Things To Do in Playa Tambor

Curú Wildlife Refuge ★★ (tel. 6209-3846; $15/person per day admission), 16km (10 miles) north of Tambor, is a private reserve of pretty, secluded beaches, as well as forests and mangrove swamps. This area is extremely rich in wildlife. Howler and white-faced monkeys are often spotted here, and quite a few species of birds, including scarlet macaws (the refuge is actively involved in a macaw protection and repopulation effort). Horses are available to rent for $15 per hour. Typically you’ll ride with a guide for about an hour to a lovely beach, hang out on the sand for another hour, and then ride back. You only get charged for the time you’re actually on horseback, so trips run about $20-$25. Some very rustic cabins are available with advance notice for $30 per person per day. Meals are $10. If you don’t have a car, you should arrange pickup with the staff who manage this refuge. Or you can contact Turismo Curú (tel. 2641-0004), which specializes in guided tours to the refuge, as well as kayaking trips and other adventures.

The waters off the Curú Wildlife Refuge are ripe with bioluminescent dinoflagellates, a plankton that emits light when moved or agitated. This creates an effect commonly known as bioluminescence. The phenomenon exists year-round here, although it varies in intensity. The best timing for a visit is around a new moon in the dry season. Strong moonlight and muddy waters from runoff both diminish the effect.