Explore Costa Rica's Wild South

The coast and the mountains each move at their own pace. Start with the area that matches your trip:

• Dominical: a small beach town with forest reserves and waterfall trips close by.
• Uvita: the main base for Marino Ballena National Park and its whale-tail sandbar.
• Ojochal: a forest village south of Uvita, known for cooking with Canadian and European influences.
• Osa Peninsula and Puerto Jiménez: the town on the Golfo Dulce side of the peninsula, with boats to Corcovado.
• Drake Bay: a remote bay reached by boat from Sierpe, by small plane or by a rough road.
• Golfito and the Golfo Dulce: a former banana port on a sheltered tropical gulf.
• San Isidro and Chirripó: the inland hub and the way to the Chirripó trailhead at San Gerardo de Rivas.

Each guide covers who the area suits, how to get there, where to stay and what to do nearby.

Humpback whales visit this coast in two seasons, one from the north and one from the south. On land, the rainforest is home to monkeys, scarlet macaws and many other birds. Read about wildlife and birding in the south, including Costa Rica's rules for watching whales and dolphins from a boat.

Good wildlife days come from patience and a local guide. Animals can be seen on many walks and boat trips, but no tour can promise a sighting.

Pick from 7, 10 and 14-day road trip routes that link the coast, the peninsula and the mountains. Each route keeps driving days short, adds rest days after long transfers and suggests where to sleep.