Sámara: the perfect place for a relaxing vacation
Sámara is just the ideal place to enjoy the sun in a laid-back environment. The little village is located in a large half moon bay with a gorgeous beach shaded by palms and big fig trees. This tiny scenic beach town is located 35 km. south of Nicoya and 245 km. west of the capital San José. Costa Rica car rental
The main road here leads straight into town and ends at the pretty Playa Sámara or Samara Beach. This beach is a great getaway if you want a quiet vacation or if you want a fun family vacation. Car rental Costa Rica
Swimming is great here since the waves are calm making it the perfect place to come with children. It is also good for those beginners learning to surf. If you want more defying waves you should go to Playa Camaronal which is 12 km. south of Sámara.
In addition, it is an affordable place as many businesses and hotels are run by Costa Ricans. There is a wide variety of hotels and restaurants and visitors can choose from budget rooms to B&Bs to vacation rentals.
Here you will find everything you need for a perfect vacation: good restaurants, gourmet cuisine, supermarkets, boutiques, tour operators, surf schools and night entertainment.
Visitors can also find a wide variety of exotic plants and animals along the 5 km. beach strip of Samara beach. The amazing coral reef lies just offshore.
This is also a good place for snorkeling and the best place to do it is in Cangrejal which is at the far northern end of Sámara. In the dry season snorkelers could find schools of yellow jacks, pork fish, manta rays, star fish, and many others.
Chora Island is located next to this reef, and it is the home to several colonies or maritime birds. You can paddle to the island with a kayak and enjoy its pink sand beach. Kayak tours can also be made into the river estuary of Río Ora or Río Buenavista. Another sport that is practiced in Sámara is SUP, in which you paddle through the ocean while standing on a surf board.
If you like sport fishing, there are professional tours that can be arranged from the neighboring port of Carrillo.
Visitors can also ride on horseback to the beautiful Tobacco waterfall that has three cataracts and natural swimming pools.
There is also a canopy tour in Santo Domingo, about three km. from Sámara. Hotels can arrange any of these tours.
Samara is known for its beautiful beach, which is considered one of the safest and most attractive beaches in the country.
Here you can find some of the best water sports activities in Costa Rica as well as horseback riding, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, paragliding, waterfall visits and canopy tours. Don’t miss it!
The massive Barva Volcano
The Barva Volcano measures about 62 square miles and is located at the edge of Costa Rica’s Central Valley. According to scientists this dormant volcano was active 3,000 to 5,000 years ago. Eruptions were reported around 1760 but later visits to the summit did not provide evidence of eruptions during historical time. Costa Rica car rental
This volcano is located inside the Braulio Carrillo National Park it is its highest point. Its altitude is about 9,700 feet above sea level. Barva has a dozen different eruptive spots in the summit and some parasitic cones in the flanks of the mountain.
Its three principal summits can be seen from the Central Valley. They are known as Las Tres Marías (The Three Marys). The most popular lagoon is called Barva Lagoon and it was the main crater of what is now the dormant volcano. This lagoon has a diameter of 230 feet and is 28 feet deep. The water temperature averages 52° F. The only lagoon that is open to the public is the Copey Lagoon which is located about two miles away from Barva Lagoon.
The four most important trails that wind through Braulio Carrillo National Park’s Barva Sector are Stag Horn Path (Sendero Cacho Venado), Barva Lagoon Path, Copey Lagoon Trail and Vara Blanca Lookout Path.
The park opens at 7:00 a.m. and if you arrive early you will be able to hike through them all. Usually hikes begin on the Stag Horn Path, which takes about 1.5 hours to hike; it takes one hour to hike the Barva Lagoon Path; two hours to hike the Copey Lagoon Trail and one hour to hike the Vara Blanca Lookout Path. If you do this early you can avoid foggy conditions at the lagoons.
