The Refugia Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandonca-Manzanilla, or Manzanilla, is a forest reserve on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It lies southwards of the resort of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and has 5013 hectares of lowland rain forest and wetlands, including mangroves. The trails within the reserve are muddy. A bus will take you from PVdT to the village of Manzanillo which is in the reserve. As well as birds the beaches are home to nesting Leatherback Turtles and caiman can be found in the wetlands.
Birds seen here by me included Red-capped Mannikin, Crested Owl, Olive-throated Parakeet, Pale-vented Pigeon, Masked Tityra, Collared Aracari, Slaty Antshrike, Keel-billed and Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Magnificent Frigate-Bird, Common Black Hawk, Passerini's Tanager and Black-cowled Oriole. There may still be Harpy Eagles in the area. English speaking guides can be hired at Manzanillo.
