The Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Hidden in a forest above Dominicalito Beach, this waterfall is considerably smaller than Nauyaca Waterfalls, but it has a lovely swimming hole at its base. The pool is often populated by local kids when school is out and by surfers late in the afternoon. Pay strict attention to the posted sign that warns not to leave anything of value in your parked car. Avoid holiday times and weekends, when there are often large crowds. The best time to visit is during rainy season between the months of June and December.
Ride the range on a 1,250-acre property combining forest and pasture ($55) or gallop along the beach at sunset on horseback ($60). Riding tours also include a guide and helmets, and kid-size saddles are available. All tours begin at the pleasant reception center, where you can freshen up in clean, modern restrooms. For $8 you can explore the 10 km (6 miles) of hiking trails on your own with a trail map that includes a wildlife picture guide.
The scenic road that winds through the high-altitude valleys from Empalme to San Pablo de León is appropriately called the Ruta de Los Santos---the towns it passes are named after saints. It's nicely paved to facilitate shipping the coffee produced in the region. On the 30-minute drive from Empalme to San Pablo de León Cortés, you travel through misty valleys ringed by precipitous mountain slopes terraced with lush, green coffee plants. The 24-km (15-mile) route also captures the essence of a fast-disappearing traditional tico way of life built around agriculture. Stately churches anchor bustling towns full of prosperous, neat houses with pretty gardens and a few vintage 1970s Toyota Land Cruiser trucks parked in the driveways.
It doesn’t get much better than waterfalls, butterflies, and waterslides all in one. There’s a short hike to reach the reward of several cascades that drop into freshwater swimming holes. As you jump—or slide—from the platform, monkeys often swing overhead from tree to tree, making this a surreal jungle experience. Secure pathways with metal railings guide the way. There are restrooms (with showers), a snack bar, and a butterfly garden with blue morphos fluttering about. Bring water shoes if you have them, as rocks can be slippery. To have the place to yourself, come early or arrive later in the day.
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