Costa Rica Travel Hub

Location
Known worldwide for its insect population, Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve is situated along the lower parts of the River Tempisque, in the vicinity of Palo Verde National Park. However, the administrative offices of the park are located on the banks of the River Cabuyo, 18 km off from Bagaces, along the Interamerican Highway from Liberia at a place called Pijije.

Topography
The landscapes of Barbudal Lomas Biological Reserve are occupied with ignimbrite plateaus ending in rocky cliffs rising up to 125 meters above the tectonic basin of the river Tempisque.

These plateaus extend from La Cruz to Bagaces, and were originally formed from volcanic outgrowths of the Guanacaste Mountain Range about one million years ago. The park puts an appearance of Green Island in the deforested Guanacaste Province, protecting important headwaters and rivers that make their way the through the terrains all the year around.

Key Features
Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve is fraught with powerful research facilities engaged in researches on the breeding patterns and life cycles of insects and varieties of bees.

Flora and Fauna
Barbudal Lomas Biological Reserve has a wide belt of deciduous forest that occupies 70 percent of the reserve. Tourists easily catch the sight of endangered species like mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), the swamp kaway (Platymiscium parviflorum) and rosewood (Dalbergia retusa). The savannah belt includes shoemaker's tree (Byrsonima crassifolia).

Other habitats include xerophytic woodlands, rich in cacti and land bromeliads, oak forest (Quercus oleoides) and regenerated forest.

The rich environs of park measuring 2279 hectares, protects 240 species of trees 130 species of birds, 250 species of social and solitary bees, besides, infinite number of moth and butterflies.

The riverbanks and the forests of Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve are ideal habitats for Faunal species such as collared peccaries, white-nosed coatis, howler and white faced monkeys, and jaguarundies, as well as rattlesnakes, grass snakes, dark bloched vipers, boa constrictors and coral snakes.

Birdlife primarily seen in tropical dry forests comprises, the curassow, the white fronted Amazon, the king vulture, the lineated woodpecker, the magpie jay, the keel-billed toucan, the striped owl, besides several species of waterfowl such as wood storks, black-bellied tree ducks and snowy egrets. It also includes Long-tailed Manakin, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Olive Sparrow, and Black-headed Trogon.

Also during the dry season, the tourists can witness the beautiful sight of mammals enjoying the cool shade of the evergreen forest along the Cabuyo River. Mantled Howler Monkeys, White-throated Capuchin Monkeys, Variegated Squirrels, Banded Anteaters, and Tayras are among the main species inhabiting this region.

Costa Rica National Parks

Arenal National Park Ballena National Park Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge Barra Honda National Park Braulio Carrillo National Park Cabo Blanco Absolute National Reserve Cahuita National Park Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge Carara National Park Chirripó National Park Corcovado National Park Curú National Wildlife Refuge Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge Golfito National Wildlife Refuge Guanacaste National Park Guayabo National Monument Hitoy-Cerere Biologic Reserve Isla Bolaños National Wildlife Refuge Isla del Caño Biologic Reserve Isla del Coco National Park (World Heritage status) Islas Guayabo, Negritos and Pájaros Biologic Reserves Juán Castro Blanco National Park La Amistad International Park Las Baulas Marine National Park Lomas Barbudal Biologic Reserve Manuel Antonio National Park Orosi (Tapantí) National Park Ostional National Wildlife Refuge Palo Verde National Park Rincón de la Vieja National Park Santa Rosa National Park Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge Tortuguero National Park Volcán Irazú National Park Volcán Poás National Park Irazu Volcano National Park