Large Mammal Tracking near the Caño Palma Research Station, Costa Rica
The Tortuguero Conservation Area forms only a fraction of Costa Rica's National System of Conservation Areas; it is divided into a Wildlife Refuge (Barra del Colorado) and a National Park (Tortuguero).
Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge was created on July 26, 1985, it is located in the Province of Limon close to the border with Nicaragua. Barra del Colorado covers an area of 200,600 acres and protects humid forests, mangroves, canals and marine areas of the Northern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. At its most Southern border COTERC's Biological Research Station is located where research investigations are conducted.
Tortuguero National Park is located in the Province of Limon and was created on November 13, 1985. It is one of Costa Rica's most popular National Parks covering 77,032 acres of wilderness area housing a great diversity of wildlife. Tortuguero is well known due to its coastal and marine areas which provide over 35 km of long beaches that attract sea turtles to build their nesting sites each year.