Sprawling over 1,172 hectares on the extreme southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve predates the creation of the National Park Service system to which it now belongs. Despite its restrictive sounding administrative category, visitors are allowed into the reserve, even though they are only permitted to use one of the existing trails.

The southern portion of the peninsula receives more rain than the area to the north, which results in a different look and feel to the forest. Cabo Blanco is characterized by tropical moist forest with many evergreen areas, although numerous plant species found in the tropical dry forest also occur here. One of these is the spiny cedar, or pochote, which can be identified by the sharp, conical spines protruding from the bark. The white "shaving brush" flowers are pollinated at night by bats.

Animals that can be seen in the daytime here include the variegated squirrel, mantled howler monkey, white-throated capuchin monkey, Central American agouti, white-nosed coati, and with some luck even the jaguarundi, the most diurnal of Costa Rica's six species of wild cats. The variety of habitats from rocky coastline to marsh to moist forest provides homes to many other kinds of creatures, too.

While it is extremely unlikely that you will run into any procompsognathus, the small prehistoric scavengers that escaped to Cabo Blanco from Jurassic Park in Michael Crichton's novel, there is an area along the beach at the southern end of the cape where marine fossils dating back at least 20 million years can be found in the exposed rocks. An extinct species of giant oyster is among the more common fossils.

Offshore from the point lies Cabo Blanco ("White Cape") Island, from whence the area's name is derived. This rugged piece of rock is devoid of plant life, but harbors abundant roosting seabirds. It is estimated that more than 800 brown boobies alone live here, making it the largest colony of this species in Costa Rica. The accumulated guano from so many birds causes the white color visible from the mainland.

To get there: The reserve is located 11 kilometers south of the funky beach village of Montezuma (the nearest accommodations). From Montezuma, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is practically a necessity, even during the dry season. Transportation can be arranged in Montezuma.

To get to Montezuma, take the Paquera ferry from Puntarenas and then continue south for approximately 40 km. There is also public bus service to Montezuma from the village of Relleno where the ferry docks.

Fishing: The rich concentration of nutrients from the seabird colony on Cabo Blanco provides for abundant fish life around the point and ocean currents bring in pelagic species such as billfish and tuna making for excellent sport fishing opportunities. Charter services out of Puntarenas and hotels on the southern portion of the peninsula and even the Jacó area can all reach this spot on a day's outing.

Climate: Even though this sector of the Nicoya Peninsula receives an average of 2.3 meters of rain annually, making it the wettest part of the region, there is still a pronounced dry season from December through April. Being a lowland site, expect temperatures to be hot in the daytime and pleasant in the evening.

History: Cabo Blanco received its protected status in 1963, due primarily to the efforts of the late Olof Wessberg, who a decade earlier had come to Costa Rica from his native Sweden. Living on a farm in the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula, Wessberg was saddened by the amount of deforestation in the region and took steps to interest the government in doing something to save a patch of remaining forest. He was instrumental in gaining the financial support of conservation organizations in Sweden, England, Austria, and the U.S. Enough funds were contributed to allow the purchase and administration of what is now Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve.

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