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Karen Mogesen Wildlife Reserve
 Península de Nicoya
Where are we?
The Peninsula of Nicoya is located in the Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica and is surrounded by the Gulf of Nicoya and the Pacific Ocean. The south of the Peninsula covers an area of 1.075 km2 and has a population of 20.000 inhabitants.
The dry season lasts from December to April. Mountains with heights between 300 and 755 meters cover almost 23.000 hectares of the surface.
The Karen Mogensen Wildlife Reserve covers 900 hectares of forest and is located inside the Protected Zone of the Peninsula of Nicoya and the Peninsular Biological Corridor, with an average altitude of 400 to 700 meters above sea level. The climate varies from dry tropical to humid tropical. Thus this is a rainforest in transition from dry to humid.
The Reserve is near the following protected areas:
- The Absolute Natural Reserve of Cabo Blanco, 85 km
-The Wildlife Refuge of Curú, 57 km
-The Barra Honda National Park, 50 km
-Monte Alto Wildlife Refuge, 50 km
How to get there?
Coming from San Jose, the best way is to take a direct bus to Jicaral, which departs from the old bus station of Puntarenas. Another possibility is to take a bus to Puntarenas and from there the Ferry Coonatramar to Playa Naranjo, where you have to take a bus to Jicaral. By car you can either take the ferry Puntarenas - Playa Naranjo or drive through the bridge La Amistad over the Tempisque river and continue to Jicaral, where the office of ASEPALECO is situated. Contact us before arrival and we organize your transport to the Reserve.
Schedule: Ferry Playa Naranjo
6:00 am
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7:30 pm |
10:00 am
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12:30 am |
2:00 pm
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5:00 pm |
7:00 pm
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9:00 pm |
There are two different routesto go to the Reserve:
Lepanto - Montaña Grande community - Reserve: you travel by car until Montaña Grande and from there you continue by foot or horse. It’s a 1.5 hours walk to reach the Reserve and by horse it takes one hour.
Jicaral - San Ramón de Río Blanco community - Reserve: you travel by car to San Ramón and from there you continue walking. There is a trail through the forest, climbing uphill and you will need to cross some rivers. It takes almost 1.5 hours to arrive to the Reserve
Who are we?
ASEPALECO is a non-governmental, nonprofit organization, founded in 1991 by a group of people who wanted to make their ideas and dreams of conservation become true. The association is constituted of 60 associates and led by a board of directors, all volunteers. ASEPALECO works in the districts of Lepanto, Paquera and Cóbano. Little by little the organization has grown and become a community-based organization, having gained environmental, social and economic benefits for the inhabitants of the Peninsula.
ASEPALECO has promoted and achieved an environmental consciousness among the inhabitants of the Peninsula through its programs of environmental education directed to children and youth in both elementary and high schools. It has also promoted handling and reutilizing waste materials through educational recycling programs.
Besides, ASEPALECO carries out educational campaigns for diminishing forest fires and promotes implementation of projects working on the consolidation of the Peninsular Biological Corridor and the protection of natural springs. With the help of the surrounding communities, organizations and institutions, ASEPALECO has founded the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Reserve.
One of the latest projects is the ‘Cerro Escondido Lodge’. Through the lodge, we want to implement a form of eco-tourism that can give us an income to make our organization sustainable. It gives us also the possibility to employ directly and indirectly several persons. The target group we are aiming at varies from bird watchers, biologists, scientific researchers and students to adventurous nature lovers.
Why visit the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refugee?
The Reserve is situated in one of the most important areas of the Peninsula, as this is where the sources of most of the rivers spring. In general the Reserve has a great richness in flora and fauna, beautiful landscapes and the crystal clear waterfalls of “Velo de Novia”, the “Bridal veil”.
The most significant tree species you can find in the Reserve are: tempisque, cachimbo, ronron, níspero, cocobola, guapinol, ojoche, guayabón, caoba and cedar. Other more common species are for example espavel, guanacaste, cenízaro and guácimo. These trees are very important, as they offer refuge and food to birds and mammals, many of them threatened by extinction. You can also find many species of orchids, epiphytes and palms in the Reserve.
More than 200 species of birds have been identified in the area of the Reserve. Some of them are easy to observe because of their abundance or their attractive plumage and you can find them in half-open places or close to the lodge.
