Nature Watching
Gigante is located in a tropical environment and casual wildlife watching takes little effort since wild birds, monkeys, sea turtles and other exotic animals are numerous in the surrounding forest, wetlands and ocean. Hiring a boat is the best way to experience the area’s breathtaking coastline, and we highly recommend it.
Bird watching is excellent. Sea birds of all types are plentiful in the area. Pelicans can be seen roosting on the pangas just off the beach. Greater frigate birds are frequently seen flying up and down the coast and frequently roost on the rocks of Punta Gigante. Colorful Guardabarranco birds are numerous in the trees surrounding Gigante. The green, yellow and blue feathers of the Guardabarranco make it easy to identify the National Bird of Nicaragua in the wild. Eagles and owls are also abundant in the area. Egrets, Herons and Flamingos are common visitors to the wetlands in the Gigante area.
You can find many sea turtles in the area. La Flor is protected turtle nesting area just south of San Juan del Sur where the turtles return every year to lay their eggs. Mating sea turtles can be found during the month of June in the bays and just off the rocky coastline in the immediate Gigante area. You will often hear the grunt of a sea turtle when you are in the water surfing at this time of year.
There are many groups of Howler monkeys in the area. Each morning you hear the Howlers calling to each other and you will be startled by the excited warning shrieks by males protecting their harems. You will often see groups of monkeys watching you as you walk along the roads. The monkeys are more afraid of you than you are afraid of them and they will scatter when they see you.
Other Things to Do
Nature Gallery