Besides being a great place to hike, the Barva Volcano offers first-class wildlife and bird watching opportunities. Even though the altitude makes the area less friendly for animals, according to scientists there are 23 mammal species, 75 bird species, nine arachnid species and a wide variety of reptile and amphibian species. Visitors can watch animals, reptiles and birds such as the resplendent quetzal, golden-browed chlorophonia, flame-throated warbler, hummingbirds, lizards, salamanders, snakes, toads, frogs, deer, monkeys, pumas, jaguars, ocelots, and paca. Car rental Costa Rica
There is a ranger station located at the Barva Sector, north of Sacramento. They provide information about the park and its camping facilities. The only place were camping is permitted is in the Barva Sector. If you have camping plans, keep in mind that the temperatures can fall below freezing. Be sure to bring your rain gear and hiking boots.
By car the Barva Sector can be accessed via Heredia, traveling north through the towns of Barva, San Jose de la Montana, Paso Llano and, finally, Sacramento.
The Barva Sector is about 2 miles away from Sacramento, however they road is very rocky. Consequently it is a good idea to travel in a 4WD vehicle.
Come to the Barva Volcano and admire its amazing and unique beauty and diversity.
Popular attractions in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is visited by many tourists that come and want to see its amazing landscape and diversity. Costa Rica car rental
The landscape includes volcanoes, mangrove systems, rainforests and amazing beaches. Costa Rica is also known for protecting its beauty for future generations as 14% of its territory is protected as national parks and about 13% as reserves or wildlife refuges.
The diversity of the habitats is also impressive and offer a lot of adventures such as hiking trekking, zip lines, canopy tours, mountain biking, and many more. Car rental Costa Rica
Costa Rica is also the home to many wildlife species, most of the exotic and colorful. The national parks shelter animals such as coatis, jaguars, spider monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, two and three-toe sloths, iguanas, crocodiles, anteaters, bats, poison-dart frogs, scarlet macaws, toucans, kinkajous, and a lot more.
The country is one of the most important bird watching destinations in the world. Here you can see several bird species. In addition along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts visitors can observe endangered sea turtles nesting. Its waters are full of marine life. In Costa Rica you may see whales, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, octopi, and big schools of fish.
The country also offers the possibility of snorkeling or scuba diving. Here you can observe huge schools of grunts and barber fish, schools of eagle rays, guitar fish, scorpion fish, porcupine fish, seahorses and bull sharks, among many other marine species. The Catalina Islands and the Bat Islands (Islas Murcielagos) have great diving spots.
Water attractions are also one of the most important ones in the country as it has two coastlines on different oceans, lakes and rivers. Water sports in Costa Rica are very popular and first-class tours are offered all over the country.
Costa Rica is also a great place to surf. Its beaches offer different wave sizes so beginners and experts can enjoy this sport. For example Tamarindo is considered a good place to learn as there are several places that offer surf lessons.
More skilled surfers can go to the Caribbean or to Playa Hermosa, which is south of Jacó Beach, for example.
The country also has world-class fishing in both coasts Here you can find fish such as wahoo (ono), roosterfish, jacks, tuna, tarpon and snook, just to name some of them. Freshwater fishing is also great and here you can find fish such as rainbow bass and rainbow trout in lakes and rivers. Billfish are very popular in Costa Rica’s waters. Yearly tournaments are held luring professionals anglers from all over the world.
White water rafting is also a great attraction as there are many rivers. Rivers here offer from Class I to Class IV rapids. In addition you can practice windsurfing, kite boarding and kayaking.
On your next vacation come to Costa Rica, a place for amazing adventures.
Dolphins at Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park shelters two kinds of dolphins, the common dolphin known in Spanish as bufeo, and the Pacific spotted dolphin, known in Spanish as delfín manchado del Pacífico. Costa Rica car rental
The common dolphin is usually found in the open ocean, however it can also be seen swimming in shallow waters. It lives in both tropical and temperate waters of all oceans. In Costa Rica it can be found on the Pacific side, particularly in the Osa Península, Golfo Dulce, Gulf of Papagayo, and Corcovado. Car rental Costa Rica
This dolphin has a long body with black or blackish brown V-shaped patch on the back and white underside. Its snout is black with white spots and it also has many dark lines on the face that extend from the lower jaw to the flippers. The common dolphin also has long white areas along the sides of its body. The dorsal fin is dark and triangular, its flippers are sharp and pointed and the flukes gray or black with a center notch.
