The property known as Junquillal was donated in 1.988 by the Ranchos Horizontes Company, with the purpose of preserving it as part of the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) or Guanacaste Conservation Area. This area, currently a Wildlife Refuge, has 505 hectares, in which one meets cultural and ecological aspects. Furthermore, there is a beautiful 2 km long beach.

Location

The Refuge is located 46 kilometers north from the city of Liberia. Take the Carretera Interamericana (Inter-American Highway) as far as the check point of the Civil Police, turn left and continue 10 kilometers as far as the community of Cuajiniquil; from this community 4 kilometers more and you will reach the beach.

Flora

The vegetation is characterized by secondary grow and remaining trees of the original dry forest. In the beach there are found Wild Bromeliads (Aechmea magdalenae), Manzanillo de playa (Hippomane mancinella), Frijol de playa (Canavalin maritima) and Mostrenco trees (Prosopis juliflora).

As part of the secondary forests there are other species of trees like Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), Cenizaro (Samanea saman), Brazil (Ematoxylum brasiletto) and Madero Negro (Gliricidia sepium). The mangrove vegetation includes Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Salty mangrove (Conocarpus erecta) and Black mangrove (Avicenia germinans, A. bicolor).

Fauna

In this small refuge it is possible to observe mammals such as coatis (Nasua narica), raccoons (Procyon lotor), white-faced monkeys (Cebus capucinus), spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) and white-tailed deers (Odocoileus virginianus). Furthermore, Ctenosars or garrobos (Ctenosaura similis) and several species of lizards, as well as two common species of crabs (Gerarcinus cuadratus and Cardisoma crassurn).

Common birds are the Orange-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga canicularis), Yellow-naped Parrot (Amazon auropalliata), White-troated Magpie Jay (Calocitta formosa), as well as several species of kites and hawks. During the rainy season it is possible to observe the Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja).

This portion of coast protects Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) and the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens).

Interest data

Rainfall: 1.500 mm. annual average.
Temperature: 29 °C annual average.
Altitude: 10 meters above sea leavel.

Facilities

• Information
• Camping area
• Drinking water
• Public telephone
• Picnic area
• Grills
• Restrooms and bathrooms
• Talks (mainly during Easter Break and December)

Main Atraction

• Trails
• Mangroves
• View points
• Junquillal Beach
• Muñecos Island