Remote rainforest, boats and the open Pacific

TheWildSouth

Regions

Central Pacific, Osa

Suggested length

Around 9 to 12 nights

Pace

Unhurried, with long days outdoors

Plan this journey

TheShapeOfTheWildSouth

Ideal for keen naturalists
Ideal for return visitors
Ideal for photographers
Ideal for adventurous couples

The south Pacific is where Costa Rica feels most untamed. This journey travels down the coast to the Osa Peninsula, where lodges are reached by boat and the forest is some of the richest in the Americas.

It suits travellers who are comfortable with heat, humidity and a little adventure in getting from place to place, and who want wildlife to be the centre of the trip.

An illustrative route, not a bookable package. Stays, timings and transport are chosen with you and confirmed only in your own proposal.

Uvita:Thewhalecoast
About Central Pacific
Suggested: 2 to 3 nights. A stretch of coast where forest meets long beaches, and where humpback whales arrive at different times of year. Time on the water, and time doing very little.
DrakeBay:IntoCorcovado
About Osa
Suggested: 3 to 4 nights. Arrive by boat on the northern edge of the Osa. Guided days in Corcovado, snorkelling around Caño Island, and evenings listening to the forest.
GolfoDulce:Thequietgulf
Suggested: 3 nights. Finish on the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce, where the rainforest runs to the shoreline and dolphins are a common sight.

A humpback whale's tail lifting from the ocean

MakeItYourOwn

Adapt this journey

GoodToKnow

The Osa is a place for lodges rather than hotels: often simple in their luxury, open to the forest, and run with care for the environment around them.

Typical stays: Remote eco-lodges · Small beach lodges · Forest cabins on the gulf

Experiences along the way: Guided days in Corcovado National Park · Whale-watching in season · Snorkelling around Caño Island · Kayaking on the Golfo Dulce · Night walks in lowland forest. Nothing is included by default; we choose with you.
Getting around: Some transfers are by boat and involve wet landings on the beach; we'll advise on luggage.
Before you go: Corcovado can only be visited with authorised guides.
Timing: From roughly September to November, heavy rain affects access, and some lodges close for part of that time.

Start planning this journey

TheRegionsOnThisRoute

All regions

RegionCentral Pacific coast
Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific
Coastal rainforestBeaches and headlandsMangrove estuaries
Forest that runs straight down to the sand.
View
RegionSouth Pacific
The Osa Peninsula
Primary lowland rainforestWild Pacific beachesThe sheltered Golfo Dulce
Remote, raw and astonishingly alive.
View

MoreJourneys

All journeys

JourneyBalanced
Rainforest to the Pacific
Around 10 to 12 nightsArenalMonteverdeCentral Pacific
Volcano and hot springs, a few cool days in the cloud forest, then down to the coast where the forest meets the sea.
View
JourneyActive, with room to rest
Volcanoes and Cloud Forest
Around 9 to 11 nightsGuanacasteArenalMonteverde
The volcanic north, from bubbling mud on Rincón de la Vieja to the pale blue Río Celeste, Arenal's cone and the cloud forest of Monteverde.
View
JourneySlow
Slow Days on Nicoya
Around 9 to 10 nightsGuanacasteNicoya
A short stay in Guanacaste's dry forest, then two unhurried bases on the Nicoya Peninsula, each with its own character.
View
JourneyFull, with early mornings
A Naturalist's Costa Rica
Around 12 to 14 nightsCaribbeanMonteverdeOsa
Canals and turtle beaches on the Caribbean, the cloud forest, then the deep rainforest of the Osa. Built for people who travel with binoculars.
View