The common dolphin is very social. It is usually seen in herds of hundreds or individuals and it can also mix herds with other species. They communicate with each other using echolocation and other vocalizations. They are also considered affectionate as they have been seen helping other sick common dolphins, particularly staying afloat to breath. Females have from one to three calves at a time and they are weaned at 6 months.
These beautiful dolphins are able to dive about 280 m. deep and stay there for about eight minutes. They are known for being fast swimmers as they can reach speeds of up to 46 km/h. A beautiful sight is when they swim gracefully alongside small boats or before the bow.
The common dolphin feeds on a wide variety of fish for example sardines, anchovies, and herrings. It can also eat squid and octopus. On an average day these dolphins can eat about 40 kg of food. Females can measure 2.5 m in land weigh 100-130 kg, the males are a little bit larger.
Another dolphin that is sheltered in Corcovado is the Pacific spotted dolphin. This one has a different coloration; its back is covered in a dark gray patch of skin that spreads from its front to past the dorsal fin. The dark area is covered with small white spots, and dark spots speckle its white belly. In addition, it has a dark patch over the eyes and many other dark lines on the face and body. Its dorsal fin is curved and the flukes and flippers are small and pointed.
These dolphins are also very social and they have been seen in herds or more than 1,000 individuals however, they are usually seen in groups of hundreds. Spotted dolphin schools include all ages, both sexes and sometimes they mix with other dolphin species.
They are also fast and can swim up to 28 km/h. Visitors can occasionally see them speeding next to boats, performing acrobatics.
Spotted dolphins feed on squid and about 18 species of fish. Adults measure 2.2-2.5 m, and weigh 90-165 kg. Males are larger than females, however females have a larger snout.
Visit Corcovado and admire these delightful dolphins.
Amazing wild cats in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica there are six species of wild cats. Unfortunately due to poaching and habitat loss many of these species are critically endangered and mainly live in nature reserves or mountainous areas. On the Nicoya Peninsula there are margay cats, ocelots and jaguarundis. Pumas and jaguars, which are bigger, also inhabit the area however are considered at risk of extinction.
The largest carnivore in Central America is the jaguar. It can grow more than two meters in length. Today, this stunning feline is very uncommon and unfortunately its population continues to decline. Costa Rica car rental
The puma or mountain lion is the second largest wild cat in Costa Rica. Its fur is uniform brown and unspotted. Adult males can be more than 2.7 m long with a tail 60-70 cm long and weigh 60-100 kg. Females are smaller, 1.5 to 2.3 m total in length. This wild cat can adapt to several different territories and therefore can live in a varied of habitats in many countries.
The ocelot, also known as manigordo is the largest of the small wild cats. The ocelot lives and hides on the ground and it almost never climbs trees. It is commonly found in primary and secondary growth dry forests and it is active during the night. This wild cat feeds on birds, monkeys, rats and other small mammals or reptiles.
The margay cat also known as caucel is smaller than the ocelot. It is different from the ocelot because it spends most of his life on trees. It is the most skilled climber of all the wild cats because its ankle joints enable it to rotate its foot through 180 degrees. As you can imagine it can climb and move around treetops very easily. Car rental Costa Rica
The jaguarundi known in Spanish as León Breñero doesn’t have spots and has a long sleek body, short legs and small head. It seems to be a cross between a cat and a weasel. It is active during the day and night and it is also an exceptional swimmer. This is the wild cat that has had the best adaptation to the changes to its habitat caused by humans.
Many farmers blame the jaguarundis for hunting their chickens. However the one that usually does this is the tayra or tolomuco, which is a member of the weasel family. Seen from far it looks like the jaguarundi.
The smallest wild cat in Costa Rica is the rare tigrillo or oncilla. It is the size of a house cat. The tigrillo is solitary and strictly arboreal. It doesn’t live on the Nicoya Peninsula but on higher elevations of the Costa Rican cloud forests, usually in altitudes up to 3,200 m.
It could be difficult to see wild cats in the jungle. Most of them are nocturnal, they hide very well. In addition, they are able to smell humans from a long distance and avoid contact with them. Nevertheless, a great place to see wild cats is at Las Pumas in Guanacaste. This is a rescue center the rehabilitates animals in order to release them back to their habitat. The public zone for visitors is the one that has animals that can’t survive in the wild. Here you can see pumas, ocelots, margay cats, jaguars, among many other animals.