Some of the most abundant species are caracara, pecho amarillo, chico piojo, urraca, pájaro bobo and tucancillo. Other species are more difficult to observe, because they are less common like pájaro campana, búho de anteojos, rey de los zopilotes, pava crestada and many more
Facilities and ServicesACILITIES AND SERVICES
Cerro Escondido Lodge* 
Hidden in the mountains of the Peninsula of Nicoya visitors can rest in 2 beautiful wooden cabins, each with 2 rooms with shower and toilet and a terrace with view over the forest. There is room for up to 18 persons in the cabins. There are 3 rooms for 4 persons and one for 6 persons. Matrimonial beds are available. Solar energy provides lighting.
‘Cuerpoespin’ hall for environmental education
The hall offers a majestic view on the Reserve and the surrounding mountains. It is perfectly suited for meetings, conferences and group work.
Eco-museum ‘Nicasio Perez’
This is an old farmer’s house that has been renovated to show the cultural traditions of the peninsular people. Groups of 10 to 15 persons can lodge here. Toilets and showers are available.
Meals
Vegetarian and typical dishes are offered. Most products are organic and are produced by local farmers. The meals are cooked on wood or in a solar energy oven. You can enjoy these meals in our dining hall made of beautiful teak
Assistance
One family is in charge of the administration of the Reserve and attends the visitors. They are native people from the region and help visitors with anything that is desired. Nature guides are also available to accompany visitors during trips in the Reserve or on excursions in the neighborhood.
Viewpoint with watchtower
On the highest point of the Reserve we have built a watchtower to observe the area better (in function of preventing forest fires). You can see the Gulf of Nicoya from there, offering a great panorama
Activities
Observer Trail
This walk allows watching primary and secondary forest. From the viewpoints it is possible to observe the Gulf of Nicoya. During the walk you have plenty of time to observe birds. Duration: 2 hours. Includes a nature guide. Level of difficulty: moderate
Visit to and bath in the waterfall
One of the trails in the forest brings you to the beautiful, crystal clear waterfall of the river Río Blanco, ‘Velo de Novia’, ‘the Bride’s veil’. There you can enjoy a bath in the ponds of the river.
Bird watching
For bird lovers, get the trails around 4, 5 or 6 a.m. The guide helps to identify the enormous variety of birds.
Horseback rides up to the lodge
For those who enjoy riding a horse, we offer trips from the village of Montaña Grande, up to the Reserve and in the forest.
Trails
The Reserve has several paths and trails, where you can become one with the surrounding natural wealth. Beautiful birds, monkeys, iguanas and other tropical animals, plants and trees are everywhere, as far as you can see.
Excursions
Visit to the Orchid Garden Orquinuñez
You can observe different species of native and exotic orchids cultivated by peasant women. It is also possible to buy the plants and other crafts.
Visit to Venado Island and trip through the mangrove of the Gulf of Nicoya
You can enjoy a trip by a little boat through the mangrove of the Gulf of Nicoya, with a rowing option, and observe a big quantity of marine birds and other species. Thereafter, a visit to Venado Island and a lunch composed of typical food of the coast.
Accesibility
The lodge is literally situated on a hidden mountain in the middle of the reserve. This means that the access has a certain difficulty level.
From the frontiers of the reserve there are two ways to reach the lodge:
- A road from the Community of Montaña Grande with quads and horses.
- The trail you follow from the principal entrance near San Ramon de Rio Blanco has a rather higher difficulty level and it takes between an hour and one hour a half. Some rivers have to be crossed. This makes it a challenge. Good shoes or boots (in the community, you can also rent rubber boots), and a good physical condition are a must.
What to bring
- Closed shoes, specialized for walking (you can also rent rubber boots),
- Light clothes and something warm for the night, backpack, shorts or other comfortable trousers for walking,
- Cap or other hat,
- Rain cap, in the rainy season (June to November),
- Swimsuit to enjoy the waterfalls and the ponds,
- Repellent: especially in the rainy season there are a lot of insects,
- Binoculars and camera,
- Flashlight,
- Personal first aids
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Reservations and additional information
Cerro Escondido Lodge
Karen Mogensen Wildlife Reserve
P.O. Box 25-5353 Jicaral de Puntarenas Costa Rica
Phone:(506) 650 0607
Fax: (506) 650 0201
Website: www.asepaleco.org |
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