Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary
An exclusive habitat, sanctuary, and rehabilitation center for Costa Rica´s precious wildlife.
Above Villas Alturas, 7 km South of Dominical
San Martin Norte
Tel. +(506) 8609 5363
Mail to: wildlifesanctuary
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization and 100% of your donation is used to feed the animals, provide them with veterinary care, buy supplies, and keep the sanctuary in motion. Hotel Villas Alturas is proud of being a part of this noble cause and sincerely appreciates your help since this kind of project can´t succeed without the help of people like you!
The wildlife sanctuary's mission is to help preserve wildlife in southern Costa Rica through its rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction to the wild; it also provides a home to animals unable to return to their natural habitat due to permanent disability or excessive domestication. The Sanctuary receives wild animals through its partnership with government entities such as MINAET and SINAC (Costa Rica´s official government wildlife care offices).
Another goal of the sanctuary is to educate and foster an appreciation for wildlife. Through the interaction with the educational system, the sanctuary expects to promote the development of the next generation of biologists, veterinarians, naturalists, and ecologists.

Director Mike Graeber has more than 40 years of experience in wildlife rehabilitation and has become an important figure for the sanctuary. For the last few years, attorney Dannia Segura has been his right hand.
The sanctuary has a care and learning center available to the public.
As part of our fundraising activities to keep the sanctuary in motion, we offer a guided tour; read more >>>
If you are an animal lover, you could help in any of the following ways:
1. Inform your friends of our project.
2. Make a one-time contribution or make a monthly commitment. We receive new animals every week.
3. Sponsor a habitat and be remembered
Platinum: $1,000
Gold: $500
Silver: $300
Bronze: $150
Support us: manager@alturaswildlifesanctuary.org
Ballena Tales is an essential free digital magazine in Costa Rica, valid for travelers, residents, and investors covering Costa Ballena in the Canton of Osa in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. It is a fully bilingual, bi-monthly, and full-color digital magazine.
The magazine introduces the reader to the life of the local community, with interviews of pioneers, writers, and artists, as well as extensive information on restaurants, hotels, experiences, natural attractions, and wildlife of the South Pacific of Costa Rica.
We are not just a magazine; each edition (print and digital) is linked to a robust web platform; the editions are published online, and the advertorials are included in our blog and the brand in the commercial directory. We also add links to the advertising company's website and social networks. At this time, the openings of digital publications in all their expressions exceed 80 thousand openings, and the advertised brands have a global reach.
We have a loyal audience of over 8,000 readers in the South Pacific's Costa Ballena region who will view your news in each printed edition.
We prioritize our readers' satisfaction by delivering a variety of engaging content while showcasing the value of our advertisers' brands.
And Who’s Peter?
~ by Dagmar Reinhard Peter Marschall, the son of a German father and a Hungarian mother, who also speaks English and Spanish, came to Costa Ballena in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, for the first time […]
An Unfortunate but Happy Scarlet Macaw
~ by Mike Graeber Meet Ruby, one of our two scarlet macaws here at Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary (AWS). This beautiful, young bird has had a very painful life because of things done to him by heartless human beings. Ruby […]
Uvita, Fresh from the Feria: Papaya
~ by Luba NikolayevPapaya is a well-known, healthy, tropical fruit that is both delicious and full of advantages. In Costa Rica, papayas are easy to grow and abundant year round. When ripe, the fruit has sun-kissed, […]
Wine lovers rejoice! Your favorite wine at Hotel Villas Río Mar
~ by Dagmar Reinhard In Costa Rica, wine at restaurants can be very expensive, and to make it affordable, mostly lowquality wines or consummation per glass are offered to the guests. Christian Vijselaar, owner of Hotel Villas Río Mar, […]
Once You Start Making Lists You’ll Know You’re Hooked
~ by Jack Ewing Non addicts scratch their heads wondering why us bird watchers get so excited about something so simple as observing our feathered friends. On the surface it seems like a boring pastime, but nothing […]
The Massif of Life
~ by Luis Humberto Galera – Photo Mario Wong Cold and strong winds blow on the plains at Buena Vista Hill, the official name of the feared massif better known as “Death Hill”; this is ironic, since its hillsides […]
What to do, Where to eat, and Where to stay…
- Activities and Tours
- Whale Watching Tour
- Natural Attractions
- Marino Ballena National Park
- Restaurants
- Hotels and Accommodations
South Pacific Costa Rica Beaches,
Looking for business directories, maps or other printouts? We’ve got that too!
Dare to Discover and Enjoy…
Check out…
Need help planning your next trip? Let us help you with your Costa Rica vacations!
Email: carlos@ballenatales.com
Phone: +(506) 8946 7134