Costa Rica Travel Guide

The South Pacific region located in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica is home to one of the most beautiful natural treasures of the country since it was blessed with abundant and exotic flora and fauna. Is home of the last rain forest that extends into the Pacific coast of Central America, nestled in the glorious Corcovado National Park. This region of Costa Rica plays an important role as host of species of wildlife of the world that are in danger.

It has a very hot tropical climate throughout the year and a large amount of rain that produce very lush vegetation that is the densest in the country. Due to that is remote and isolated from the rest of Costa Rica, Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula is heaven for lovers of nature. It is considered a popular eco-tourism place, as visitors can stay in the ecological huts that are located there and enjoy one of the most bio-diverse places of the planet.

Also we can find in South Puntarenas a good number of beautiful and lonely beaches that are hidden and in most cases almost empty, making it the perfect place to escape from the bustle of the city. For those tourists who enjoy snorkeling, there is the option of visiting the Isla del Caño that is away from the coast to find the best marine life in the world. For those who enjoy fishing the area of Drake Bay is the dream of fishermen. Another point in Costa Rica that is quite important is Dominical beach, a beautiful beach with great waves and excellent conditions for surfing, so it’s a very busy site for fans of the sport.

The south coastline of Costa Rica is also known for its strong waves, which are great for surfing. In this place we can find a small town called Pavones, which have the larger left waves in the world. Given these conditions, you can ride the wave for two full minutes. However, you must be very careful if you try to swim since the breakup of the current causes the sea is very treacherous. Real estate development in the area has accelerated in recent years due to the increasing influx of both domestic and international tourism. In some areas, the price of land near the beach has grown to exorbitant prices. Also it has been increasing the construction of hotels, cabins and luxury resorts, for that reason the tourists do not lack any kind of comfort. Despite this, the South Pacific is a remote area that is not as congested as other tourist areas of the country. But you can find bars and restaurants at regular prices that will provide the tourists the opportunity to enjoy another aspect of the South Pacific of Costa Rica.

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One of the most interesting beaches to visit in Costa Rica is Grande beach that is located in the province of Guanacaste. The beautiful Grande beach is an important part of the Leatherback National Marine Park with its pristine coastline and clear blue sea making it one of the most beautiful beaches on the coast of Guanacaste. It is located in the northern region of the Nicoya Peninsula, one of the most important regions of Costa Rica. Grande beach is an important place for the Leatherback Sea Turtle, an imposing reptile that is in danger of extinction and that comes every year to lay their eggs on the beach.

Grande beach in Costa Rica was incorporated in Las Baulas National Marine Park in the 90s and is open to the public for visit only during the day, during the season when carried out the arrival or of thousands of female sea turtles to nest. For this, during the night the police patrol the park to protect the turtles and their eggs, especially from hunters and tourists too excited that sometimes pose a threat to these giant reptiles and their eggs that are considered a delicacy and aphrodisiac by many people in Costa Rica. The season of incubation of the turtles is from October to May and is a spectacle worthy of seeing that occurs from millions of years ago. If you are in this area of Costa Rica at this time, you can see about thousands of turtles arriving in the dark to lay their eggs on the beach.

Grande beach is also a famous beach in Costa Rica because it has excellent conditions for surfing, which are mostly in the main beach. Grande beach is much quieter than other famous beaches of Guanacaste such as Playa Tamarindo, however surfing is just as good. In fact according to the criterion of many surfers both domestic and foreign, the breaks and the waves are sufficiently robust and strong to put this place between the best surf places in Costa Rica. Located north of the beach is an excellent place to swim with confidence if you are not a fan of surfing.

Because this beach is part of a protected area, no hotel has rooms overlooking the beach; however, near Grande beach there are a lot of hotels that are suitable for all budgets. By law is not allowed to walk on the beach at night especially during the nesting season, also is not allow any kind of light on the beach. The reason is because light can scare the turtles and to avoid depositing their eggs. There is only one hotel near the beach which is the Hotel Las Tortugas, which was built prior to the establishment of the Las Baulas National Marine Park. It is directed by Louis Wilson, who played a major role in the work of establishing the park. Grande beach is a wonderful place to enjoy the wonderful beauty of nature as well offers the possibility to rent equipment such as surfboards, kayaks, snorkeling and horses which makes it an interesting tourist site to enjoy when you are in Costa Rica.

