Home
Costa Rica
PLAN MY VISIT
Costa Rica Destinations HotelsThings to do Transport Maps Vacations Team
  • Top Destinations
PLAN MY VISIT →
  1. Home
  2. Costa Rica
  3. Destinations
  4. Guanacaste

Marino Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica

Created in 1990 to protect Leatherback turtles from profit-making egg poachers, Marino las Baulas National Park is one of the foremost nesting sites for the leatherback turtle. The park protects 1,100 acres (445 hectares) of swampy mangrove coastline as well as 54,000 acres (21,850 hectares) of inland forest.

Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
Marino Las Baulas National Park Costa Rica
←→

Incredible white-sand beaches separate the park's protected seas from its vibrant forests that are home to 174 species of birds as well as countless other animal species. Mangroves and estuaries are plentiful, packed with a biodiversity known to few places outside of Costa Rica.

On Grande Beach (Playa Grande), female leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs from October to May-an incredible spectacle to behold if you are lucky enough to see it. Guides are available for hire for those interested in this rare, but unforgettable opportunity.

Leatherback turtles are not only the world's largest turtle, but its largest reptile, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900kg)! For all of their weight, these reptilian behemoths ironically have a pin-prick brain that weighs in at a measly 28 grams. Leatherbacks wander the open seas in search of their favorite food, jelly fish, which they will dive to a depth of 4,000 feet (1,220 m) to pursue. Unlike other species of turtle that have external carapaces, the leatherback has a tough leathery skin and internal skeleton.

Marino las Baulas National Park is just due north from Tamarindo. Driving to the park is best done in a four-wheel drive vehicle, as the road north of Grande Beach is rather rough and unpaved. An alternative to this route is by ferry across the Straight of Tamarindo. The process of making a reservation to see the Giant Sea Turtles is a little different than a normal tour and guide experience. Basically you can reserve a place on the list no more than 8 days in advance of the tour date by calling the Marino Las Baulas Station at 2653-0470 or from the U.S. it is 011 2506 653-0470. You must give them your complete name and passport number in order to be be put on the list. On the day of the tour you must arrive at the station of Marino Baulas at Sundown to pay for your ticket about $15 per person and be assigned in a group.

If there is a healthy nesting Turtle found by the biologists they will allow 1 group to come and view the process for about 15 minutes. Sometimes people must wait hours until a turtle arrives on the beach other times there are enough turtles for everyone to get a chance to view the nesting process. In some cases no turtles arrive at all. The Leatherback Turtle nests on Playa Grande from October to March but their numbers are drastically declining and in 2008 only 32 Leatherbacks came to nest on the beach.

