Natural wonders and a unique history.
The Southern Pacific region contains both natural wonders and a unique history. Here you will find large expanses of tropical rainforest that serve as habitat for animal and plant species unique in the world, coastal waters abundant with marine life and the highest mountain peak in the country. In addition, the region retains an indigenous legacy including the mysteries of interesting giant stone spheres, as well as a living culture that still preserves its traditions.
Its distance from the Central Valley has made this region one of the last frontiers in the colonization of the country, a fact that has allowed for the conservation of vast areas of forest, including Corcovado National Park, the last remaining area of tropical wet forest on the Pacific coast of Mesoamerica, and Amistad International Park (Costa Rica-Panama), which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The region also contains the wetlands of Sierpe Térraba, a wonder of natural beauty and the largest expanse of wetlands in the country, as well as unique ecosystems such as the glacial lakes of Chirripó National Park, which at 3,821 meters in altitude contains the highest peak in the country, as well as the Golfo Dulce, which scientists consider a true tropical fjord whose richness of plant and animal species is unique in the world.
Covering a large part of the Southern Pacific, the Osa Peninsula represents an area of highly regarded natural beauty that, together with the Talamanca Mountains, represents one of the first land masses to give form to Central America. Both constitute the two most biologically diverse sites in the country. Because the peninsula was once an island, wildlife species exist here that are unique to the region, and share characteristics from both North and South America.
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The region’s tropical forests have trees reaching 70 meters in height, of valuable wood, as well as the largest population of endangered feline species and red macaws in the country. In the highlands of the Talamanca Mountain Range, the neo-tropical alpine ecosystem is found in its full expression of shrub brush landscape in playful formations.
Osa and Talamanca are also home to the primary indigenous groups in the country, with influence from both Mesoamerica and South America. Traces of the area’s indigenous past can be found in the giant stone spheres that are unique to region. Some of the most famous stones can be found on Caño Island, across from Drake Bay, one of the best places for diving in the country, where the same clear waters that reach Corcovado National Park see the migration of animal species such as the humpback whale, spotted and bottle-necked dolphins, and green, leatherback, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles.
The countless beaches of the Southern Pacific coast are surrounded by fantastic natural beauty, while its sands are some of the most diverse. While some beaches in the region are widely prized for their surf, including Dominical Beach near Ballena Marine National Park and Pavones Beach near Golfito, home to a world-famous long left wave, others feature secluded areas ideal for hours of strolling or alone time with nature.
Rivers and waterfalls complement the natural beauty and attractiveness of the region.
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