The Huge Black Ctenosaur
The Black Ctenosaur, in Spanish known as the Iguana Negra or Gallina de Palo is a huge lizard that inhabits the Pacific slopes in Costa Rica. This amazing lizard is usually found along the Pacific lowlands. Costa Rica car rental
This lizard has a yellowish gray or tan color with vaguely outlined dark bands on the back end of its body. The young ones are usually bright green and this color darkens later over the years. The colors in the adults may vary and could be almost black. The color can also change during the day due to their activity or the temperatures of their bodies. Car rental Costa Rica
An interesting fact is that they have a long heavy tail which is covered in whorls of threatening spines. Furthermore its feet have menacing sharp claws. The male’s head is wider than the female’s head and their jaws are more muscular. This animal needs sunning areas with perches, such as boulders, fallen trees, fence posts, rocks, and so on. As long as they have this, the ctenosaurs can live in dry deciduous forests or in moist forests, pastures or in beachside scrub.
In Costa Rica they can be found in Corcovado National Park, Santa Rosa National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Carara National Park, Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste National Park, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Ballena National Park, Barra Honda National Park.
The behavior of the ctenosaur can be both conspicuous and concealed. These lizards have to look for shade and sunshine because they need to keep their bodies temperature at a healthy level. Consequently they are commonly seen warming themselves on walls, fences or branches. During the day they are active, they spend a great part of the day thermo regulating. The ctenosaurs do this by moving to the sun or shade according to their temperature needs.
They are very good at climbing and sometimes they are found high up in the trees. They regularly find shelter in the burrows and tunnels that they dig using their clawed feet. If the ctenosaur abandons its burrow, other animal species will use it. When the temperatures are low you will see the ctenosaurs lying on rocks or on the ground trying to absorb as much sun as possible.
An interesting fact about them is that they are highly territorial and both females and males will guard their shelter, burrow, perch and their area. Males are usually more combative and will defend not only their home range but also the burrows of some females.
These lizards do not get involved in fights often. However, when they are upset they have a warning sign which is a display of head bobbing with the mouth open and gular pouch full or air. If a male ctenosaur trespasses another male’s territory and he doesn’t understand the signals there could be a fight. However, females will take this display in a different way because males do this in order to attract them.
An adult male can have a total length of 1.3 m and weigh as much as 2 kg. The total length of a female is about 90 cm. and its weight is closer to 1 kg.
Visit the national parks in Costa Rica and admire these unique lizards!
The small and energetic hummingbirds
Hummingbirds have been named due to the distinctive sound made by their tiny beating wings. Locally they are known as “colibríes” and they are a favorite for birders due to their small size, fearless nature and sparkling. Fifty out of the 338 known species of hummingbirds live in Costa Rica. Costa Rica car rental
Hummingbirds have co-evolved with flowers and plants, developing long slender bills and even longer tongues to feed on nectar. Most hummingbirds lead somewhat solitary lives, aggressively defending nectar sources from rival hummers, bees and butterflies. They also eat insects in order to supplement fat and protein in their diet. If insects are available the hummingbird may eat a lot of them in just one day. They might even raid a spider’s web to eat the captured insects or even the spider itself.
The smallest Costa Rican hummer is the male scintillant hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla); it weighs only two grams. The largest is the violet sabrewing which weighs 11.5 grams. Car rental Costa Rica
Hummingbirds dwell in a variety of temperate and tropical habitats in Costa Rica. In the lowland areas, hummers commonly nest during the dry season months of December through April. The ones that inhabit the highlands like Monteverde or San Gerardo de Dota, nest towards the end of the year because the temperatures are colder and epiphytic flowers are blooming.
Hummingbirds are commonly seen throughout the country but especially in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Reserve, Selvatura Park in Monteverde, San Gerardo de Dota, Los Quetzales National Park, La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiqui, Poas Volcano National Park and La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
Most hummingbirds are abundant and they are not an endangered species. The only one that is threatened is the mangrove hummingbird (Amazilia boucardi), whose habitat along the Pacific Coast has been threatened due to local development.
