Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tours US$20-60)
forms a key link in a major biological corridor called the 'Path of the Ta-
pir'. It comprises more than 330 hectares of private and state-owned land that has been
protected from hunting since 1976. The range of tropical habitats that may be observed
here include pristine beaches, riverbanks, mangrove estuaries, wetlands, selectively logged
forests, secondary forests, primary forests, tree plantations and pastures.
This diversity of habitat plus its key position in the Path of the Tapir account for the
multitude of species that have been identified in Hacienda Barú. These include 351 birds,
69 mammals, 94 reptiles and amphibians, 87 butterflies and 158 species of tree, some of
which are more than 8.5m in circumference. Ecological tourism provides this wildlife
refuge with its only source of funds with which to maintain its protected status, so guests
are assured that money spent here will be used to further the conservation of tropical rain-
forest.
There is an impressive number of guided tours on offer. You can experience the rain-
forest canopy in three ways - a platform 36m above the forest floor, tree climbing and a
zip line called 'Flight of the Toucan'. In addition to the canopy activities, Hacienda Barú
offers bird-watching tours, hiking tours, and two overnight camping tours in both tropical
rainforest and lowland beach habitats. Hacienda Barú's naturalist guides come from local
communities and have lived near the rainforest all of their lives. Even if you don't stop
here for the sights, the onsite store carries an excellent selection of specialist titles for bird-
watchers.
For people who prefer to explore the refuge by themselves, there are 7km of well-kept
and marked, self-guided trails, a bird-watching tower, 3km of pristine beach, an orchid
garden and a butterfly garden.
The
Hacienda Barú Lodge
(d incl breakfast $96)
consists of six clean, two-bedroom
cabins located 350m from Barú beach. Guests staying here receive free admission to the
refuge. The red-tile-roofed, open-air restaurant serves a variety of tasty Costa Rican dishes
(US$6 to US$10).
The Quepos-Dominical-San Isidro de El General bus stops outside the hacienda en-
trance. The San Isidro de El General-Dominical-Uvita bus will drop you off at the Río
Barú bridge, 2km from the hacienda office. A taxi from Dominical costs about US$5.
If you're driving, the El Ceibo gas station, 50m north of the Hacienda Barú Lodge, is
the only one for a good distance in any direction. Groceries, fishing gear, tide tables and
other useful sundries are available, and there are clean toilets.
