The Liberia, Guanacaste Airport joins the National Parks Foundation and Área de Conservación Guancaste - World Heritage Site for the Conservation of Biodiversity
An OIive Ridley sea turtle nestling. Photo by Luis Fonseca.
U.S.-based donors, donate here. In the "Notes" section, please put Nancite.
Canadians, donate here (see intstructions below).
Help Protect a Natural Treasure
Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), located in northwestern Costa Rica, is one of the most biologically rich and ecologically diverse regions on Earth. Spanning 163,000 hectares, it is the only protected area in the Americas where four major tropical ecosystems—marine/coastal, dry forest, cloud forest, and humid forest—exist in a single, uninterrupted block.
Home to more than 400,000 species, ACG represents 2.6% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity—an astounding concentration of life in one place. Recognized for its global importance, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund (GDFCF) is the U.S. non-profit partner to ACG.
Why Your Support Matters
One of ACG’s most vital and fragile areas is Playa Nancite, a pristine nesting beach for endangered sea turtles, including the Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill, and Leatherback. During arribadas, thousands of Olive Ridleys come ashore in synchronized waves to lay their eggs—a breathtaking natural event found in only a few places worldwide.
Biologist Luis Fonseca López has spent over a decade studying these turtles, tracking population trends and working to ensure their survival. His research also explores the delicate balance between turtle populations and predators like jaguars, showing how apex predators can actually increase hatchling survival by keeping other predators in check.
Biologist Luis Fonseca López checks a camera trap near Playa Nancite. Photo by Rebecca Zeledón.
You Can Make a Difference
Your donation directly supports:
- Ongoing sea turtle monitoring and research
- Protection of critical nesting beaches
- Conservation of jaguar habitat
- Education and outreach in local communities
This vital work at ACG is 100% dependent on donor support. With your help, we can ensure that Playa Nancite remains a sanctuary for sea turtles, jaguars, and the countless species that call ACG home.
Donate Now – Be Part of the Conservation Legacy
Every dollar helps protect this globally significant ecosystem.
Thank you for being part of the solution.
U.S.-based donors, donate here. In the "Notes" section, please put Nancite.
Canadians, donate here via the International Conservation Fund of Canada. For “Designated Purpose”, choose ACG/GDFCF (incl. Parataxonomists). In the “Gift Memo”, write Nancite.
Playa Nancite. Photo by Luciano Capelli.