Costa Rica → Destinations → Osa Peninsula

Osa Peninsula Costa Rica

The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica is a horse head shaped landmass that lies on the southern part of the country. This unexplored and almost inaccessible region contains wondrous treasures. The legend says that Sir Francis Drake buried a treasure on the coast of Bahia Drake (Drake Bay). Even though today many still wonder about the hidden treasure, the real fortunate ones are the few who have visited the Osa Peninsula and discovered its lush diversity. If what you seek is pristine rain forest teeming with monkeys, macaws, and other mysterious beasts, then the Peninsula de Osa is the place to go. The Costa Rica South Pacific and Osa Peninsula is the most recently developed tourist destination in Costa Rica. At one time the area was only visited by scientists who researched in corcovado national park but there is plenty of great lodging and hotels to stay at when you visit the area. Also, investing in this region can be a good venture, because real estate here is bound to boom in the near future.

The primitive nature of the road system on the peninsula has served as a bait to attract tourists. Tourists looking for secluded areas prefer the Osa Penninsula to a crowded beach in Guanacaste or the Central Pacific Region. When you travel on the Inter American Highway to Chacarita you will find a turn off that will take you to Puerto Jimenez on the east side of the peninsula. From Puerto Jimenez to Mata Palo the road is graveled. Where the gravel road ends the national park begins. The park covers about one third of the Osa Peninsula. Getting to the west coast of the peninsula is not easy. If you want to visit Bahia Drake the best traveling option is to take a charter flight. By car you can get here but do not expect the best road conditions. It is much better to drive all the way to Sierpe, leave the car here and navigate down the Sierpe River to Bahia Drake (Drake Bay).

The Peninsula de Osa, Costa Rica encompasses lush primary rain forests and a complex system of freshwater and marine resources. The peninsula is a geological formation which developed independently from the rest of Costa Rica. Several million years ago it joined the Costa Rican mainland. Its unique formation and naturally wet ecosystems have produced high levels of biodiversity. Some of the fauna that you will find here are jaguars, squirrel monkeys, and three species of sea turtles (Olive Ridley, Pacific Green, and the Leatherback). About the flora it is said that the Osa Peninsula is home of one fourth of Costa Rica's total tree species. The southwest Pacific region of Costa Rica is considered an undiscovered paradise due to lack of development. However, the Osa Peninsula lives with the threat of logging. The problem is that loggers have the intention to reforest but with a non native tree species. A study carried out between 1997 and 1999 shows that 164 forest regulation plans were approved which authorized the cutting of 14,000 trees standing in an area of 8,600 acres (3,480 hectares). Tree cutting has been regulated lately but the threat of deforestation still remains here. The Osa Peninsula region experienced the tourist boom in the early 1990's; its towns and villages are a reflection of the laid back life style in that area. I f you are interested in finding an Osa Peninsula lodge please contact one of our travel advisors for guidance in picking the best choice of accommodations according to your needs.