One of the neatest reptiles and amphibian parks in Central America is located right around the corner
Parque Reptilandia sits on more than an acre of land just east of Dominical and features a diverse collection of reptiles, including snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles and dozens of other creepy-crawlies found in local jungles and beyond.
Open seven days per week from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Reptilandia is an excellent place for an educational family outing. There are more than 70 terrarium-style enclosures at the facility where kids–and even dear ole’ Dad–can poke their noses into the glass and check out some colorful creatures, many of which are native to Costa Rica.
Highlights from a trip to Reptilandia include an up-close-and-personal glance at the region’s most venomous snake, the fer-de-lance. This member of the viper family is marked by its menacing series of black-edge diamonds. There are other massive reptiles on site that will blow your socks off (actually, you’ll probably be wearing sandals). And we can’t forget the giant African turtle that’ll walk right up to you and stare you in the eyeballs before meandering off to enjoy some relaxing time in the shade.
The dart frogs at Reptilandia are as colorful as a sunset. If you’re really lucky you’ll get to stand only a few feet from one of Costa Rica’s famous crocodiles. And did we mention the Komodo dragon? Yeah, they have one of those, too.
Reptilandia is a safe place to visit. All of the animals are enclosed, so there’s no danger for guests walking the grounds. The best day of the week to visit is Friday because that’s when they feed the natives. No matter what day you visit, be sure to pack a camera because there are some wonderful photo opportunities to be had.
A visit to Reptilandia:
Entry costs $12 for adults and $6 for kids 14 and under. Groups of 20 or more receive a 20-percent discount on admission. There’s no need to go online and pre-purchase tickets. Simply arrive at the facility and you can pay the entry fee at the front gate, regardless of the size of your entourage. Guided tours are not available, but you can have your questions answered by the English-speaking manager of the grounds. Furthermore, almost all of the exhibits are located outdoors, so if you’re prone to getting hot, it’s a good idea to pack some water and even an umbrella to fend of the sun.
Reptilandia is located 7 kilometers east of Dominical, on the paved two-way road that runs toward San Isidro. From Dominical, there’s a large “Parque Reptilandia” sign on the left side of the road just before the entrance. The facility can be reached at (506) 2787-0343 or via email at [email protected]. Their website is www.crreptiles.com.
