Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco

Introducing Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco

Just 11km south of Montezuma is Costa Rica’s oldest protected wilderness area. Cabo Blanco is comprised of 1272 hectares of land and 1700 hectares of surrounding ocean, and includes the entire southern tip of the Península de Nicoya. The moist microclimate present on the tip of the peninsula fosters the growth of evergreen forests, which are unique when compared with the dry tropical forests typical of the Nicoya. The park also encompasses a number of pristine white-sand beaches and offshore islands that are favored nesting areas for various species of bird.

The park was originally established by a Danish-Swedish couple, the late Karen Mogensen and Olof Wessberg, who settled in Montezuma in the 1950s and were among the first conservationists in Costa Rica. In 1960 the couple was distraught when they discovered that sections of Cabo Blanco had been clear-cut. At the time, the Costa Rican government was primarily focused on the agricultural development of the country, and had not yet formulated its modern-day conservation policy. However, Karen and Olof were instrumental in convincing the government to establish a national park system, which eventually led to the creation of the Cabo Blanco reserve in 1963. The couple continued to fight for increased conservation of ecologically rich areas, but tragically Olof was murdered in 1975 during a campaign in the Osa Peninsula. Karen continued her husband’s work until her death 1994, and today they are buried in the Nicolás Wessburg Absolute Reserve, which was the site of their original homestead.

Cabo Blanco is called an ‘absolute’ nature reserve because prior to the late 1980s visitors were not permitted. Even though the name has remained, a limited number of trails have been opened to visitors, though the reserve remains closed on Monday and Tuesday to minimize environmental impact.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009