ron-Ron (Astronium graveolens), Corteza Amarilla (Tabebuia ochracea) and Papaya (Carica papaya), amongst others.

The Werner Sauter National Wildlife Refuge is located in the northern Pacific slope of the country, so it experiences an intense dry season, in which no rain may fall for several months. The forests of the North-West are to a large extent deciduous, letting their leaves fall in order to conserve water. The rainy season begins in May and runs its course until November, where mornings are often sunny and pleasant, and rainy afternoons.

Werner Sauter was born in San José, Costa Rica on August 20th, 1928, at his home near the Pacific train station. Is a person who has remained tied to commercial tours, sports activities and remains a lover of nature which has been part of his experience. It was one of the first people to climb the Chirripó in March, 1960 and also was one of the first people to inhabit Samara Beach with his friend Fritz Read, where is the forest reserve that bears his name.

Certainly Mr. Werner is a hard worker, humble, courageous and proud to be tackled to life. One of the most famous of the Sauter family, a tireless motivator of caring for nature, of good resources uses and of recycling.

There are no public park facilities at the Werner Sauter national wildlife refuge. Other nearby Costa Rica parks includes Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge and Diria National Park.

Getting to Refugio de Vida Silvestre Werner Sauter, Costa Rica?

From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway towards Liberia until you reach Limonal. Turn left at Tres Hermanas Restaurant and continue to La Amistad bridge until you get to Nicoya. Once you reach Nicoya, continue your drive taking the road to Samara passing through Hojancha. Once in Samara turn left towards Nosara for about 16 km (10 miles), passing through Buena Vista and Barco Quebrado until you reach Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge. This route requires a total of five hours from San Jose.

From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to Nicoya and from there to Samara passing through Hojancha. Once in Samara turn left towards Nosara for about 16 km (10 miles), passing through Buena Vista and Barco Quebrado until you reach Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge.

By bus

Take a local bus San José – Nosara, which takes about 5 to 6 hours (Empresa Alfaro, 2222-2666 / 2682-0297). From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge, which takes about 20 minutes. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

You can also take the bus San Jose – Nicoya, which takes 5 to 6 hours (Terminal Alfaro, 2685-5032), and then take another bus from Nicoya to Nosara – Garza – Guiones, which takes about 2 hours (Empresa Rojas, 2686-9089).

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Nosara airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Werner Sauter Widlife Refuge, which is takes about 20 minutes.

Location: near Samara in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
Samara GPS Coordinates: 9.881075,-85.52765 (9°52’51.87″N, 85°31’39.54″W)
Garza GPS Coordinates: 9.910222,-85.644819 (9°54’36.80″N, 85°38’41.35″W)
Size: 139 ha (346 acres)
Elevations: sea level
Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) Telephone: +(506) 2686-4967 / 2686-4968
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Werner Sauter National Widlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps