This Abandoned Prison is now a National Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica
A scenic boat ride takes visitors to Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
The boat dock at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
An abandoned administration building Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
Remains of an administration building at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
Interior of the chapel at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
Prisoner housing at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
Graffiti created by prisoners at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
Prisoner housing at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
Vulgar drawing on the walls at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
Not sure how many actual boys stayed at this prison.
A police officer greets our boat at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
If you’ve ever seen the movie Shutter Island, you may recall the remote island setting for a decidedly imposing prison that was home to various nefarious criminals and shifty staff. Well, Isla San Lucas — San Lucas Island — is equally remote. But this abandoned prison is now home to a wildlife sanctuary, as well as mysterious and dramatic empty buildings that give just a glimpse of the island’s storied past.
I visited Isla San Lucas during a recent press trip to Costa Rica, on assignment for TravelAge West and Northstar Meetings Group. We toured beautiful hotels, saw beautiful wildlife and wandered the charming waterfront town of Puntarenas. But one of the most memorable and fascinating experiences for was the visit to this abandoned prison.
The partially restored chapel at Isla San Lucas in Costa Rica.
An island off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province, Isla San Lucas was once home to indigenous communities, and there are archeological remains that date to between 1,000 and 1,500 A.D. But it’s the the island’s more recent history that draws visitors. Between 1873 and 1991, San Lucas served as a penal island, an isolated prison where some of the nation’s worst criminals were sent. One prisoner, José León Sánchez, wrote a book about his experiences there, La Isla de Hombres Solos (The Island of Lonely Men).
The trip is scenic, aboard a small boat that takes about 40 minutes from the Puntarenas town port. Arriving at the same dock that used to receive prisoners, we were greeted by one of the police officers who still patrol the island. Our tour guide took us into the partially renovated chapel, as well as numerous structures that once housed prisoners. Graffiti, created by the prisoners, covered the interior walls of many of those buildings.
Today, visitors also come to view the resident wildlife, which includes howler monkeys, snakes, deer and some 40 species of birds. There are two mangrove forests, as well as five beaches. But it’s the ghostly remains of the prison — and the memories of those who lived there — that is perhaps the most striking element of this beautiful little island. There are many wonderful things to do in Costa Rica, of course. A visit to Isla San Lucas is one of the most unexpected, and fascinating, ways to learn more about the nation’s history while also enjoying its natural beauty and wildlife. And if you’re interested in abandoned buildings like I am, you’ll love Isla San Lucas even more.
About the Author
Mark Chesnut The founder and editor of LatinFlyer.com, Mark has more than 15 years of experience as a writer, editor and manager. He's worked with some of the biggest consumer, in-flight and travel trade publishers that cover Latin America.
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