Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge

Gandoca-Manzanillo is located on the Caribbean coast south of the town of Puerto Viejo. The refuge contains the only intact red mangrove swamp on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast, and the primary lowland rainforest found here is also unique in the region.

Two palm swamps in the refuge protect endangered tapirs, and several species of sea turtles come to these beaches to lay their eggs. There is a coral reef offshore and it also is a good spot to observe dolphins.