The following are some interesting facts about hummingbirds:
- They are the smallest birds in the world.
- Hummingbird hearts beat from 500 to 1,200 times per minute.
- For their size, they have the largest heart and brain of all the animals.
- Their wings beat approximately 60 times per second.
- They visit 2,000 to 5,000 flowers a day.
- Their average speed is 45 miles per hour.
- They can only perch, hummingbirds cannot walk.
- They are able to consume twice their weight daily.
- They fly only 20% of the time.
- Their tongues are twice the length of their bills.
A great place to observe them is the Selvatura Park located in Monteverde as here you will be able to see 14 species of them. Selvatura Park is one of Monteverde’s most popular attractions. A conservation area that includes more than 850 acres of protected land and stunning virgin cloud forest. The park offers many of the region’s favorite activities combined on one site.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is another place that attracts about 26 species of hummingbirds from Costa Rica.
Visit Costa Rica and admire these amazing energetic creatures.
Vampire bats in Costa Rica
The vampire bat (Desmodus Rotundus) is one of the most common bats from Mexico through Argentina. This peculiar and common bat feeds exclusively from blood of vertebrates. Costa Rica car rental
The superior incisors of the vampire are razor sharp and are used to remove a small piece of flesh from the prey. A number of studies have shown the presence of anticoagulant or fibronolytic activities of the saliva.
The vampire bat is very agile and can walk, hop and run very fast as it needs to be well-coordinated when it feeds on prey that is ten thousands times its size. It has very long “thumbs’ with calluses that help it to move fast and long legs with little fur, and no tail. This small to medium-sized bat is reddish brown to gray brown with pale underparts. Car rental Costa Rica
This curious animals feed on the blood of domestic animals, particularly cattle, horses and poultry. It is important to know that in Costa Rica, these bats are common wherever cattle are raised, and are rare away from livestock. They can live in a variety of environments, from tropical evergreen forest and tropical deciduous forest to man-made open space and pastures.
According to experts it hunts alone or in small groups. Upon locating a prey animal, it lands either directly on its body or on the ground, especially if the prey is bedded down. It bites cattle at various places on the body, usually on the neck.
Vampire bats have a strong sense of smell and larger eyes with better eyesight than most other bats. Their faces are characterized by their enlarged, flattened nose pad instead of the more common nose-leaf shape.
When a vampire locates a prey animal, it lands on the prey or on the ground next to it. On cattle, the bat often bites the neck. It is not easily displaced even when the prey attempts to shake it off. Vampire incisors are very sharp, however their feeding bite is painless. They remove a tiny 3 mm piece of flesh from the prey and have an anticoagulant in their saliva that keeps the blood flowing the entire time that they feed. The vampire will stay attached to its prey for about half an hour, lapping blood from the wound with its long tongue. It has grooves on the underside of the tongue that work like a straw.
A bat needs about 15 ml of blood each day. According to experts they are able to find their previous prey targets on subsequent nights and reopen the incision they made before. For obvious reasons these bats are occasionally responsible for transmitting the rabies virus among livestock.
During the day, vampires roost in tree hollows, caves or wells. These roosts can be easily identified due to their strong ammonia odor and by their dark orange excreta. Self-grooming and social grooming in the roost are very common.
These bats can be spotted in Children’s Eternal Rain Forest, Corcovado National Park, Juan Castro Blanco National Park, E.A.R.T.H. University, La Selva Biological Station, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Rincón de la Vieja National Park and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, a Diverse and Exciting Place
The Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is a unique park located about 7 miles south of Puerto Viejo. It covers 12,382 land acres and 10,950 marine acres making it one of the most diverse and lively refuges in Costa Rica. Costa Rica car rental
Gandoca is the home of a live coral reef and contains rain forest, swamp and farmland. The refuge starts south of Puerto Viejo, at the Cocles River and continues south to the Sixaola River at the Panamanian border. It is so big that it protects nearly 70% of the southern Caribbean coast which features clear waters, amazing mountains, lowland rainforest, threatened swamps and a stunning ecosystem. Car rental Costa Rica
The beaches of Gandoca Manzanillo are simply the area’s most important attraction. The refuge protects 35 types of coral, 11 species of sponge, 27 species of algae, and 34 species of mollusks, among many other marine species.
