Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge

It’s hard to imagine that we first rolled into Reserva Nacional de Vida Silvestre Hacienda Barú on our bicycles over 25 years ago. Everything around is different, hotels have popped up, million dollar vacation homes line the ridge and the old teeth jarring, bone rattling, dusty 4WD road is now an asphalt highway.

The refuge has changed less – the trees are a little taller and some of the pastures have filled in but the view from the mirador over hundreds of acres of green remains a testament to the vision and dedication of Jack Ewing.

…Oh, and there are wildlife underpasses and monkey bridges since the refuge is on both sides of the highway and speeds are 100 kph instead of 20 kph now.

Mouth of the Río Barú from the wildlife refuge mirador

I honestly don’t remember what Sue and Sarah were looking at along the Mirador trail Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge but it was probably pretty cool. Usually is there.

Pizote (ringtail coatamundi) Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge

Yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia) — Yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia, formerly Dendroica petechia) wintering in Costa Rica from Canada

Pelicans Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge

Bay-winged Hawk, (Parabuteo unicinctus) aka Harris’s hawk or Dusky hawk

Kayaking Hatillo Viejo estuary — Kayaking in the Hatillo Viejo estuary and mangroves north of Hacienda Barú (Domincal region)

The roots of the mangroves (mangalares) spread from branches above the waterline then drop down into the mud to provide stability

Cherrie's tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii costaricensis) — Cherrie’s tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii costaricensis) was formerly known as the Scarlet-rumped tanager for obvious reasons

Open air restaurant at Hacienda Barú serves delicious meals (breakfast is included when you stay), fresh bebidas naturales and ice cold beer

Mouth of the Río Barú from the wildlife refuge mirador trail

If you look closely you can clearly see the difference between the stangler fig bark (smooth and light) and the host tree’s braches and trunk which are darker and rougher.

Semi-private and nearly deserted Barú beach (all beaches in Costa Rica are public, but the Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge owns much the land backing this area so it’s never crowded)

Sunset walks along Playa Barú/Matapalo were the perfect ending to days at the Hacienda, north of Dominical on the central Pacific coast

Camping by the mouth of the Baru river just outside Dominical

Giant red-winged grass hoppers (Tropidacris cristata, Saltamonte) make a good midnight snack since they grow to nearly a one foot (30 cm) wingspan.

Drivers have to dodge all sorts of things — When they were upgrading the old teeth jarring, bone rattling, dusty 4WD road into an asphalt highway. Peligro Poste Adelante (Danger Post Ahead)…Don’t they mean “Danger, Post Here!..In the middle of the freekin’ road!”

Adjacent to Hacienda Barú but not part of the protected zone, the Hatillo Viejo Estuary is an amazing place to kayak. We saw raccoons, monkeys, sloths and dozens of water birds as well as learning about the amazing ecology of the mangroves.