Playa Grande, Guanacaste

A stone´s throw noth of playa Flamingo, but far by dirt road, is Playa Grande, featuring the Baula National Marine Park, created in 1991. The marine park expanded in 1995 to include the Tamarindo Estuary Wildlife Refuge. Playa Grande is known for the giant leatherback turtles who nest there from October through March. The area also offers tours into the estuary to see crocodiles and mangroves. The leatherbacks, however, are the main attraction. Leatherbacks turtles get their name becuase they have a leathery hide in place of a shell. These enormous sea creatures typically weigh more than 275 kls buy can get as big as two meters and weigh in at 680 kls. They lumber ashore mostly at night to lay theirs eggs. One estimate of the world leatherback population was down to 35,000 turtles, 900 of which nest here at Playa Grande. In season, turtle watchers mount platforms along the beach so they don´t interfere with egg-laying process as they watch. Other are activities inlcude birdwatching and ocean kayaking in the estuary wildlife preserves, and saltwater fishing, surfing and scuba diving in the ocean.