Las Baulas Marine National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐢 Leatherback Turtle Nesting

⏱ 1 day 🥾 Easy trails

🌍 #175 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #31 in Central America #82 in Tropical Forest

Guanacaste, Costa Rica 723 spp. recorded

Marino Las Baulas protects one of the most important leatherback turtle nesting sites on the Pacific coast of the Americas. From October to March, these ancient giants — weighing up to 500 kg — haul themselves onto Playa Grande under cover of darkness to lay their eggs.

10.318° N 86.019° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

70–80% · Very likely

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

40–50% · Likely

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

80–90% · Very likely

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

80–90% · Very likely

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

70–80% · Very likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

70–80% · Very likely

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

60–70% · Likely

Rufous-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus capistratus

50–60% · Likely

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

50–60% · Likely

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

50–60% · Likely

Streak-backed Oriole

Icterus pustulatus

40–50% · Likely

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga canicularis

40–50% · Likely

Yellow Warbler

Setophaga petechia

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

70–80% · Very likely

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

30–40% · Possible

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

20–30% · Possible

Proboscis Bat

Rhynchonycteris naso

10–20% · With luck

Hooded Skunk

Mephitis macroura

Insufficient data

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Insufficient data

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data

Common Opossum

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

Stenella attenuata

Insufficient data

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Insufficient data

Greater Sac-winged Bat

Saccopteryx bilineata

Insufficient data

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

80–90% · Very likely

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

80–90% · Very likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

70–80% · Very likely

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

60–70% · Likely

Rufous-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus capistratus

50–60% · Likely

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

50–60% · Likely

Streak-backed Oriole

Icterus pustulatus

40–50% · Likely

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga canicularis

40–50% · Likely

Yellow Warbler

Setophaga petechia

40–50% · Likely

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

40–50% · Likely

Common Black-Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

40–50% · Likely

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

50–60% · Likely

Rose-bellied Lizard

Sceloporus variabilis

40–50% · Likely

Common House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

30–40% · Possible

Aspidoscelis deppei

Aspidoscelis deppii

20–30% · Possible

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Hydrophis platurus

20–30% · Possible

Pacific Ridley

Lepidochelys olivacea

10–20% · Possible

Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake

Leptodeira nigrofasciata

10–20% · Possible

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Insufficient data

Central American Lyresnake

Trimorphodon quadruplex

10–20% · Possible

Central American Boa

Boa imperator

Insufficient data

Taylor's Blind Snake

Epictia ater

10–20% · With luck

Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake

Leptodeira rhombifera

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Milk Frog

Trachycephalus macrotis

30–40% · Possible

Giant Marine Toad

Rhinella horribilis

20–30% · Possible

Mexican Smilisca

Smilisca baudinii

20–30% · Possible

Stauffer's Tree Frog

Scinax staufferi

Insufficient data

Yellow Toad

Incilius luetkenii

Insufficient data

Yellow Treefrog

Dendropsophus microcephalus

Insufficient data

Turbo White-lipped Frog

Leptodactylus poecilochilus

Insufficient data

Sheep Frog

Hypopachus variolosus

Insufficient data

Forrer's Grass Frog

Lithobates forreri

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐢

Leatherback Turtle Nesting

OctNovDecJanFebMar

The leatherback is the largest sea turtle on Earth, and females haul their massive leathery-backed bodies ashore at night to dig deep nests and lay clutches of eggs. Watching one of these ancient giants emerge from the surf under moonlight is a rare and unforgettable spectacle.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data

🐊

American Crocodile Breeding

MarAprNovDec

During the breeding season American crocodiles gather in the park's estuaries and mangrove channels, where males bellow and defend territory before females build mounded nests along the banks. It's the best time to spot these formidable reptiles basking and courting in the brackish waters.

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

40–50% · Likely

🦩

Migratory Shorebird & Waterbird Season

JanFebMarNovDec

Long-billed Whimbrels probing the mudflats join Brown Pelicans plunge-diving offshore and Tricolored Herons stalking the shallows, part of a wave of migrants and resident waterbirds feeding along the estuary. The tidal flats and mangroves come alive with wings and constant activity.

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

40–50% · Likely

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

30–40% · Possible

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

Leatherback Sea Turtle

<5

<5

10–20

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

Mantled Howler Monkey

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

American Crocodile

10–20

30–40

40–50

50–60

20–30

50–60

20–30

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

60–70

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

Great-tailed Grackle

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

Variegated Squirrel

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

60–70

Tropical Kingbird

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

White-winged Dove

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

Rufous-backed Wren

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

30–40

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

40–50

40–50

70–80

20–30

40–50

60–70

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

Streak-backed Oriole

40–50

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

40–50

40–50

60–70

Orange-fronted Parakeet

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

20–30

10–20

20–30

20–30

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

40–50

40–50

20–30

10–20

20–30

20–30

50–60

60–70

40–50

50–60

Animal Events

🦩 Migratory Shorebird & Waterbird Season

🐢 Leatherback Turtle Nesting

🐊 American Crocodile Breeding

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good

🐢 Leatherback Turtle Nesting

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

457

🐒 Mammals

165

🦎 Reptiles

81

🐸 Amphibians

20

723 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

26 Threatened 60 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

69%

📊

Coverage (168 species at ≥5% of 723 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

23%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 2 reptile, 2 mammal)

47% Global avg

67%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

101

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

10

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

21

Explore Other Parks

Ostional Wildlife Refuge

📍 57 km 🐢 Pacific Ridley Arribada at Ostional

Ostional Wildlife Refuge

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #153 Global · 3.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #28 in Central America #75 in Tropical Forest

Santa Rosa National Park

📍 71 km 🐢 Olive Ridley Arribada

Santa Rosa National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #54 Global · 4.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #9 in Central America #19 in Tropical Forest

Palo Verde National Park

📍 73 km 🐦 Jabiru Storks Over Flooded Marshes

Palo Verde National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #38 Global · 4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #4 in Central America #11 in Tropical Forest

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

📍 95 km 🦎 Black Spiny-tailed Iguana Volcanic Trails

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #102 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #19 in Central America #47 in Tropical Forest