In the north of Costa Rica’s Province of Limon, above Tortuguero National Park, the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge is located. It consists of more than 90,000 hectares of protected rainforest and wetlands. The north boundary of the Barra del Colorado is formed by the Rio San Juan, the natural border with Nicaragua. The southern boundary is formed by the Tortuguero National Park. Barra del Colorado is located in such a remote area that is very hard to reach by land. It is possible to take a bus in San Jose that will take you to Cariari, where a bus leaves for Puerto Lindo on the banks of the Colorado River. The last part of the travel has to be by boat to reach the village of Barra del Colorado. The village is divided in two parts on either side of the Colorado River. Barra del Sur has an airfield, that can be reached with domestic flights from Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela and Tobias Bolanos Airport in Pavas, San Jose. The town of Barra del Colorado is not an exciting tourist destination, since it’s very rundown. It used to live off logging, but after being declared a wildlife refuge, this source of income dried up, although even today the fight against illegal logging continues. The San Juan River has been subject of a long-lasting border dispute with Nicaragua. A treaty signed by both nations in 1858 declared the San Juan River as common property of both republics, but today the river is completely Nicaraguan territory. Although Costa Ricans have the right to use the river, foreigners are charged by the Nicaraguan authorities who control the water traffic. So you better keep your passport at hand. The Barra del Colorado Refuge is a very wet area and can best be accessed by boat. There are very little accommodations n Barra de Colorado and since the village is not that tourist friendly, it’s recommended to book in advance to stay in one of the few hotels and lodges. On the other hand it’s especially this remoteness that gives Barra del Colorado a special touch that is attractive to eco-tourists and sport fish enthusiasts. The first can explore the magnificent primary rain forest with all its hidden treasures that can be discovered with the help of local guides. The sport fishermen can find their challenges on the river or the Caribbean sea, both easy accessible and considered as one of the best spots in the world.