Just south of Playa Carrillo is Punta Islita, home to the Macaw Recovery Network (previously The Ara Project), a conservation organization dedicated to the survival of Costa Rica’s native macaws. Previously extinct in this area of Guanacaste, the Scarlet Macaw is now back!

The site in Punta Islita is home to the organization’s Macaw Refuge and Breeding Center, where rescued or injured birds from both species that can not be released are kept for breeding purposes. Their young are then released into the wild.

Over 50 Scarlet Macaws have been released, creating the now famous Wild Scarlet Macaw Reserve, a must see when visiting the Nicoya Peninsula.