Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge
When the owners of Hacienda Baru purchased the land over 35 years ago, the lowlands of the Hacienda were completely deforested because they had been used for cattle ranching for decades. In 1979, they began taking steps to conserve and restore several areas of their property realizing the importance of the rainforest. They were pioneers in ecoturism. They have restored all the land to natural habitat creating a haven for wildlife and birds.
Presently, Hacienda Baru is one of the best places for ecoturism (over 20 years of experience) and bird watching on the Southern Pacific Coast. It is located 3 km north of Dominical. Hacienda Barú’s 330 hectares (815 acres) have a fantastic variety of habitats, from wetland and secondary forest in the lowlands to primary forest on the highland coastal ridge.
Hacienda Barú has 7 km of hiking trails and 3 km of pristine beach. They offer hiking and bird watching tours and tours in the rainforest canopy. The refuge also offers two types of accommodations for those who want to enjoy the biological wealth for some days. They have pool view guest rooms and rustic cabins, all built with recycled materials and reforestation wood.
