Costa Rica | Travel Guide | Around Costa Rica | Pacific

Costa Rica Travel Guide:
Pacific slopes and the Osa Peninsula

West from San José, it is a short journey to the Pacific ocean, reaching the sea close to the mouth of the Gulf of Nicoya.

Central Pacific

Going south from here, good beaches begin almost immediately but are at first rather busy, being the closest to San José.

Beyond Jacó things start to ease, and soon you reach Quepos and the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park, where verdant tropical forest opens out onto picturesque white sand beaches. Wildlife is good here too.

Osa Peninsula

Beyond lie the quiet natural beaches of Dominical and then the Osa Peninsula, jutting out into the Pacific Ocean.

Thanks to its remoteness, heavy rainfall and dense jungle the Osa Peninsula ranks as one of the most biodiverse places in the world.

Visiting Costa Rica's Pacific slopes and the Osa Peninsula

Suggested tailormade trips:

› Coast to Coast

› Costa Rica Nature Explorer

› Creature Comforts

› Costa Rica Chill-out

› Costa Rica off the beaten track

Selfdrive:

› Route 1: Classic Costa Rica

› Route 2: Nature & wildlife

› Route 4: South Pacific Explorer

› Freedom Selfdrive

Add-ons:

› Osa Peninsula

Small group tour:

› Costa Rican Odyssey

 

Where to see wildlife

Lowland rainforest:

› Carara Biological Reserve

› Manuel Antonio National Park

› Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce

Wildlife:

› Whales and dolphins

 

Beaches

› Manuel Antonio National Park

› Quepos

› Jacó

› Dominical

› Uvita and Playa Tortuga

 

Where to stay

Wildlife lodges:

› Casa Corcovado, Osa Peninsula

› Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

› Villa Lapas, Jacó

› Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Golfito

Hotels for touring:

› Cristal Ballena, Dominical

› Monterey del Mar, Jacó

Beach hotels:

› Punta Leona, Central Pacific

› Arenas del Mar, Manuel Antonio

› Xandari Pacifico, Esterillos Este