The largest sea turtle, the Leatherback, can be found nesting along the shores of the over 43,000 acres of the marine park of Marino Las Baulas National Park.

To the north of the popular resort town of Tamarindo can be found Marino Las Baulas National Park in Costa Rica. The protected area of Marino Las Baulas extends onto the land, but the majority of the park is aquatic. It is the primary nesting ground for the Leatherback Sea Turtle, an enormous sea creature that can weigh up to 700 kilos (1,543 pounds) and be as long as 220 centimeters (more than 7 foot tall) in adulthood. These turtles also have an incredibly elongated lifespan of more than 100 years according to some research scientists (although it is unconfirmed), and they can swim upwards of 20 mph.

Outside of the Leatherback Sea Turtle, Marino Las Baulas National Park is also home to the ridley turtle, the green turtle, the crab, the boa constrictor, the iguana and the crocodile in and around the ocean and its tributaries. Birds in the Marino Las Baulas area include seagulls, sandpipers, the white ibis, the livestock heron, the blue-winged teal and the Muscovy duck. On the land can be found opossum, deer, the howler monkey, the coyote, the raccoon and the coati.

Much of the flora found in Marino Las Baulas National Park is also aquatic based, but there are still an impressive number of diverse species on land as well. Included among the 117 species of trees and bushes in the park are the poro-poro, the gumbo-limbo, the pochote, the strawberry tree, the yayo, the nance tree, the white flower tree, some cactuses and the American aloe. An undocumented amount of marine plants live in the ocean and among the coral reefs that change with the ebb and tide.

Marino Las Baulas National Park is easily reached from Tamarindo, and the city is served by the domestic airlines of Nature Air and Sansa Air. Some other cities and beach towns nearby include Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas and El Llanito. When planning your trip to Las Baulas you are well advised to bring a swim suit, sunscreen, a camera (no flash, it scares nesting turtles), a snorkel and flippers, scuba gear and a surfboard. The premier season is from December to April when the weather is clear.
Location: Marino Las Baulas National Park
Items to bring: a swim suit, sunscreen, a camera (no flash, it scares nesting turtles), a snorkel and flippers, scuba gear, a surfboard
Species of fauna: Leatherback Sea Turtle, the ridley turtle, the green turtle, the crab, the boa constrictor, the iguana, the crocodile, opossum, deer, the howler monkey, the coyote, the raccoon, the coati
Species of flora: are the poro-poro, the gumbo-limbo, the pochote, the strawberry tree, the yayo, the nance tree, the white flower tree, some cactuses, the American aloe
Cities nearby: Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas, El Llanito