Things to do
ADVENTURE
As one of Costa Rica’s wettest regions, the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve boasts some of the oldest and tallest trees reaching up to 40 metres. Begin your adventure exploring the tranquil mangroves by kayak with a local guide. When you’re not gently paddling along, have your camera ready to capture the hundreds of different species such as scarlet macaws, reptiles, capuchins, and spider, squirrel and howler monkeys in their jungle home. Back in the gulf, surfers get to experience world-class breaks. And day-long scuba diving trips from Banana Bay Marina let you explore historic shipwrecks encrusted with coral and reefs teeming with marine life.
HISTORY
Looking at the pristine Golfo Dulce today, it’s hard to believe that the Osa Peninsula was once a lawless frontier triggered by the 1937 gold rush. Devastating land-clearing in the 1940s and 1950s finally forced Costa Rica to establish the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve in 1975. This vital biological sanctuary is now Central America's largest Marina Area of Responsible Fishing which prohibits harmful shrimp trawling. It’s also a global Whale Heritage Site where northern and southern hemisphere humpback whales migrate to breed.
FOOD & DRINK
Pop into eco-lodges and family-run restaurants (sodas) for traditional Costa Rican ‘Tico’ comfort food. These vibrant dishes treat you to farm-to-table ingredients, tropical fruits and dishes like the sparkling-fresh gulf ceviche. This chilled chopped raw sea bass or octopus is cured in fresh lime juice with sweet peppers, red onion and coriander. Crispy patacones – twice-fried slices of green plantain – make the perfect side. Enjoy with a glass of batidos, a refreshing smoothie. You should also try the lip-puckering cas made from the native sour guava.
