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Wild Animal Hospital
Thanks to a donation from Tropisphere Real Estate and a little luck,
Rainsong Sanctuary's Wild Animal Hospital and Rescue center is open, with many animals in recovery. Hundreds of volunteers from all over the world have
visited Rainsong to help out, but cash donations are always needed to pay vet bill and buy animal food! Please contact Mary at 8845-3190.
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Montezuma Eco Village
Now selling cheap lots - $25,000 and up!!! - The first eco-community in the Malpais-Montezuma area, just 7-10 minutes from the beaches, with organic gardens, chemical free construction - ecologogically sustainable living at its best!
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Cabo Blanco National Park, Costa Rica
Park Statistics:
Established: October 21, 1963
Size: 1270 Hectares (3140 acres) of land area
1789 Hectares (4420 acres) of marine area
Days Open: Wednesday through Sunday
Hours: 8 am to 4 pm
Contacts:
Administrator: Laura Anderson
Environmental Education: Teresa Cerdas
Phone: 2642-0093
Email: act_caboblanco@yahoo.com, teresa_cerdas@yahoo.com
Two Entrances:
Cabuya Entrance / Cabo Blanco Station
From this entrance, you can visit the beach on the east coast, near the parking lot, or hike to Playa Cabo Blanco
Malpais Entrance / San Miguel Station
From the Malpais park entrance, you may only hike on the nearest beach, "Sector Cuevas" which is where all the bat caves are.
San Miguel Research Station:
The San Miguel Biological Station was developed to support and promote research and environmental education. The site has well protected tropical marine and dry tropical forest habitats. The facilities include laboratories, classrooms and a reference library. Bunk-bed lodging with electricity, shared rooms and baths are available for groups of up to 30 people. For more information call (+506) 2645-5277 or 2645-5890. The station is available for students, researchers, and any group interested in learning about or experiencing these diverse, fascinating and increasingly threatened ecosystems.
Other Details:
Cabo Blanco Reserva Absoluta was the first National Park/Reserve in Costa Rica. Since the mid 1960's, at which time it was mostly cattle land, Cabo Blanco has been a "Reserva Absoluta" meaning that no people other than the park's stewards, were allowed inside, which has given the park over 40 years to grow back.
Most of the park is thus secondary growth, and was seeded by birds, bats, and other natural means, although early conservationists in the Montezuma area had also planted thousands of trees in the park to help it re-grow.
Most of the park is still protected, but there is an overland trail to the remote beach of Playa Cabo Blanco. Park at the visitor's entrance, which is south of Cabuya, and pay at the ranger station. If you walk quickly, it will take around two hours to get to Playa Cabo Blanco. There's also a small loop trail that you can take, which crosses some streams. Many tree species are marked, with interesting details shown.
This is a tough hike, in that you will be in dense jungle without much breeze, and it's hot and humid. You will also make an elevation gain of over 200 meters (660 feet) during the hike, which is equivalent to climbing to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle. There are a few very muddy spots during the wet season, so bring hiking boots. When you get to the beach, there's fresh water to drink, and a beach to swim at.
For sheer beauty, the Playa Cabo Blanco is not as impressive as the white sand beaches of Santa Teresa, or even Playa Los Cedros in Montezuma, but it's remote and the only people there are the few who are willing to make this long hike.
Many people want to know if they will see animals in the park. When I did the hike, I didn't see anything at all... not even a bird, squirrel or monkey, although certainly the park has more animals than any other place in the peninsula. Other people have reported seeing lots of animals, especially if you're the first one on the trail in the morning. If you do see an animal, hold still and be quiet, and sometimes they will walk up very close to you. Some animals, such as coatis (pizotes) are either very brave or very blind, because they will often get within 15-20 feet before noticing you and running away.
Cabo Blanco is the area's best hope for saving the wildlife. The park had the last group of peccaries, which for decades were only seen inside the park, but are now sometimes seen even in Delicias/Montezuma. There is at least one Jaguar known to be in the park, and pumas as well. Animals that have gone extinct here include both the Scarlet and Great Green Macaws, Toucans, Tapirs, Spider Monkeys, Three-toed Sloth, and Giant Anteaters.
Cabo Blanco Map:
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