A beach near Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula

Jutting out into the Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica´s extreme southwest, the remote and pristine Osa Peninsula offers the country´s most magical experience for rainforest lovers.

Once described by National Geographic as ¨the most biologically intense place on earth¨, the peninsula remains partially cut off from the mainland and relatively untouched by tourism. Still, luxury rainforest lodges are springing up fast around here, and all indications are, this could be Costa Rica´s new boom area.

Nearly 400 species of birds and 100 species of mammals call Osa home, including tapirs, jaguars, pumas and spider monkeys. Humpback whales and dolphins can also be spotted frolicking offshore. 

The jewel in the Osa Peninsula is the wildlife-rich Corcovado National Park. Ringed by deserted beaches, mangroves and waterfalls, its interior is tropical humid forest that has been described by scientists as biologically comparable to the Amazon basin. Numerous hiking trails carve through the park, and for the truly intrepid, there is a 25km, two-day jungle trek which involves rough camping and crossing a shark-infested river. Corcovado offers abundant opportunities for spotting tapir, ocelot, agouti, coati and margay. Packs of peccaries - wild pigs - also patrol the forest and have been known to be extremely aggressive towards humans. 

Puerto Jimenez is the main town on the peninsula and the best base for travellers without a 4WD vehicle. It can be reached by 10-hour bus ride from San Jose or regular domestic flight services with either Sansa or Nature Air. Osa is also accessible by small boat from the towns of Golfito and Bahia Drake.