Conchal Wildlife Refuge
Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Conchal · Wildlife refuge (mixed)
Before you go
Days and hours
Horario: Lunes, Miércoles y Viernes de 8 am a 12 mdOur translation Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 am to 12 noon
Entry fees
Costo de Ingreso: $10 extranjerosOur translation Entry: $10 for foreigners
2 mil colones nacionales y residentesOur translation 2,000 colones for nationals and residents
1 mil colones estudiantes nacionales.Our translation 1,000 colones for national students.
Tickets and reservations
Contacto y reservaciones: Tel. 26 54 30 67Our translation Contact and reservations: tel. 26 54 30 67
Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on SINAC: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Conchal; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Planning a visit to Conchal Wildlife Refuge
Conchal is a small, mixed refuge: 39.75 hectares, 28.29 of them private land, managed by Reserva Conchal together with the Tempisque conservation area. SINAC lists parking and self-guided interpretive trails, and its ecosystem inventory includes dry-to-moist transition forest, mangrove and the Puerto Viejo estuary.
The schedule is the thing to plan around. SINAC lists just three mornings a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to noon, and gives a phone number for reservations. Entry is $10 for foreigners and 2,000 colones for nationals and residents.
Our explanation of the quoted facts on this page; it adds no facts of its own.
What it is
Distrito Cabo Velas, Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. Entrada principal sobre Calle de Matapalo hacia playa Puerto Viejo.Our translation Cabo Velas district, Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. Main entrance on Calle de Matapalo toward Playa Puerto Viejo.
Categoría de Manejo: Mixto Administración: Reserva Conchal y ACTOur translation Management category: mixed. Managed by Reserva Conchal and the ACT.
Fecha de oficialización: 18 de setiembre 2009Our translation Made official: September 18, 2009
Área: 39,75 hectáreas (28,29 propiedad privada y 11,46 Patrimonio Natural del Estado)Our translation Area: 39.75 hectares (28.29 private property and 11.46 state natural heritage)
Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on SINAC: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Conchal; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Ecosystems and wildlife
Ecosistemas: Bosque Seco Transición a Húmedo, Manglar, Estero Puerto Viejo y Laguna del Manglar.Our translation Ecosystems: dry-to-moist transition forest, mangrove, the Puerto Viejo estuary and the mangrove lagoon.
Mamíferos: Mono Congo, Pizotes, Mapaches, Puerco Espín, Venado Cola Blanca, Oso Mielero, Armadillo y Ardilla.Our translation Mammals: howler monkey, coati, raccoon, porcupine, white-tailed deer, tamandua, armadillo and squirrel.
Servicios: Parqueo, Senderos Interpretados para caminar (autoguiados).Our translation Services: parking and self-guided interpretive trails.
Other protected areas on this site
A plain list in alphabetical order, not a recommendation.
Source for this page: SINAC: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Conchal. Quotes are SINAC's words in Spanish; the English lines under them are our translations.