Rosario: Laguna Mata Redonda and its birdlife

Rosario is closely connected to Laguna Mata Redonda: the wetland is known for nature conservation, birdlife and a long-standing relationship between water and cattle farming. The lagoon has been a national wildlife refuge since 1994. This status, granted by the government, protects important habitats for flora and fauna. A trip to Rosario therefore has a specific focus on nature and landscape.

A wetland in transition

Laguna Mata Redonda lies in the lower catchment area of the Río Tempisque. An article published on March 25, 2021, describes how its water level declined over a number of years, mainly due to sedimentation. The same article notes the lagoon’s importance for wildlife and cattle farming. It also identifies a possible future risk: without measures to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, the area’s economic and biological productivity could decline. The lagoon’s development thus connects local landscape history with the question of how a wetland changes.

Cattle farming and birdlife

An article published on March 25, 2021, reports that cattle farmers have been bringing their cattle to the lagoon to graze since the 1930s, sometimes leaving them there for hours. This applies particularly to farmers with too little land of their own. The cattle’s hooves help control encroaching plants and create areas of open water that attract dozens of bird species. Cattle grazing and habitats are therefore connected at the lagoon: cattle are part of the described land use, while the resulting areas of open water are important for birdlife.

Birdwatching and photography

Laguna Mata Redonda is important for the protection of more than 100 resident and migratory waterbird species. An article published in 2021 also reports that people visit the lagoon to photograph birds. A route featured by Rosario Tours includes the lagoon as well. Taken together, these details show two perspectives on the same wetland: it is a habitat for resident and migratory waterbirds, and a place that attracts visitors because of its birdlife. Photography is a reported visitor activity; the lagoon’s conservation role extends beyond this single interest.

A tourism project developed collaboratively

Rosario Tours grew out of a participatory process led by the Universidad Nacional and the Universidad de Costa Rica. Sixteen families from the community of Rosario de Nicoya took part. This history adds a social perspective to the nature themes: the tourism idea emerged from collaborative planning with families from the community. Together with the lagoon’s inclusion in a route, this shows two different sides of the destination—community-led development and a natural area important for the protection of waterbirds.

What the lagoon means for your travel decision

If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Rosario, you can consider what you’d like to focus on: would you like to follow up on reported birdwatching opportunities, or are you equally interested in the interplay between protected areas, water levels and cattle farming? The lagoon offers more than one perspective. It connects nature observation with the history of a landscape that matters both to wildlife and to cattle farming. This makes it a concrete point of reference when deciding whether Rosario fits the nature and landscape themes you’d like to explore on your trip.

In the wider travel region

Since 2002, Laguna Mata Redonda has been part of the Palo Verde wetland. Palo Verde is one of Costa Rica’s 12 wetlands of national importance. This designation broadens the view from the lagoon in Rosario to the wider context of wetland conservation in the country.

Discover more destinations: Guardia, Bijagua, Guayabo, Punta Islita, Ostional, Bejuco, La Garita, Bolsón

For the main travel overview: Guanacaste.