Wildlife Sightings

ArmadilloArmadillo
Brown PelicanBrown Pelican
CoatiCoati
Fishing Bulldog BatFishing Bulldog Bat
Leatherback TurtleLeatherback Turtle
Magnificent FrigatebirdMagnificent Frigatebird
←→
Excellent!
Trustpilot Rating
Based on 705 reviews
Trustpilot
Anywhere Designed a Fantastic Itinerary
The travel route was designed with great precision and it was a seamless experience from start to finish. Yahaira unders...
Dec 03, 2022
– JKen R
Trustpilot Rating
Will use them again!
Communicative, helpful and honest. They stuck to my budget and accommodated my changes. My kids and I had such a good ti...
Dec 01, 2022
– Kayla C.
Trustpilot Rating
100 Stars!!
If I could give 100 stars, I would wholeheartedly. All the booked activities were excellent and pricing was unbeatable. ...
Nov 30, 2022
– Ravi D.
Trustpilot Rating
Stress Free Vacation
Everything on our itinerary went according to plan. This saved anxiety about transportation and allowed us to experience...
Nov 29, 2022
– Catherine.
Trustpilot Rating
Best Travel Experience Ever!
Working with the Anywhere team was the best experience I have ever had with a travel agency. Every person we interacted ...
Nov 25, 2022
– Aaron B.
Trustpilot Rating
5 STAR service
All the planning, communication and ability to offer on the ground assistance was spot on, responsive and helpful. Could...
Aug 23, 2022
– Jessica H.
Trustpilot Rating
Everything was Perfect!
Our agent (Harold) was amazing. He was incredibly responsive, worked hard to make our honeymoon perfect, and even adjust...
Aug 22, 2022
– Maya & Ka.
Trustpilot Rating
We loved every minute of this trip.
Leonardo was great at tailoring our experience to suit our needs, temperaments and budget and the process of planning th...
Aug 04, 2022
– Andrew M
Trustpilot Rating
Friendly and Very Responsive
My kids think this is the best trip ever (we travels a lot as a family, so this is definitely a big compliment)
Jul 19, 2022
– Emily Y
Trustpilot Rating
Travel with Ease
Every aspect of our trip was well designed to make travel easy and fun. I will recommend Yahaira and this company to any...
Jul 17, 2022
– Maureen V.
Trustpilot Rating
Trip of a lifetime for my family
The task was to plan an exceptional experience for my complete family to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. My expe...
Mar 28, 2022
– Claude Ca.
Trustpilot Rating
Third time using Anywhere Costa Rica
I am writing to thank you for all of your help and expertise in assisting us, once again, in putting together a beautifu...
Mar 14, 2022
– Betty Kni.
Trustpilot Rating
Kudos for Anywhere
Harold was an amazing trip advisor. We had a complicated itinerary, and Harold managed to find us the right places and c...
Mar 13, 2022
– Julia B.
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere.com is the Best!!!
We booked our trip to Costa Rica with Anywhere.com and it was nothing short of perfect! We told Harold the primary desti...
Jan 07, 2022
– Taylor Ka.
Trustpilot Rating
Amazing Costa Rica Vacation
Harold built a wonderful 11 day trip for my friends and I in Costa Rica. Between the hotels (Arenal, Monteverde, and Man...
Mar 07, 2022
– Christoph.
Trustpilot Rating

Let's Dream Together

Share your bucketlist to get inspiration and local connections.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.

Costa Rica Vacations
  • Adventure
  • All-inclusive
  • Beach
  • Budget
  • Eco-tourism
  • Family
  • Group
  • Honeymoon
  • Luxury
  • Nature
  • Private
  • Rainforest
  • Romantic
Highlights
  • Top Destinations
  • Beaches
  • Rainforests
  • Cloudforest
  • Volcanoes
  • Waterfalls
  • Surfing
  • Leisure
  • Off the Beaten Path
  • Airports
Costa Rica Travel
  • Maps
  • Safety
  • Weather & Climate
  • Sustainability
  • Holiday Season
  • Currency
  • Driving & Car Rental
  • Getting Around
PLACES TO GO
  • Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs
  • Monteverde Cloudforests
  • Manuel Antonio Beach & Jungle
  • Tamarindo Beach
  • Santa Theresa & Malpais Beaches
  • Puerto Viejo Beach
  • Nosara Beach
  • Jaco Beach
  • Tortuguero Rainforest
  • Corcovado Rainforest
  • Rincon de la Vieja Volcano & Waterfall
  • Nicoya Peninsula
  • Guanacaste Beaches
  • Osa Peninsula
THINGS TO DO
  • Hot Springs
  • Zip Lines
  • Suspension Bridges
  • Horseback
  • Rappel
  • Wildlife
  • Hiking
  • Chocolate Farms
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Coffee Farms
  • Butterfly Gardens
  • Surfing
  • Sport Fishing
  • Birdwatching
  • Scuba Diving
  • Catamaran Cruise
  • Indigenous Culture
  • Yoga
  • Wellness
  • Cave Exploration
Trustpilot 5 of 5 rated service
Trustpilot "Excellent"
Plan My Visit→+1 (888) 456-3212
MessengerContact AnywhereWhatsapp ContactCall USA: +1-888-456-3212

© 2023 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy