Location: Cano Island, Corcovado National Park, Drake Bay, Golfo Dulce, Osa Peninsula, Pavones, Puerto Jimenez, Recent Trips, Sierpe, South Pacific
Activities: , , , , , , ,



The Osa Peninsula

1 June 2009 Written by Genna Marie 7 Comments
Scarlet Macaw near Piedras Blancas National Park

Scarlet Macaw near Piedras Blancas National Park

The Osa Peninsula and nearby Golfo Dulce are unquestionably some of the best places in the world for wildlife watching. Scarlet macaws squawk over villages and loiter in the palms around soccer fields, while all four of the country’s monkey species seem to outnumber local residents. This beautiful peninsula is extremely isolated– an arduous eight to ten hour drive from the Central Valley.

It has long been my dream to visit this wilderness first-hand. I could barely contain my excitement when I discovered I would be exploring this frontier – and by plane, no less. My adventures turned out to be some of the best 17 days of my life: half the time Vincent came along to take photos, and half the time I traveled solo.

Tapir at Corcovado National Park

Tapir at Corcovado National Park

While it is always nice to sightsee with a partner, I also found journeying alone to be a relaxing experience. I visited five hotels and four cities, and the first stop on my itinerary was Drake Bay. From there, it is only an hour by boat to the Sirena entrance of Corcovado National Park.

Here, I spotted 20 different species of animals in my first 20 minutes of hiking, including squirrel and spider monkeys, toucans, sloths, and even an elusive tapir. In the following days, I experienced the park from its less remote Pedrillo entrance, hiked the rainforest looking for poison dart frogs, snorkeled at the legendary Cano Island, and kayaked up the Agujitas River. After a week in Drake Bay, I traveled across the peninsula to Puerto Jimenez.

Beach at Cabo Matapalo

Beach at Cabo Matapalo

With only four days to absorb the Puerto Jimenez area, I crammed in as many activities as possible. My first full day was spent at the Finca Kobo farm, where I learned how to live sustainably and, more importantly, how chocolate is produced.

The rest of my time was spent exploring the town by bike; hiking at the lush Cabo Matapalo Reserve; getting up close and personal with rescued animals at the Osa Wildlife Refuge; staying two exciting nights at an eco-friendly rainforest lodge; and hiking Piedras Blancas National Park. Needless to say, I slept incredibly well at night.

Surfer Chick Genna

Tackling the Pavones Surf

Our photographer Vincent and I reunited for our last stop at the gorgeous surf town of Pavones, home to the longest left point break in the world. Coincidentally, we dropped in on a demonstration protesting the imminent opening of an environmentally and socially destructive tuna farm. While the town and its citizens are inherently welcoming, it was our friendly hosts at Castillo de Pavones who truly made our time there unforgettable. After three nights of feasting on some of the best food in the country and four days of surfing and socializing, our trip came to a close. I was incredibly sad to see it end, but simultaneously eager for the opportunity to force my friends and family to sit through hours and hours of slide shows at home.

Join me on my adventures:

Day 1: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Day 2: I Caught a Shark!
Day 3: Swimming with the Fishes
Day 4: Frogs of the Forest
Day 5: Corcovado National Park: San Pedrillo
Day 6: Corcovado National Park: Sirena
Day 7: Kayaks and Spider Bites
Day 8: The Long and Bumpy Road
Day 9: Chocolate Dreams
Day 10: The Osa Wildlife Refuge
Day 11: Monkeys, Sloths and Neon Frogs
Day 12: Welcome to the Sweet Gulf
Day 13: Afraid of the Dark
Day 14: A Party and a Protest
Day 15: Pipas in Pavones
Day 16: The Good Life
Day 17: Goodbye, Golfo Dulce

Interested? For more travel information, see our Osa Peninsula Travel Guides.

‹ The Northern Nicoya Peninsula Day 1: Leaving on a Jet Plane ›



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Comments

  • Thad said:

    I heard from Jodi that there were Rhinos there.

    # 3 June 2009 at 5:52 pm
  • Jodi said:

    Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous and GORGEOUS! I seriously cannot wait to go! And WOW, you have tremendously improved your surf skills, aye!

    # 3 June 2009 at 7:00 pm
  • Genna Marie said:

    They are called Baird’s Tapirs, and to me look sort of like a cross between a rhino, a hippo, a horse, and an elephant. It is a seriously endangered animal, but almost a guaranteed sighting at the Sirena entrance to Corcovado.
    Jodi - Thanks for noticing my surf skills!! I can’t wait for you guys to go to the Osa.

    # 4 June 2009 at 6:04 am
  • croz´ said:

    Fabulous…inspiring stuff Genna. I lose count of the number of ´impressions´ this country leaves on me and everyone I know who visits…and those who decide to stay! I will have to go…Corcovado has long been on the list.

    Fancy accompanying me to Tortuguero one day…? I´ll do the guide bit for free!!

    croz´

    # 4 June 2009 at 6:34 pm
  • Genna Marie said:

    Tortuguero doesn’t hold a candle to the Osa! But I can’t turn down a free guide, now can I? Pavones was really amazing, as well - but you really must get out to Osa someday. And you can just read my blogs and costarica.com guides to see all of the best places to stay, the best tours to take, and the best places to eat. =)

    # 5 June 2009 at 2:33 pm
  • Terry said:

    Hi Genna,
    I personally planned and went on a very similar itinerary to the Osa back in January/February. It was incredible. Most people I met along the way were amazed that me and my traveling companion were going to spend 90% of our trip on the Osa (vs traditional Costa Rican tour spots), but they also told us that we were the smart ones, visiting the absolute BEST part of Costa Rica! I love everywhere in the world I get to visit, but for some reason, I have not been able to get Costa Rica out of my head to start dreaming about some new destination on Planet Earth. I wish I could gather up my dogs and figure out how to spend more time down there. It is truly wild, fresh, exotic, friendly, do-able, and fantastic!
    Terry

    # 11 July 2009 at 10:56 am
  • Genna Marie said:

    You certainly did it the right way. I highly recommend an itinerary like this (focusing on one place) instead of trying to cram in Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, the Caribbean, and maybe some Pacific beaches all in a single, two week trip. The Osa is now my favorite place in Costa Rica…And I also miss my four dogs that are back in the States!! It is fairly easy to bring them down on a plane, but quite an adjustment to the heat.

    # 13 July 2009 at 12:05 pm

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