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COSTA RICA | Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica Travel Guide
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Osa Peninsula
Osa Peninsula
The beautiful Osa Peninsula, once isolated from the mainstream of tourism – and Costa Rica in general – is now drawing eco- and adventure tourists in increasing numbers. Stunning Drake Bay and its northern section of pristine Corcovado National Park can be reached by charter plane from Pavas, San José, or by an 1½-hour boat trip from the Sierpe River. The small airport at Puerto Jiménez, the peninsula’s most important town, has made it a lot easier to access the beach towns and southern Corcovado Park. Bordered to the west by the warm Pacific Ocean and the east by a marine paradise, the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) is where playful dolphins follow your launch and huge humpback whales come to breed. Osa is a memorable eco-adventure, just waiting for you. However, it is not for everyone – the environment can be physically demanding and requires some strenuous exertion.
Cross the Gulf by launch from Golfito or fly into Puerto Jiménez, where there are many good choices for lodging in the southern half. To get to Drake Bay, take a boat from Sierpe, a lazy little town along the river of the same name that marks the beginning of 14,555 hectares/35,950 acres of mangrove forest. If you stay overnight in Sierpe, 30 minutes off the Inter-American Highway, you may find it has a lot more to offer than sim- ply an overnight stop. The Valle de Diquis area around Sierpe contains many mysterious stone spheres (esferas de piedra) made by unknown pre-Columbian peoples. You can easily visit Isla Violin, an important ar- cheological site at the mouth of the river, just north of Drake Bay. Years ago, large nuggets found on this island started a “Gold Rush” that is still ongoing on the Osa Peninsula. The little town is a convenient mainland base for those who don’t want the expense of Drake’s more remote resorts but still want to see the area’s sights.
Last updated October 29, 2010
Posted in Costa Rica | Osa Peninsula
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