Tag Archives: costa rica

Adventures in Osa Peninsula

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In our last blog we told you about our Road Trip to Rio Celeste, but what we didn’t tell you is that we kept heading south after that and made it all the way to Osa Peninsula. It was absolutely breathtaking, to say the least. Full of natural beauty, green, wild, rugged, and very inline with the images that come to mind when you think of Costa Rica. This area is fascinating as there is so much going on in terms of conservation, community and also responsible and sustainable tourism.

Bridge to Rancho Quemado

Sustainable Tourism in Osa    Cable Tree Rancho Quemado

What most people know about Osa Peninsula is associated with the large national park there; Corcovado National Park. But there is much more going on in the entire peninsula. We took a long rocky road to Drake Bay and passed through an area which we later learned was becoming part of a new rural tourism initiative. We were so lucky to meet Jessica Roldan who’s working to help the local community benefit from rural tourism. She explained to us one of the new projects called Rancho Quemado, where visitors can experience a traditional and local way of life, with everything from more nature trails to sampling homemade cuisine, and making handmade sweets using a traditional sugar mill. Projects like these benefit the community, help preserve cultural traditions, and contribute to  environmental conservation.  (See our Let’s Get Local tour for a similar concept in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula).

While we didn’t have time to explore this area more, we found that people in Osa and particularly in Drake Bay were especially helpful, proud of the environment they want to conserve, and willing to offer lots of unique tips for seeing the best of area.

 

Tips for Visitors

Osa Peninsula1. Getting there: Getting to Osa can be challenging and few tourists make it here. It is possible to get there by car, but the road conditions definitely call for a 4×4 vehicle, and your rental car will probably hate you for subjecting it to this drive. There are buses that go all the way to Puerto Jimenez. From there you can book a tour either to Corcovado or reach the town of Drake Bay by boat. There is also a small airport in Drake Bay which Nature Air flies to from San Jose. Keep in mind rainy season (September-October) will make road travel to this area virtually impossible.

2. Tours: Give yourself at least 3 or 4 days in the area, and book your tour to Corcovado in advance! We found out the hard way that you cannot go to Corcovado without a booking a guided tour, so make sure you plan to spend around $75 for a day tour depending on where you start from.

3. IMG_4982Where to Stay: We didn’t stay overnight in this area, but from many recommendations, Lapa Rios Eco Lodge  is an excellent option. They are truly committed to ecotourism and offer many social and environmental programs. There are also very affordable and modest cabins in the area like Rancho Verde Bed and Breakfast. You can also stay in Drake Bay (pictured left) where there are plenty of accommodations. (If you need some more options or recommendations, comment or email us. We made some great friends and connections in the area!)

4. Bird Watching: If you’re coming to Costa Rica to do some birdwatching, this is definitely an amazing spot to do so. You’ll see plenty of the desirous toucans, macaws and sooooo much more.

5. Conservation: Because the area holds so much natural beauty… let’s do our best to keep it that way. Book tours with responsible guides and companies, and be sure to work in a tour that relates to rural tourism to support the local communities as well.

Road Trip to Rio Celeste, Costa Rica

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We recently took JC’s Journeys on the road for a few days to explore some other areas and share what we found with our followers. One of our planned stops: Rio Celeste. This was an enticing place to start our journey as all we really knew about it before arriving was that the turquoise colored water flowing through this river was a sight not to be missed. Here are 3 points we’d like to share for your visit to Rio Celeste.

Where to StartRoad to Rio Celeste

There are a few ways to get to Tenorio Volcano National Park. Rio Celeste is in this park which is fairly easy to navigate. We started out from Florencia in San Carlos and headed northwest. A popular route for most tourists would likely be starting out from La Fortuna, the town near Arenal Volcano. Taking Route 4 leads you to an entrance after about an hour and a half, which becomes a dirt road for several (around 20) kilometers. You’ll pass pineapple plantations and lots of other fields of fruit along the way. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended as this part of the road was pretty bumpy and a little steep and rocky in a couple parts. Continue along this road and you’ll reach the entrance where there’s parking, a restaurant and souvenir shop.

What to Take

Rio Celeste is located in a rainforest, so… take rain gear! We arrived when the park opened early in the morning and there were downpours just hours before. Needless to say, the trail was a little muddy. But nothing a good pair of closed tennis shoes or hiking shoes can’t handle. Rubber boots are offered for rent at the entrance, but small children’s sizes were not available, and boots actually seemed to make the hike more challenging anyway. A rain jacket or quick drying clothes are a good idea, as well as an extra pair of shoes or flip flops for when your shoes are muddy and wet.  Also take a hat, mosquito repellent as always, and lots of water, even though it’s wet it can get very humid, so be sure to hydrate! Always a good idea to pack a snack or lunch also, even though there are places at the entrance to eat, as well as small sodas (restaurants) on the road leading to the entrance.

Steps to WaterfallHikes and Guides

At the entrance you’ll probably be offered a guide for about $30. If you’re not an experienced hiker, never been to Costa Rica, or just would like some extra guidance and learn about nature and the area, this is a great idea. However, if your main goal is to see the cool blue river, you can probably do OK on your own. If you have small children or elderly members in your group, there’s a beautiful waterfall maybe just 1 km from the entrance and down a great deal of stairs. This is a great option as there’s not too much ‘hiking’ involved, and the waterfall is still a beautiful sight (however it is a steep climb back UP the stairs). To see the point where two rivers merge to create the chemical reaction that turns the water the deep blue hue, you’ll have to hike a bit longer. From the waterfall, it’s about another 45 minute hike, moderate incline, through some pretty deep muddy spots. Don’t be afraid to just tread through the mud, it’ll make your hike a lot faster, and you can hose off your shoes at the entrance. Do be careful along the edges, as some spots can drop off pretty steeply and there are no ropes or railing.

Here’s a peek at our experience. We hope you’ll make it there on your next trip to Costa Rica. If you need any other advice, feel free to post in the comments below and we’ll share our knowledge. 🙂