Up to the 1960s the lands that now constitute the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve were being depleted of their natural forests for use as farm and pasture land. The emphasis in those days was to develop and increase agricultural production and little concern was given to conservation of natural habitats. Olof Wessberg and Karen Mogensen arrived in Costa Rica in the 1960s in the pursuit of Karen's dream of finding happiness in harmony with nature. They chose to establish themselves in the Nicoya Peninsula. Soon after establishing themselves in a farm near the Montezuma area, they set up on an expedition to the Cabo Blanco area in search for native tree seeds to reforest their newly acquired farm. Upon arriving to the area, he was amazed at the abundant wildlife and the size of the trees in the area. This was like an oasis in the midst of a desert as all lands around had been devastated to give way to low-yield pasture and agricultural lands. This experience was what triggered their determination to save and preserve this "natural jewel". With the aid of an international agency, they bought of land in 1963 and turned these lands into the first protected area in all of Costa Rica. Nicolas died in 1975 and Karen in 1994. Their bodies are buried at the Nicolas Wessberg Natural Reserve which was the original farm they bought when first arrived in the Montezuma area.
Flora
About 140 different species of trees have been identified inside the park. Because the park is located in a transition area between the dry and wet forest, a unique combination of evergreen trees which are characteristic of the humid rainforest, and trees of the deciduous type and are characteristic of the dry forest. Among the dry forest specimens found we can mention the "Pochote", the "Guacimo", and the "Indio Desnudo" but there are many other trees present that are native to the whole Nicoya Peninsula area. Among the evergreens is worth mentioning the tall and impressive "Espavel", the "Guacimo Colorado", and the beautiful "Cortez Amarillo" which bursts into a yellow spectacle of flowers during the dry months of March and April.
Fauna
There is a considerable variety of mammals in the park. Predominant among these and very easily spotted by visitors are the howler and the white-face monkeys. Also very abundant and easily seen are the white-nosed coati and the white-tailed deer. Also present, but harder to spot are the margay and the coyote. But the greatest wealth in fauna is in the abundant marine birds, marine mammals including orcas, fish, crabs and mollusks found in the shore waters and in the Cabo Blanco island. Worth mentioning is the healthy population of brown boobies and pelicans found in the island, and also the plentiful conch found on the park's waters.
