Ritmo Costeno Magazine – The Beat of the Atlantic

There are no roads that reach it, there are no hotels to stay at and if you’re hungry there are no restaurants or cafes either yet the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve is one of the country’s leading tourist destinations.
While well of the beaten track, the reserve, located in the southeast of the country, is one of the best places in the region to get up close and personal with nature.

As there are no highways leading into the reserve, the core of the reserve is pristine forest – home to an amazing array of flora and fauna. And unlike some other reserves where it can be extremely difficult to spot the wildlife, here it is plentiful.

The reserve is home to more than 4000 bird species, 2000 different reptiles and a number of large mammal species. Among the animals that have been found in the reserve are pumas, sloths, armadillos and monkeys.

As a protected national park, visitor access to the reserve is limited. The first access point is at the convergence of the Bartola River and the Rio San Juan, a short ride downstream from the town of El Castillo.

A number of short hiking trails lead into the reserve from the Bartola ranger station and guided tours including transport can be organised in El Castillo.

The other way to access the reserve is via the town of San Juan del Norte on the caribbean coast. While this route involves significantly more travel, it is also offers the best access to the heart of the reserve via the extensive river network that runs through the area.
It is possible to hire a local guide in the town to explore the reserve in a small motorized canoe.