Barra del Colorado

Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Reserve of Fauna is located next to the southern end of Tortuguero National Park (actually Barra del Colorado is pretty much an extension of Tortuguerno National Park) close to the Nicaragua border; bordered by the San Juan River by the north and on the east bordered by the Costa Rica Caribbean sea. Probably Barra del Colorado is best known for its amazingly great sportfishing, excellent bird watching, and splendid canoeing. This 200 600 acre wildlife reserve protects wetlands and rainforest that extend north of the estuary of Lagunas del Tortuguero to the San Juan River. Most of the same wildlife of Barra del Colorado and the amount of rainfall that it receives is similar to what can be found at Tortuguero National Park. What makes Barra del Colorado unique is the great sportfishing available, birding is absolutely great, and that it is far more remote than Tortuguero. Now, being remote doesn’t exactly mean it is a bad thing; what it implies is that you cannot reach Barra del Colorado by road, you either have to get there by boat or take a 30 minute local flight from the International San Jose Costa Rica airport to the small Barra del Colorado landing area. The bright side of Barra del Colorado being remote is that you will be less likely to crash into another group of visitors while you are on a guided tour, so you will have more chances of glimpsing the shy wildlife species. The river and rainforest of Barra del Colorado are best seen from a boat and the entire view is absolutely fantastic.

If you decide to get to Barra del Colorado by booking a boat tour you will get to this wildlife reserve from the canal area that lies north of Limon. Of course taking a flight will be a faster way to get to Barra del Colorado, but the boat ride is a way far nicer experience as you will be able to glimpse the really lush vegetation around the canal on the way. It is said that the best time of the year to visit Barra del Colorado is from February through April when the weather is dryer and there are better chances of sighting toucans, caimans, frogs, crocodiles, macaws, falcons, jacanas, and monkeys.

There are many rivers, creeks, and lagoons at Barra del Colorado in which the best sportfishing of Costa Rica is found. Actually, there are dozens of tributaries that form a labyrinth of permanent sloughs and ephemeral waterways that have made the entire area of Barra del Colorado only accessible by boat. It is said that on a good day dozens of fish can be caught. The lodges of the area that organize sportfishing tours promote the catch and release policy which is really important for the conservation of the wildlife of Barra del Colorado. Some of the popular sportfishing catches are mackerel, barracuda, and jack crevalle near the shore. For sportfishing in rivers the popular catches are bluegill, rainbow bass (locally known as guapote), and machala. Deepsea fishing is also available for marlin, sailfish, and tuna.

Barra del Colorado is also home to large populations of monkeys and many birds such as Anhinga, American Widgeon, Black-necked Stilt, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Glossy Ibis, Green Backed Heron, Snail Kite, Northern Shoveler, Wood Stork, and White Ibis. There are also some unusual amphibians found in great numbers like the smoky frogs and glass frogs. If you have a chance to see any of these creatures you will be surprised by their uniqueness. And even more peculiar is the migration from the Atlantic to the Lake Nicaragua of relatives of the great white shark, the bull sharks. It is not known yet why the bull sharks have migrated and even less known how they have become accustomed to the salinity changes of the different waters. The only fact known is that they are there when they have never been before.

So, if you are up to a great adventure to inhabited and remote lands of great and spectacular water canals, mangroves, and hot humid rainforest; in which you can find amazing and unique wildlife species and great fish for sportfishing (with catch and release policy of course), come and visit Barra del Colorado on the Costa Rica Caribbean.