This award isn’t given to just any hotel on TripAdvisor.com, but only to the best. Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge and Lodge situated on Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific Coast. It offers a stunning ocean front, mangroves, rainforest, and a canopy forest. With 330 hectares (815 acres). Hacienda Barú has 7 kilometers of walking trails and 3 kilometers of pristine Costa Rican beach. Enjoy a complimentary Costa Rican breakfast in the open-air thatched-roof restaurant. All while listening to the chirping birds in the lush surroundings. This Lodge offers a sustainable stay. Relax in the beautiful pool, cleaned using ozone rather than harsh chemicals! An internationally recognized nature reserve, Hacienda Barú won’t disappoint. Also, perfect for family vacations or a romantic getaway with that special someone.
Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge is a world-renown nature reserve. Via tree farming and ecotourism, the reserve is able to garner enough income to maintain and protect the area. Tours offered at the Lodge are all ecologically-oriented. The reserve supports on-site scientific research and promotes responsible community development. Additionally, Hacienda Barú forms part of a wildlife corridor initiative called “The Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor.” This Ecolodge is the winner of the 2013 certificate of excellence which makes it a perfect destination for a birding vacation. Hacienda Baru offers a breathtaking oceanfront, mangroves, rainforest and a canopy forest. Take advantage of their fantastic birdwatching opportunities where numerous amounts of bird species can be found on site, up close and personal!
This project stretches along the Pacific coast through three National Parks. All from the Sierpe-Térraba Mangrove system and the Corcovado National Park up to the Los Santos Forest Reserve. It’s purpose it to join National Parks and preserves to link habitats of animals. Ones that were fractured by farming and cattle ranching in the past. The lodge itself is as Eco-friendly as they come! For example, all hot water heated using solar energy, organic waste composted and used as fertilizer, laundry sun-dried, and visitors are encouraged to use their water bottles.
Like wildlife? Is there a birder in your family? Take advantage of the fantastic birdwatching in Costa Rica and at Hacienda Barú, and enjoy all the wildlife that surrounds the premises! Maybe even spot these incredible birds, such as macaws and toucans, monkeys, basilisks, coatis, and Ridley turtle hatchlings. In fact, volunteers comb the beach protect them. There helping them to the surf and providing them protection from both natural predators and people who use turtle sell the eggs illegally. Also, see the incredible diversity of butterflies in the butterfly garden. Adults and children alike will love frolicking after these creatures, and spotting the monkeys hustling around. So many, to see animals such as bats, ant-eaters, both the two and three toed sloth, otters, whales, dolphins, and even the beautiful puma and ocelot.
Besides romping on the fantastic Dominical beach, Hacienda Barú offers great trails through the forest. Here you’ll find well-kept trails as well as wildlife in every direction you look. Choose to have a tour guide, or for more experienced nature spotters, head out on your own and test your knowledge. An orchard garden, as well as a butterfly garden, will greet the visitor upon entry. The hotel offers several bilingual tours including Rainforest Canopy Tour, a tour of the Mangrove Swamps, or the very exciting Jungle at Night Tour. Don’t miss the “Flight of the Toucan” Tour where you can zip line over the preserve! Due to its convenient proximity, it’s possible for the more adventurous to walk about 4 km to the beach to downtown Dominical!
The Nauyaca Falls is a stunning ecotourism spot 10 kilometers from Dominical on the southern Pacific side of Costa Rica (Puntarenas). The land is owned by the Don Lulo family and they have worked hard to conserve the area, maintaining the beautiful Costa Rica flora and fauna and rushing waterfalls. The trail is about 4 kilometers long and runs through the rainforest. There are hiking, truck riding and horseback riding tours to the falls. In fact, Nauyaca is one of the most famous areas to go horseback riding in Costa Rica.
There are upper and lower falls. The upper falls offer a beautiful view, but no swimming. It’s 40 meters high! Most visitors spend most of their time at the lower falls, where they can swim have a picnic. There is an option to jump off the rocks into the fresh water, but only if the guide is available to help you.
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