Las Baulas Marine National Park
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🐢 Leatherback Turtle NestingMarino 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
★ 
Mantled Howler Monkey
Alouatta palliata
★ 
American Crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
★ 
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
Ctenosaura similis
📊 Most Spotted
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Variegated Squirrel
Sciurus variegatoides
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
Rufous-backed Wren
Campylorhynchus capistratus
Green Iguana
Iguana iguana
Hoffmann's Woodpecker
Melanerpes hoffmannii
Streak-backed Oriole
Icterus pustulatus
Orange-fronted Parakeet
Aratinga canicularis
Yellow Warbler
Setophaga petechia
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Variegated Squirrel
Sciurus variegatoides
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
Proboscis Bat
Rhynchonycteris naso
Hooded Skunk
Mephitis macroura
Northern Tamandua
Tamandua mexicana
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine
Sphiggurus mexicanus
Common Opossum
Didelphis marsupialis
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
Stenella attenuata
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Greater Sac-winged Bat
Saccopteryx bilineata
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
📊 Most Spotted
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
Rufous-backed Wren
Campylorhynchus capistratus
Hoffmann's Woodpecker
Melanerpes hoffmannii
Streak-backed Oriole
Icterus pustulatus
Orange-fronted Parakeet
Aratinga canicularis
Yellow Warbler
Setophaga petechia
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Common Black-Hawk
Buteogallus anthracinus
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Leatherback Sea Turtle
Dermochelys coriacea
★ American Crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
★ Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
Ctenosaura similis
📊 Most Spotted
Green Iguana
Iguana iguana
Rose-bellied Lizard
Sceloporus variabilis
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Blackbelly Racerunner
Aspidoscelis deppii
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake
Hydrophis platurus
Pacific Ridley
Lepidochelys olivacea
Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake
Leptodeira nigrofasciata
Central American Lyresnake
Trimorphodon quadruplex
Taylor's Blind Snake
Epictia ater
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Central American Boa
Boa imperator
Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake
Leptodeira rhombifera
📊 Most Spotted
Milk Frog
Trachycephalus macrotis
Giant Marine Toad
Rhinella horribilis
Mexican Smilisca
Smilisca baudinii
Stauffer's Tree Frog
Scinax staufferi
Yellow Toad
Incilius luetkenii
Yellow Treefrog
Dendropsophus microcephalus
Turbo White-lipped Frog
Leptodactylus poecilochilus
Sheep Frog
Hypopachus variolosus
Forrer's Grass Frog
Lithobates forreri
Recent sightings in Las Baulas Marine National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Leatherback Turtle Nesting
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.
2American Crocodile Breeding
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.
3Migratory Shorebird & Waterbird Season
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.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Leatherback Turtle Nesting
- 2American Crocodile Breeding
- 3Migratory Shorebird & Waterbird Season
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Las Baulas Marine National Park?
The most likely sightings are Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Great Kiskadee (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Great-tailed Grackle (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Mantled Howler Monkey (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Variegated Squirrel (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 723 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Las Baulas Marine National Park for wildlife?
May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Leatherback Sea Turtle in Las Baulas Marine National Park?
It's possible but not guaranteed: about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Leatherback Sea Turtle sighting in Las Baulas Marine National Park, based on 1 verified sighting from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.
Can you see Mantled Howler Monkey in Las Baulas Marine National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Mantled Howler Monkey sighting in Las Baulas Marine National Park, based on 177 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see American Crocodile in Las Baulas Marine National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a American Crocodile sighting in Las Baulas Marine National Park, based on 48 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Black Spiny-tailed Iguana in Las Baulas Marine National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Black Spiny-tailed Iguana sighting in Las Baulas Marine National Park, based on 289 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
Very goodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