The Pacific coast of Costa Rica has a beauty and a wealth of maritime life without comparison despite its small territory compared with other countries. Visitors can see all kinds of animals, from small crustaceans to imposing whales and graceful dolphins. The Central Pacific region is not an exception as it is the possibility to see these gentile giants in their natural environment. This region has the advantage of having well-developed tourism with accommodation and tours designed to meet all the expectations.

For these reasons, an activity that you cannot lose is going to see dolphins or whales in the area near to the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park, near Quepos (depending on the time when you are in Manuel Antonio), because the entire Costa Rican Pacific coast is a crossing route for the migration of the humpback whale that has its mating season in April and the births in October. From Manuel Antonio and Quepos you can take a tour to the nearby Drake Bay (Whale Marine National Park) located in the South Pacific. Some companies will offer tours on a yacht to view the whales, dolphins, or just the sunset from the yacht. Also there are many snorkeling and sailing excursions include dolphin or whale watching as part of their itineraries. These packages are a good option if you want to combine different activities in this zone.

During these tours you will be marveled with the mysterious island and its impressive rock formations, high cliffs and nesting areas, with numerous species of seabirds and their chicks. You will hear the roar of the vents of water and its whistle at the entrance of each wave. Also you will count  the variety of dolphins and whales that grow behind the islands. Learn interesting facts from the Manuel Antonio National Park and Quepos Indians. Come and witness the unforgettable sunset, take a moment to relax and to enjoy a beautiful afternoon in paradise.

Quepos and Manuel Antonio are not really points of whale watching compared to the South Pacific of Costa Rica, but surely you may get lucky and succeed observe a whale in addition to being able to enjoy other activities such as snorkeling or sailing aboard a catamaran for a day. Dolphins Stained however, are commonly seen on these trips. The trips to watch whales and dolphins can be taken in Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio and Puntarenas. There are trips available from Turtle Island. The area of Manuel Antonio is a good place to be able to see dolphins as well as the South Pacific. More than three species inhabit the waters temporarily. In this Tour, you can observe the dolphins from the boat. The tour guide will explain you everything about the interesting biology of this animals. This tour has duration of about 6 hours.

The bird watching in Costa Rica is an extraordinary activity. With 877 species of birds recorded so far and the diversity of habitats that you can found (in relatively short distances) create the opportunity to explore the abundant bird life of the country. Each region has its specialties in Costa Rica, and the South Pacific region is no exception. Besides being a very intense zone for bird watching (in terms of number of species), it is also very popular because of the large endemism that can be found there. Despite its size Costa Rica and especially the south has a large amount of birds that are not easy to find in other parts of the world.

The South Pacific region of Costa Rica contains many important types of ecosystems, such as cold region rainy alpine in the high peaks of Talamanca, which is over 2950 meters (9700 feet), tropical cloud forests, tropical forests pre montane found in the middle of the elevations of Talamanca and the coastal zone, tropical forests of the lowlands, rocky rivers, mangroves, rocky coasts, marine habitats and of course, different types of disturbed areas (by the man) with secondary forest.

Along the south coast of Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula and adjacent valleys, with elevations ranging from sea level to 750 meters (2460 feet), the rainforest offers the opportunity to see the Bill and the Fiery, the aracari and red macaws among others …. Also you can see in the Osa Peninsula, the Black-Cheek Ant-Tanager. Some species which have colonized the area from South America are the Brown-throated Parakeet, Southern Lapwing, Rusty-margin Flycatcher, Pearl Kite, and Crested Oropendola.

Some other major destinations include mangroves of the Sierpe River, which hosts the Yellow-billed Cotinga and the Mangrove Hummingbird. Also you can go to Los Cusinga Bird Sanctuary near San Isidro de El General, which is famous for the Turquoise Cotinga. Las Cruces Biological Station offers the possibility to find Lance and the Manakin-Tailed Jacana Wattled, in nearby marshes. From high land to the lowlands, where primary forests are found, it is possible to observe, when you travel to the area: Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Black Hawk-Eagle, Great Black Hawk, King Vulture, and even the possibility to see The Harpy Eagle in the Osa Peninsula, the biggest bird of prey of the country.

In order to get the best experience of bird watching in the south Pacific in Costa Rica, you could employ a professional birding guide, in order to maximize your possibilities of sightings birds. A guide will allow you the access to the best spots for bird watching in the area. Also knowing the behavior of birds and habitats are essential when it comes to having the best possible experience in terms of birding.

