Refugio de Vida Silvestre Río Escalante-Chacocente

Southwestern Nicaragua


The main event at this remote wildlife refuge is the mass arrival of female turtles (at intervals between July and December), who crawl up onto the sandy shores to lay their eggs. It's an occasion worth planning a trip around, though Chacocente, as it's often called, is a year-round destination, with deserted beaches and good birdwatching.

The refuge protects five species of turtle, as well as 48 sq km of dry tropical forests and mangrove swamps. Cosetuchaco arranges wildlife watching.

Marena (Nicaragua's Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources) runs a biological station here where you can camp (US$5 per person), stay overnight in hostel-style accommodations (from US$10 per person) or stop for a simple meal (US$3 to US$5).

There’s currently no public transportation or regularly offered organized tours to the refuge, but if you have a 4WD you can take a signed, rough track 7km north of Salinas. Or you could walk along the shore 7km from El Astillero.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Southwestern Nicaragua attractions

1. Centro Turistico La Boquita

15.91 MILES

This waterfront complex offers amenities for beachgoers, from bars and restaurants to public restrooms. Just follow the only road west to the end.

2. Reserva Ecológica La Maquina

16.47 MILES

Take a dip in the pools beneath spectacular waterfalls at this lovely nature reserve, then explore the short hiking trails that traverse the 154-hectare…

3. Museo Ecológico Trópico Seco

22.1 MILES

Nicaragua’s first natural history museum (sort of) offers informative, if low-budget, displays that focus primarily on the ecosystem of the Río Grande de…

4. Aguas Agrias – La Nanda Community

22.42 MILES

This rural community, just south of Mombacho volcano, is an off-the-beaten-path destination where local guides lead hikes through a traditional plantation…

5. Gaia Estate

22.58 MILES

Birdwatching and coffee tours are conveniently rolled into one at Gaia Estate, a lush, 90-acre organic coffee farm. Over 150 species of birds live here,…

6. Nicaragua Libre

22.63 MILES

This small rural community at the base of Volcán Mombacho is part of the UCA community-tourism project. It offers guided trips through organic coffee…

7. Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Candelaria

24.81 MILES

This canary-yellow church – the perfect centerpiece for this witchy town – has rather Gothic stone walls and an extra-interesting collection of saints. It…

8. Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho

25.24 MILES

It’s been a few decades since this 1345m volcano, the defining feature of the Granada skyline, has acted up, but it is still most certainly active and…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "nicaragua/tola-the-tola-beaches/attractions/refugio-de-vida-silvestre-rio-escalante-chacocente/a/poi-sig/1324437/1328428",
      "destination": "Southwestern-Nicaragua",
      "continent": "Central-America",
      "country": "Nicaragua",
      "region": "Southwestern-Nicaragua",
      "position": "superzone"
    }