| Costa Rica | Caribbean Zone | Central Zone | Central Pacific |
| Southern Pacific | Northern Zone | Things to Do | Surfing |
Southern Pacific Pensula de Osa, Golfo Dulce, Cocos Island: Down to the Peninsula de Osa you will find incredible beautiful beaches and virgin primary rainforests. Most of the peninsula is covered by the National Park of Corcovado. This remote area has wonderful eco-tourism opportunities. The South Pacific region of Costa Rica is one of the most important regions in Costa Rica, in terms of nature and bio-diversity.
The best time to travel here is from January to April when there is little rain. This Corcovado National Park is the home to more than 400 species of birds and more than a hundred species each of amphibians and mammals and spans more than 40,000 hectares of protected land. Several habitats can be found inside its borders including montane and mangrove. Three hundred miles out to the sea you can find one of the most valuable treasures of Costa Rica: The Cocos Island. This densely vegetated and full of wonderful sea life island, was declared in 1997 by the UNESCO as World Patrimony by its natural beauty and biological riches. The island is also famous by its unique diving experiences.
The South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is claimed by National Geographic as 'one of the most biologically diverse regions on earth'. It is an enchanting oasis filled with exotic wildlife, friendly and diverse people, and stunning natural landscapes. The region has the highest percentage of protected land devoted to national parks and private reserves, including Ballena Marine National Park , Ca'o Island Biological Reserve, Corcovado National Park , Piedras Blancas National Park , and Amistad International Park . Its varied topography, extending from high mountain plateaus to marine environments with beautiful unspoiled beaches and endless acres of lush rainforest and waterfalls, allows for the existence of just about every type of bird (over 450 species counted!), animal and insect known to the country.
Distances: San Jose to Corcovado 5 hours, San Jose to Dominical 4 hours, San Jose to Golfito 7 hours
What to do in this area? · Eco-tourism · Diving · Bird watching · Hiking · Adventure · Walking tours · Surfing
Best known for its long stretches of white sandy beaches, Guanacaste is Costa Rica 's sunbathed Pacific Coast resort. Anything is possible in this coastal paradise located just 4 hours by car from San Jos'. The Tamarindo Airstrip offers the convenience of taking a 45 minute flight from the city.
Guanacaste offers the traveler a myriad of vacation activities including sunbathing, swimming, playing tennis, deep-sea fishing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, golfing, and much more. Nature lovers vacationing between October and March will want to visit the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge and Las Baulas National Marine Park where Leatherback Turtles wade onto the beaches to lay their eggs.