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Costa Rica south Pacific places to see |
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Things to see and Destinations within the South Pacific CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK Protecting 41,788 hectares of shallow lagoons, marsh, mangrove swamps, rivers, wet forest and low-altitude cloud forest, as well as 46 kilometers of sandy beach, Corcovado is one of Central America’s most unique ecosystems—which is why naturalists from all over the world come to study its riches. Within its extensive territory, visitors can observe the rich biodiversity of the last virgin natural area in all of Central America. Some 6,000 insect, 500 tree, 367 bird, 140 mammal, 117 amphibian and reptile, and 40 freshwater fish species live here in coexistence. The park has numerous hiking trails and rustic camping refuges. A guide is recommended. Less adventurous visitors can also enjoy the park on boat excursions or arrive by plane at the Sirena station. Visitors who keep their eyes open can see whales and macaws in Corcovado, as well as many other animals in danger of extinction. Visitor services include information, a park ranger station, trails, signage, restrooms, drinking water, a landing field, camping area, radio communication and rustic lodging. DRAKE BAY This beach is made up of highly scenic rocky areas and coves. Frequent rains nourish a very wet tropical forest rich in biodiversity. Many sport-fishing and diving tours to Isla del Caño depart from Drake, as well as tours to Corcovado National Park. Visitors can hike or horseback ride to nearby attractions. Every February, the landing of pirate Sir Francis Drake at this spot is commemorated with official and local celebrations. PLAYA BALLENA Featuring little surf and fine sand, this beach is set in a breathtaking coastal landscape that includes Isla Ballena less than three kilometers offshore. Playa Ballena, along with Isla Ballena and Rocas Tres Hermanas, make up part of Ballena National Marine Park, which stretches from Punta Uvita to Punta Piñuela. The park’s waters are visited by humpback whales every year from August to October and from December to April. PLAYA DOMINICAL This beach’s big waves are ideal for surfing. The place is also popular with campers, with facilities available. Tours and excursions can be taken from Dominical to neighboring places of great scenic beauty, such as the Nauyaca waterfalls and nearby hills offering spectacular views of the entire coastal area. Dominical offers a variety of tourism services and shops. UVITA Rich in marine life, this tongue, or tombolo, features a reef that shelters it from dangerous currents and strong surf, making it a perfect place to swim and cool off in its waters. It’s also a popular spot among divers. UVITA MANGROVE SWAMP Located behind Punta Uvita, this mangrove swamp is rich in typical coastal flora and is home to several species of seabird, including the little blue heron, the white ibis and the osprey. CHIRRIPÓ NATIONAL PARK Variations in altitude, climate and soil give rise to one of the most ecologically diverse regions in Costa Rica. This park is situated in the Cordillera de Talamanca, which, at 320 kilometers, is the longest mountain range in the country. To get to Chirripó, visitors must travel to San Gerardo de Rivas. Here begins the hike through this wilderness area comprising several life zones from an altitude of 1,400 meters on the Caribbean and Pacific slopes to 3,821 meters at the summit of Mount Chirripó, the highest point in the country. From its peak, on clear days, both Caribbean and Pacific coasts may be admired. On the route to the summit, hikers can enjoy lush vegetation and bird-watching. Chirripó features various sculpted glacial formations such as U-shaped valleys, lakes (moraines) and terraces. Visitor services include information, a park ranger station, trails, signage, restrooms, drinking water, several natural viewpoints and lodging. ISLA DEL CAÑO BIOLOGICAL PRESERVE This preserve protects very important marine environments, particularly large coral reefs rich with life. The reefs are home to a variety of fish species, invertebrates, algae and mammals such as dolphins and whales. The island has great archeological importance as well; in pre-Columbian times it was used as an indigenous burial ground, traces of which still remain. Visitor services include trails, viewpoints, an archeological site and dive sites. SIERPE This small community lies 15 kilometers from Palmar Norte and Sur, on the banks of the river of the same name. Sierpe offers commercial services and accommodations, as well as water transportation companies that can take visitors out to sea to visit Isla del Caño, or fish or dive nearby. A good number of tourists access Corcovado National Park via the Río Sierpe, and many bird, animal and reptile species can be seen on this trip. The South Pacific Coast This coastal area of Costa Rica extends from Dominical in the north (30 miles south of Quepos) to the Osa Peninsula and the Golfito area in the south and includes fishing villages, world class surfing beaches, Corcovado National Park reported by National Geographic as "the most biologically intense place on earth", long stretches of deserted beaches and uninhabited forests, here you can find private reserves such as Hacienda Baru located one mile north of Dominical where you can follow trails through a cocoa plantation and pastures and into thick forest and mangroves backing to a gorgeous beach called Playa