Juan Venado Island Nature Reserve

Isla Juan Venado is a narrow strip of sand and mangrove running some twenty kilometres along the coast southeast of Las Peñitas, separated from the mainland by a shallow estuary channel that is the way in: boats and kayaks work through the mangrove tunnels at high tide, past crabs, herons, roseate spoonbills and, with luck, crocodiles and boa constrictors. The ocean side is an unbroken beach where olive ridley and leatherback turtles nest, with a hatchery run by the community and the reserve. Trips run at dawn for birds, at dusk for the light, and at night in nesting season to see turtles. The reserve is a short ride from León, which makes it the easiest mangrove trip in the northwest.

What you actually see

• Mangrove channels - narrow tunnels paddled or motored at high tide.
• Waterbirds - herons, spoonbills and waders through the estuary.
• The ocean beach - unbroken sand used by nesting turtles.
• The hatchery - community protection of turtle nests.

When to go

December to April for dry weather. Turtle nesting runs roughly July to January with olive ridleys most numerous; night trips are arranged then. Tides govern the channel route and trips are timed to them.

Honest expectations

Trips depend on tide and can be cancelled or shortened. Mosquitoes in the mangroves are severe. Wildlife sightings beyond birds are luck. Turtle watching must follow the hatchery's rules on lights and distance. Boats are small and open.

Nearby

Las Peñitas is the departure point; León lies inland.