The flora and fauna of the refuge is also abundant, and includes many protected and endangered species. The beaches are also a significant nesting spot for sea turtles such as the leatherback, green, hawksbill and loggerhead. Furthermore, a natural oyster bank is protected just south of Monkey Point, which is a large red mangrove. To the south, Gandoca River Estuary protects species like the Atlantic tarpon, caiman, manatee and others.
When you come to the refuge bear in mind that these area doesn’t have a defined rainy season. The least rainy months usually are September-October and February-March, but it can rain any time.
As you can imagine, there are many activities for the visitors here, such as bird and wildlife watching, turtle tours, hiking, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and kayaking.
The southern Caribbean has a large population of howler and white-faced monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, toucans, iguanas, butterflies, frogs and other wildlife.
The beaches are an extremely important nesting site for several sea turtles and the Manzanillo beaches protect small populations of them. Keep in mind that you must have a guide in order to visit the beach during the nesting season. This is required to protect and preserve the nesting turtles.
Additionally, the reserve is a great place to hike. Many hotels offer informative and exciting hiking tours. Just remember that during the rainy season the trails could be muddy.
It is important to know that an office of the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment is located at the entrance of the town of Manzanillo. They provide maps, video presentations, restroom facilities and a lot of information about the refuge.
When you visit Manzanillo, bring rain gear as the weather here could be unpredictable. Don’t forget to bring insect repellent because mosquitoes are abundant in this area.
Manzanillo is usually hot and humid so the best is to bring cool clothing. Try as much as possible to hire guided tours as guides can give you a lot of information and tell you how to enjoy the park to the fullest.
Gandoca Manzanillo is a refuge that is full of life and diversity. Come and enjoy its primal nature!
Bahía de Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge
Bahía de Junquillal is located along the northern coast of the country, north from Murciélago, about 21 miles from Liberia. This important wildlife refuge belongs to the Conservation Area of Guanacaste. Car rental Costa Rica
The flora in the refuge is characteristic to the dry forest and feature wild bromeliads, mostrenco trees and mangroves. The area is ideal for camping, swimming and snorkeling due to the calm beach with clear water and beautiful surroundings.
The refuge has an extension of about 500 hectares and it shelters a big extension of tropical dry forest and coastal mangroves along the Pacific shores. Visitors here have a great opportunity of swimming, snorkeling and boating. Costa Rica car rental
This is a great place to spot marine birds such as the brown pelican and the amazing frigatebird, which nest in the refuge.
You can also see other birds such as ibis, kingfisher, egrets, parrots, eagles, cormorants and sandpipers. Furthermore, Olive Ridley turtles, hawksbill turtles, green turtles and leatherback turtles come to the shore to nest along the beach during the breeding season months.
Bahía Junquillal is a wonderful destination that combines sun sand and wildlife. The weather is great during most part of the year so you can come here and relax in a place that is not as crowded as other destinations. Take into consideration that there is a picnic and camping area. There are rest rooms, radio services and other facilities as well.
This park was created in 1995 with the objective of conserving and preserving a regenerative zone and a dry forest that extends to the edge of the beach and coastal mangrove areas. The refuge includes a 2 km long beautiful white sandy beach with clear waters and gentle waves.
The vegetation has trees that still remain from the original dry forest. On the beach there are trees such as Piñuelas, Manchineel tree, Beach Bean, among others. The secondary forests include the Guanacaste tree, Rain tree, Brazil and many more. Bahía Junquillal is also home to many mangrove species such as red mangrove, buttonwood mangrove and black mangrove.
The refuge administration is located 5 km of Cuajiniquil. There is a camping area besides the administration for up to 8 people. It includes tables, drinking water, shower, grills and restrooms.
Visitors can also go to other nearby parks such as Isla Bolaños National Wildlife Refuge, Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste National Park, Iguanita National Wildlife Refuge and Rincón de la Vieja National Park.
Come and visit Bahía Junquillal, a refuge that is ideal for camping, swimming and snorkeling due to the calm beach with clear water and beautiful surroundings.