Baru where you can see many varieties of wildlife. Dominical is casual, cool and laid back and offers attractions for all tastes. Dominical itself is a former fishing village now synonymous with surfing and an excellent point from which to go off hiking or horseback riding on the dirt roads that clamber up from the main coast highway to explore the surrounding Escaleras “staircase” mountains and the spectacular ocean views. Continuing south for nine miles from Dominical to Uvita, we reach the Brunca Coast named after a local Indian group. This area is still pretty much undeveloped and it offers a superb wildlife and marine refuge. Further south we come to the Osa Peninsula, truly a nature lover’s paradise were abundant wildlife and rain soaked forests offer the opportunity for magnificent viewings and encounters. Here you will find sport fishing, diving and wilderness lodges all geared to providing you with a world class experience that will make you want to return year after year. In this area you will also find Corcovado National Park with over 103 acres, a place where you can get over 25 feet of annual rainfall (that’s right feet not inches!) at the higher elevations. So much water means plenty of wildlife including over 1200 scarlet macaws, the largest population in Central America and over 400 bird species plus more than 115 reptile species. In fact, over 1/10th of all the mammal species living in the Americas can be found in the park! This park also protects the largest extant stand of primeval rain forest along the Pacific Coast of Central America. Heading inland from the Osa Peninsula toward the east we come to the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) and the Golfito, a town that came to life in 1938 when the United Fruit Company established plantations and Golfito became the banana capital of the region and the main banana shipping port in Costa Rica. Today it’s a favorite with yachters, sport fishermen, and nature travelers. Its also home to a duty-free zone created for Costa Ricans and established to help the local economy after the demise of the banana plantations. RÍO EL GENERAL Flowing out of San Juan Lake in Chirripó National Park, this river becomes the Río Grande de Térraba before emptying into the Pacific. The longest (196 km) and one of the mightiest rivers in the country, this river offers rafting trips through rapids in certain stretches, such as Las Juntas de Pacuar al Brujo. NAUYACA WATERFALLS Located some 12 kilometers from Dominical on the highway to San Isidro de El General, these lovely waterfalls are also known as the Santo Cristo or Don Lulo waterfalls. Visitors arrive on horseback to enjoy the beautiful falls surrounded by greenery, and to swim in the large, safe pool. PLAYA DOMINICAL This beach’s big waves are ideal for surfing. The place is also popular with campers, with facilities available. Tours and excursions can be taken from Dominical to neighboring places of great scenic beauty, such as the Nauyaca waterfalls and nearby hills offering spectacular views of the entire coastal area. Dominical offers a variety of tourism services and shops. PLAYA DOMINICALITO The moderate surf here is perfect for swimming and other water activities. At the south end of the beach lies Punta Dominical, which features a lush tropical wet forest. This, and the spectacular surrounding landscape, offer great enticement to nature-lovers. PUNTA DOMINICAL The viewpoints on this rocky hill swathed in vegetation offer views of Dominicalito, Roca Árbol island and the stunning mountain and maritime landscape stretching southwards. PLAYA HERMOSA This beach is connected to Playa Uvita to the south by a sandy tongue, or tombolo, in the shape of an anchor that can be explored at low tide, when different species of crab, fish, mollusk and algae may be observed. From this spot both beaches may be viewed, as well as the beautiful Fila Costeña mountains. PLAYA UVITA One of the most stunning beaches on the Southern Pacific coast, Uvita features moderate surf safe for swimming, as well as estuaries and mangrove swamps, especially at its north end. South of the Quebrada Villegas estuary is a lovely line of coconut palms. Near the south end of the beach is Quebrada Colonia. This beach is ideal for walking and horseback riding, as well as observing the marine life around Punta Uvita. PUNTA UVITA Rich in marine life, this tongue, or tombolo, features a reef that shelters it from dangerous currents and strong surf, making it a perfect place to swim and cool off in its waters. It’s also a popular spot among divers. UVITA MANGROVE SWAMP Located behind Punta Uvita, this mangrove swamp is rich in typical coastal flora and is home to several species of seabird, including the little blue heron, the white ibis and the osprey. ISLA BALLENA Accessible only by boat or panga, this island is an extraordinary place for diving and observing the variety of marine species. PLAYA BALLENA Featuring little surf and fine sand, this beach is set in a breathtaking coastal landscape that includes Isla Ballena less than three kilometers offshore. Playa Ballena, along with Isla Ballena and Rocas Tres Hermanas, make up part of Ballena National Marine Park, which stretches from Punta Uvita to Punta Piñuela. The park’s waters are visited by humpback whales every year from August to October and from December to April. PLAYA PIÑUELA A beautiful, small cove with moderate surf, Piñuela is great for swimming, especially at its south end. Behind the beach is a steep, mountainous slope covered with