The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica is a horse head shaped landmass that lies on the southern part of the country. This unexplored and almost inaccessible region contains wondrous treasures. The legend says that Sir Francis Drake buried a treasure on the coast of Bahia Drake (Drake Bay). Even though today many still wonder about the hidden treasure, the real fortunate ones are the few who have visited the Osa Peninsula and discovered its lush diversity. If what you seek is pristine rain forest teeming with monkeys, macaws, and other mysterious beasts, then the Peninsula de Osa is the place to go. The Costa Rica South Pacific and Osa Peninsula is the most recently developed tourist destination in Costa Rica. At one time the area was only visited by scientists who researched in Corcovado National Park, but there is plenty of great lodging and hotels to stay at when you visit the area. Also, investing in this region can be a good venture, because real estate here is bound to boom in the near future.

The primitive nature of the road system on the peninsula has served as a bait to attract tourists. Tourists looking for secluded areas prefer the Osa Penninsula to a crowded beach in Guanacaste or the Central Pacific Region. When you travel on the Inter American Highway to Chacarita you will find a turn off that will take you to Puerto Jimenez on the east side of the peninsula. From Puerto Jimenez to Mata Palo the road is graveled. The road ends here as Corcovado National Park starts. Corcovado National Park covers about one third of the Osa Peninsula. Getting to the west coast of the peninsula is not easy. If you want to visit Bahia Drake the best traveling option is to take a charter flight. By car you can get here but do not expect the best road conditions. It is much better to drive all the way to Sierpe, leave the car here and navigate down the Sierpe River to Bahia Drake (Drake Bay).

The pristine rainforests and the rugged natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula make this region among the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica. Declared ‘one of the most biologically intense places on earth’ by the National Geographic Magazine, the Osa Peninsula along with Drake Bay have today, become the premier eco-tourism destination in the county.

With numerous luxury lodges, in the Osa Peninsula & Drake Bay, that cater to your every whim, accommodations in this region offer tourists everything from the knowledgeable guides for hiking the rainforest, to whale and dolphin watching tours, to simply lying on the beach and relaxing in the sun. There are also a number of lovely affordable lodges here that cater to those travelers who are on a strict budget. And with plenty of both pricey and affordable adventure tours to choose from, this area lets you experience a completely different lifestyle from the rest of the country.

The southern most peninsula in Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula is a secluded nature wonderland, playing home to many of the country’s rare and endangered animal and bird species including the puma, jaguar, Harpy Eagle and Scarlet Macaw. With a large chunk of the peninsula forming the Corcovado National Park, this area has the single largest expanse of a lowland tropical rainforest in Central America and is one of the tallest rainforests in the world. If you do wish to explore this park, using a tour guide is your best bet as the Corcovado is also the home of Costa Rica’s most deadly snake, the extremely aggressive Fer-de-lance. A guide will not only keep you from getting lost, but can also educate you on this incredible habitat.

The best way to visit the Parque Nacional Corcovado is through the town of Puerto Jimenez. An excellent place to start hiking as an extensive network of trails begin from here, there is a ranger station in town with detailed information for trekking and camping in the park.

Most people who tour the Osa Peninsula prefer to stay at Drake Bay. First discovered by Sir Francis Drake during his circumnavigation of the globe, this town has a lot to offer. From here one can take a day trip to snorkel off the coast of the gorgeous Isla del Caño or one can go sportfishing or sea kayaking. For the more adventurous, there is a night tour about the fascinating bugs and other creepy crawlies in the area.