SouthernCostaRica.comOjochal is a village in the forest south of Uvita, in the Puerto Cortés district of Osa canton. It sits just off Route 34, the Costanera Sur highway. ICT's Osa guide notes that Ojochal's restaurants show strong Canadian and European influences. It suits food lovers, couples and travelers who want a quiet forest base between the beaches and the Osa Peninsula.
Who it suits
- Food lovers: ICT highlights the village's restaurants and their mix of influences.
- Couples and slow travelers: the stays listed here sit in the forest, with time to rest between day trips.
- Road-trippers heading south: Ojochal sits on the way from Uvita to Palmar, where the roads to Sierpe and the Osa begin.
Beaches nearby
Three beaches lie within about 5 km of the village in a straight line, measured on OpenStreetMap.
- Playa Ventanas: a small beach with a rocky point. The sea flows through openings in the rock, which gives the beach its name.
- Playa Tortuga: a gray-sand beach with few rocks and strong waves. A river at one end is used by local fishers.
- Playa Piñuelas: part of Marino Ballena National Park, in the park's Piñuelas sector. SINAC has listed this sector as temporarily closed at times.
Waves along this stretch can be strong, so check current conditions with your stay before you swim.
History nearby
South of Ojochal, Route 223 toward Sierpe passes Palmar Sur, home of the Finca 6 museum site. Finca 6 is one of four sites in the Diquís Delta that UNESCO listed as World Heritage in 2014 for their pre-Columbian settlements and stone spheres. It is the only one of the four where spheres remain in their original lines.
Waterfalls and day trips
Ojochal is close enough to Uvita for whale tours, the sandbar and waterfall trips.
- Waterfalls and a sunset viewpoint: a guided trip to two or three waterfalls near Uvita and a sunset lookout, with pickup in Ojochal, Uvita or Dominical. View on Viator Partner link
For park visits and whale boats, read about Uvita and Marino Ballena. For a beach town with forest trails, Dominical is farther north on Route 34.
A day around Ojochal
Start with a morning at Playa Ventanas or Playa Tortuga, then spend the afternoon on a waterfall trip near Uvita. In whale season, from December to April and from July to November, a morning boat from Uvita fits in easily. ICT's Osa guide also suggests boat trips through the Térraba-Sierpe wetland near Sierpe, a Ramsar site with a large mangrove forest, which you can pair with a stop at Finca 6. In the evening, try one of the village's restaurants.
Where to stay
Stays around Ojochal include tree villas, a wellness resort and small guesthouses in the forest. Ask about the access road if you're driving a small car. Compare places to stay around Ojochal.
Getting there
Ojochal is about 17 km south of Uvita, about 20 minutes by car, by our OpenStreetMap routing estimate (October 2026). Sierpe, the boat gateway to Drake Bay, is about 46 km farther on. For airport transfers, read Getting around the south before you book. See where Ojochal fits on a road trip.