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Birdwatching Costa Rica & Ecotourism in Costa Rica

Hacienda Baru

National Wildlife Refuge & Lodge

Dominical, Costa Rica
24 years of Experience in Ecotourism

The Best Value for Ecotourism and Bird Watching in Costa Rica, Hacienda Barú!

Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge & Lodge is situated on Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific Coast. This is a region of distinct natural beauty where forest covered mountains rise up from the dramatic Pacific coastline.

Hacienda Barú’s 330 hectares (815 acres) have a fantastic variety of Habitats, from wetlands and secondary rainforests in the lowlands to primary rainforest on the highland coastal ridge. Seven kilometers of walking trails and three kilometers of pristine beach are here to be explored as well as our orchid garden and butterfly garden.

Bird Watching, Canopy Exploration and Ecological Tours are our specialty. Our bilingual grass roots naturalist guides will help you discover the wonders of the tropical rainforest, such as leaf cutter ants, the sleepy sloths and the nesting site of the Common Pootoo.  On our tours you can experience everything from the Rainforest Canopy to Mangrove Swamps or the Jungle at Night.

Our Mission is to protect the wildlife habitats of Hacienda Barú, while educating our visitors about its biological wealth. Learn more about the history of Hacienda Baru’s evolution from a working cattle ranch to a National Wildlife Refuge & Lodge.

Further adventures of a ball of fluff called Equinox

– by Jack Ewing

With Recent News from 2012

Equinox is a Latin word meaning “equal night.” Twice each year, when the sun shines directly over the equator, day and night are the same length all over the globe. These two dates are called the March equinox and the September equinox. The March equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, always falls on March 20 or 21, and the September equinox, which marks the beginning of fall, always falls on September 22 or 23. The March equinox in the year 2009 fell on March 20, and that was the day that a little ball of fluff came walking into my office at 6:30 in the evening just as I was thinking about closing up and going home. It was obviously a very young owl, nearly ready to fledge, but not yet able to fly. We had heard an adult owl calling near the office on quite a few occasions, and I surmised that this youngster had fallen out of it's nest, and that its chances of getting back were almost nil.

Buy Jack's book

Discover the mysterious and fascinating ways in which animals and plants-and people-interact with one another in the rainforests of Costa Rica.

Author and naturalist Jack Ewing shares a wealth of observations and experiences, gathered from more than three decades of living in southwestern Costa Rica, home to some of the most prolific and diverse ecosystems on Earth.

More than just a simple collection of essays, Monkeys are Made of Chocolate is a testament to the wonder of life in all its countless guises, as seen through the eyes of a man with a gift for subtle discernment and a natural flair for storytelling.

Buy book now

Mary Moore, at 89 years

Mary Moore, at 89 years

On Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Mary Moore, at 89 years of age, became the oldest person to enjoy the Flight of the Toucan zip line tour at Hacienda Barú.

Chocolate Monkey Gift Shop

Our Gift Shop is well known in the area for having a wide variety of gifts. Not only will you find T-Shirts, Hammocks and Jewelry, but also a beautiful selection of Costa Rican made Arts and Crafts. Our policy is to buy (as much as possible) from local artisans who work with local materials of a sustainable resource.

Read more

Contact us

Mailing Address in Costa Rica:
Hacienda Baru
Apartado 215-8000
San Jose, Perez Zeledon
San Isidro 11901
Costa Rica
General Information:info@haciendabaru.com
General Manager:jack@haciendabaru.com

Phone: 011 (506) 2787-0003
Fax: 011 (506) 2787-0057