The Curu wildlife refuge is a 13-kilometer mass of tropical, dry forestland. It is part of the Tempisque Conservation area near Tambar; about an hour's commute from the loose scatter of ultra-lux Costa Rico resorts seemingly hidden within the country's waving, green hills. What little wildlife that are absent from the more gentrified areas of the country—those near extinction—can be found at Curu.

There is no doubt that visiting Costa Rica, be it the inner-city or jungle, is night and day from traditional vacations. The Bahamas is a domesticated house pet in comparison, and Tijuana—a theme-park. Instead, Curu and other tours are part of a more contemporary style of vacation, eco-tourism.

The wildlife refuge is a different breed, however; a way for novice eco-tourists to ease into the trend without any pressure to be in top physical condition or know the difference between a bowline knot or Italian hitch. The aim of Curu is not to introduce foreigners to the wildlife but, instead, to reintroduce wildlife back into their natural habitats.

The reserve rescues and protects species that would otherwise dissolve into extinction if left to fend against the devastating effects of urban sprawl. Scarlet macaws and crocodiles are just a few of the animals exclusive to the reserve. Others include capuchin and howler monkeys, agoutis, ocelots, white-tailed deer, and margays. Some winged species that populate Curu—hawks to hummingbirds to a bright and colorful spectrum of butterflies, including the morpho.

In the 1930s, Curu was acquired for 5 dollars and established by the European immigrant, Fredrico Schutt. In its current state, the reserve exists as SINAC-funded (National System of Conversation Arena) land and remains somewhat grassroots in complexity and financial backing. It is worth noting, oddly, that the wife of the late Fredrico Schutt still saunters about Curu and resides in a tiny and remote hut, absent of electricity or running water.