The village of Sierpe in Costa Rica is situated in the beautiful valley Diquis and is a key coastal point, usually used by tourists wishing to explore the beautiful and virgin Osa Peninsula, which is famous for its nature. In addition to being a little town located near the Sierpe River, Sierpe is a town that has all kinds of business services, hotels and enough luxury accommodations for all budgets besides having a good number of restaurants and bars. It is used by many companies of river transport as a starting point for boat trips, used by those who are going to discover this beautiful region of the country. Sierpe in Costa Rica is also used by many hotels in the province as a starting point to pick up tourists who do tours in the region.

The quiet little town of Sierpe is located about 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean along the Sierpe River in Costa Rica, just 20 kilometers south of Palmar del Sur and a few kilometers from the Pan American Highway. Is the main access for those wishing to go to the Corcovado National Park or the Isla del Caño National Park. Sierpe is a small city dedicated to the cultivation of bananas located about 280 kilometers south of the city of San Jose in the province of Puntarenas, in the south Pacific. The best way to get to Sierpe is on a domestic flight from the Juan Santamaria International Airport until Palmar del Sur and from there take a boat or a water taxi that will take you up there. As for its nightlife, can be mentioned that Sierpe in Costa Rica has pleasant bars and restaurants in a quiet and beautiful zone with a very pleasant atmosphere for tourists who like to enjoy a festive atmosphere without too many people and bustle.

In addition to its beautiful mangrove, Sierpe in Costa Rica offers travelers the best chance of sport fishing in Costa Rica throughout the year. There are enough local shops that sell hooks, bait and other fishing gear. In these shops, the tourist can rent or buy the necessary things to be used during their fishing trips at prices ease. Sierpe offers not only various species of fish, also allows exciting experiences such as diving expeditions for those who want to enjoy more exciting activities.

From the standpoint of conservation, Sierpe in Costa Rica is an important place because it serves as a gateway to one of the largest reserves of mangrove forests in Latin America. The National Wetland Reserve Terraba-Sierpe is in the mouths of the rivers Térraba and Sierpe and contains some of the world’s largest mangroves. It is a habitat of incredible diversity with animals of all kinds, including birds and reptiles, turtles, crocodiles, monkeys, alligators, frogs and many more. This wetland is a wonderful place, so impressive that should be visited by all those who are in Sierpe.

Uvita Beach in Costa Rica is located only 17 kilometers south of the town of Dominical. Uvita is a quiet beach town with four markets, a gas station, bank, a Internet cafe and some good restaurants. But there is much more in this area to be discovered by tourists in search of what is often described as the best kept secret in Costa Rica. You can travel throughout the year as it has a glorious weather almost all the time. Uvita has a beautiful beach of 2 miles of white sand with waves that are moderate and crystal blue water. Because this beach is part of Ballena National Marine Park any hunting or fishing of marine life is strictly prohibited. One of the biggest attractions of Uvita Beach is its beautiful scenery with its estuary and the mangrove swamps as well as its enchanting atmosphere of little town.

This wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica is also a point of birth and upbringing for humpback whales, between the months of July through September and later from December until April. Also, the nearby National Park of Corcovado and the National Park Caño Island are excellent alternatives for tours of one day or for an extension of your vacations. Also available are optional activities such as fishing, hiking, river kayaking, birding tours, mountain biking, horseback riding, climbing into trees and the canopy tours, so intrepid and adventurers tourists never suffer of boredom.

The Uvita Beach accommodations are at a very reasonable price with many guest houses, hotels and rustic cabins. If you want to stay on the beach you can found rooms and cabins for rent. There are also enough bars and restaurants to eat, and sodas (small cafes) featuring local delicacies.

With one of the most stunning beaches on the coast of the South Pacific Costa Rica, Uvita has the best features for the moderate surf and it is quite safe for swimming, it has also estuaries and mangroves, especially at its northern end. This beach is ideal for the enjoyment of children, swimming, hiking and horseback riding, as well as to observe the marine life around Punta Uvita. It’s a relatively quiet beach without so many tourists that can also take a tour to Caño Island, Violins Island, Whale Island. It is possible to make a walk a few miles into the forest or into the mountains surrounding the area.

Uvita  is located south of San Jose and the best way to reach Uvita Beach is to fly to Juan Santa Maria International Airport and from there take a bus to Quepos and Dominical. From there you can take another bus to Uvita Beach, which is a short trip. Another alternative for tourists is to fly to South Palomar Airport and then drive to Uvita Beach.