greenery. A small promontory lies north of the beach, close to which the Quebrada Piñuela empties into the sea. Isla Ballena may be viewed from here. PLAYA VENTANAS Though small, this beach is surrounded by lovely scenery. Ventanas (“Windows”) gets its name from the rocky promontory at its north end featuring holes in the rock that can be explored at low tide. PLAYA GARZA Located south of Boca Brava, this beach is not suitable for swimming; however, its waves are excellent for professional surfing. SIERPE This small community lies 15 kilometers from Palmar Norte and Sur, on the banks of the river of the same name. Sierpe offers commercial services and accommodations, as well as water transportation companies that can take visitors out to sea to visit Isla del Caño, or fish or dive nearby. A good number of tourists access Corcovado National Park via the Río Sierpe, and many bird, animal and reptile species can be seen on this trip. PLAYA DRAKE This beach is made up of highly scenic rocky areas and coves. Frequent rains nourish a very wet tropical forest rich in biodiversity. Many sport-fishing and diving tours to Isla del Caño depart from Drake, as well as tours to Corcovado National Park. Visitors can hike or horseback ride to nearby attractions. Every February, the landing of pirate Sir Francis Drake at this spot is commemorated with official and local celebrations. PLAYAS DE MATAPALO At the south end of the Osa Peninsula lies Cabo Matapalo, close to which are several stunningly beautiful coves and beaches set in very wet tropical forest, home to several species of birds, monkeys and other animals. Waterfalls and other natural features make exploring the rich biodiversity a delight. Beaches popular with surfers include Matapalo, Backwash and Pan Dulce, all of which offer excellent conditions for this sport. PLAYA TAMALES Located south of Puerto Jiménez on the road to Matapalo, this long beach is shaped in a half-moon, and features rocky coastline to the south and the mouth of the Río Tamales near its center. The surf is gentle to moderate depending on location. Birds may be seen among the coastal greenery. PUERTO JIMÉNEZ Situated at two meters above sea level, this community is the best place from which to access Corcovado National Park. Good commercial and tourism services are available, including several leisure, adventure and sport-fishing companies. Jiménez is reached via Chacarita on the Interamerican highway, or by daily boat service from Golfito. PLAYA PLATANARES A large, pleasant beach featuring coastal vegetation, mangrove swamps and the mouth of the Río Platanares, this is an excellent place for sunbathing and enjoying the ocean. Stretching south from Punta Arenitas, Platanares is very popular with the residents of Puerto Jiménez, as well as the tourists who come here on their way to Corcovado and other destinations on the Osa Peninsula. PLAYA BLANCA Located two kilometers form the village of La Palma, this beach features moderate surf and is popular with the village’s residents. Set on Golfo Dulce and surrounded by mountains perennially clothed in green, Playa Blanca is a lovely spot. GOLFITO The only city in the country found inside a protected area, Golfito rests on a long strip set in a small cove on Golfo Dulce. The place is characterized by the architectural style of the houses of the Banana Company, which for many years managed every aspect of banana production. The town features commercial and tourism services, a hospital, airfield, wharf and other government services. Several tourism companies provide lodging, food, tours and other services. Among the city’s main attractions is the Depósito Libre Comercial de Golfito, where a variety of items can be bought duty-free. Golfito is the perfect departure point for visits to other coastal communities such as Puerto Jiménez and Zancudo, as well as tours to the Gulf, Río Colorado, Drake and Playa Cacao, among other destinations. PLAYA CACAO Though Playa Cacao is located just two kilometers from Golfito, the best way to get here is by boat (panga). Little surf makes it a very safe place to swim. Green with plant life, Cacao is a great place for walking around and observing the flora and fauna. The town of Golfito can be seen from the beach. PLAYA ZANCUDO A long beach with fine sand and moderate surf, Zancudo features a lovely estuary and plenty of coconut palms and tropical greenery. It’s a great place for swimming, sunbathing and walking, as well as other recreational and sporting activities. Sport-fishing and whale- and dolphin-watching tours are offered. PLAYA PAVONES This rocky stretch of coast offers beautiful scenery, thanks to its luxuriant plant life and small bays ideal for swimming. Set on a small cove, Pavones’ main attraction is its open ocean surf, which forms the world-famous long left wave that draws many surfers to this beautiful and remote spot. To the south, horseback rides and long walks to the least explored stretch of coast in Costa Rica may be enjoyed. RÍO GRANDE DE TÉRRABA Formed by the El General and Coto rivers, which are fed in turn by tributaries originating in the Cordillera de Talamanca, this river runs 160 kilometers and forms the country’s largest hydrographic basin at 2,171 square kilometers. Its many mouths and deltas make up part of the largest wetland in Central America. The Río Grande de Térraba is considered the most important river in the Southern Zone because of its socioeconomic significance. We make it easy with our
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