QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
As a beautiful port with a rainforest backdrop, Quepos is a harbor village famous for big-game sport fishing and as the gateway to Manuel Antonio Park. Restaurants, bars, hotels, galleries and gift shops surround the waterfront where the main beach and charter fishing fleet await and the offshore waters are teeming with aquatic life. Its Marina Pez Vela opened in 2014, has about 200 wet slips that accommodate boats up to 200 feet and hosts fishing tournaments every year. Nearby beaches include Playa Espadilla and Playa Biesanz. Northwest of town, Damas Island mangrove estuary is home to wildlife, reptiles and iguanas. Manuel Antonio Park is an ecotourist’s playground. Its protected rainforest, mangroves, lagoons and beaches offer shelter to 350 species of birds, 110 species of mammals and a variety of monkeys. Hiking trails lead to striking views of the coastline, stellar vistas and offshore islands. Scientists and naturalists come here to study the diverse flora and fauna. Where to Dock: Marina Pez Vela With Drake Bay to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and Golfo Dulce on the east side, Osa Peninsula is a premier rainforest destination. The peninsula, regarded as one of the most biologically intense spots in the world, is home to breathtaking scenery, pristine beaches, exceptional scuba diving and plentiful wildlife. With a population of about 3,000, Puerto Jiménez is the main town that was once fueled by gold mining and logging, but now revolves around the ecotourism industry. Nature explorers flock to Corcovado OSA PENINSULA & GOLFO DULCE
Tabacón Hot Springs
JACO BEACH About two hours west of San José lies Jaco Beach, which is known for high-energy water sports and a vibrant nightlife. Surfing, snorkeling, kayaking and deep-sea fishing are popular activities, along with catamaran tours of the gorgeous coastline. Fans of pumped-up adrenaline pastimes take part in waterfall rappelling, ATV tours, rafting and zip lining above the jungle canopy. It’s a springboard for day trips to Carara National Park, known for diverse habitats that shelter creatures from scarlet macaws and crocodiles to poison-arrow frogs and two-toed sloths. Bijagual Waterfall, a 600-foot cascade plunges over the stony side of a mountain, and Mount Miros, is at the end of a 1.7-mile hiking trail that unveils spectacular views of Jaco. Where to Dock: Los Sueños Resort & Marina
people on it, too. It’s one of the world’s five “Blue Zones,” where residents live measurably longer and healthier lives, thanks in part to a laid-back vibe and nutritious local diet. The sunny climate and variety of ecosystems create a sanctuary for monkeys, sloths, sea turtles, parrots, dolphins, manta rays, and other creatures. The rugged terrain is famous for spectacular landscapes and seaside views. Best beaches include Montezuma, Malpaís, Carmen, Hermosa, Santa Teresa and Sámara, with a pink-sand bay that attracts tropical fish and waterfowl. The coral reef offshore is a diver’s heaven, and warm waters entice visitors to kayak, surf and go fishing. Around full moons in the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, olive ridley sea turtles come to shore by the thousands to nest. About 38 miles outside Sámara in Barra Honda National Park, Terciopelo Cave is open for public tours of its limestone stalactites and stalagmites.
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WINTER 2022
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