We started the morning with great views of the beautiful waters of Costa Rica and its shoreline, followed by Zodiac rides on the Agujitas River. This small river is affected by the daily tides, and is full of various animal species. We saw birds, bats, and iguanas on the morning visit. Our morning exploration was complemented in the afternoon by hikes. Some of us enjoyed a long hike along the coast of Caletas Beach, with a nice swim after our walk; another group visited a shorter trail where they saw monkeys and macaws. Costa Rica is for sure a country to visit for incredible wildlife observation.
3/16/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge
Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge was created and protected by law around 1981. This is a 53-hectare wildlife reserve that has 13 hectares of dry tropical rainforest surrounded with a 40 hectare of coral reefs. There is also a large colony of frigatebirds that use this island as an important nesting area. Our guests took the opportunity to explore this refuge with our naturalists and as they did, they passed the nesting area of the frigatebirds. Several males had their gular pouches inflated and were expecting to soon be joined by females. After walks around the premises, we grabbed our gear and went snorkeling. The coral reef that surrounds the islands has over 17 species of coral and a bit more than 340 species of fish. Not only were fish found, but also hawk-billed sea turtles. There was so much to see along the beach, too. A pair of American oystercatchers were found guarding their nest. Two eggs were eagerly protected by their parents. We returned on board and during cocktail hour, we shared our thoughts about the marvelous day we had spent in the wildlife refuge.
