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Asociación Pro
Delfínes de Talamanca Manzanillo is located on the southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. This small fishing village was first settled by Afro-Caribbeans, who came from Jamaica via San Andres and Panama, following the turtle migrations. Indigenous peoples, Bribri and Cabecar, inhabited the river systems. More recently, Spanish, European, and other Central American natives have come to the local area. English, the local potwois dialect and Spanish are all spoken in the village.
The temperatures on this part of the coast don’t vary much. Normal daytime temperatures are about 85 degrees F. during the day and 70 degrees F. during the night. The ocean can either be glassy smooth or choppy depending on weather. There is an outer protective reef and inner patch reef. The water is warm which invites swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and diving. The Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Lush tropical rainforest directly behind the beach and village is home to innumerable species of animals, birds, insects and plants, including monkeys, sloths, parrots, butterflies, frogs, crocodiles, jaguar, tapirs, flowers and medicinal plants- only to name a few! To the southeast of the refuge lies the Gandoca estuary, which is made up of red, white, and black mangrove. It protects a bank of oysters and is a spawning site for the Atlantic tarpon and endangered manatees. The whole coastal area is a living example of geologic shifts, the last one being as recent as the great earthquake of 1992 which significantly changed the shoreline and certain areas of the adjacent lands. |
Manzanillo is a peaceful and friendly community. The
people have survived for the past hundred years by harvesting
coconut and cocao (chocolate), hunting, fishing and lobster diving.
The interdependent and close-knit lifestyle of the community can be
seen in shared activities such as child-rearing, building a house,
and sharing the daily news under the town’s central almond tree. As
recently as 1985, the first road was completed to Manzanillo,
linking it to the outside world. Since then, Manzanillo has
developed slowly as a unique Eco-tour destination. The town itself sits within the boundaries of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. 
The Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is a nationally
protected area which includes tropical rainforest on land, and
marine waters and coral
reef off-shore. It includes a stunning array of animal and plant
species. The blue-green Caribbean waters are home to a myriad of
brilliant tropical fish and marine animals. The reef is made
up of a surprising variety of corals, sponges and crustaceans, and
is home to lobsters, eels, sea stars and other fascinating
creatures. The white sand beaches are lined with coconut palms, an
important crop for past and present local residents.