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Southern Pacific Region of Costa Rica
The area called Southern Pacific in Costa
Rica starts at Playa Dominical Beach going
south until Panama. There is a very good
high way called 'La Costanera' from here
all way down to Palmares and Golfito. This
is called the biologically richest area of
Costa Rica. Some areas are as difficult to
access as Tortuguero, specially in the green
season. Take a boat from Sierpe to the Drake
Bay.
From Bahía Drake it is not difficult to hike
to the Corcovado National Park along the
coast. It takes between 4 and 7 hours to
reach the San Pedrillo Ranger Station. From
this point hiking trails continue into the
Park. It's good to get a table about high
and low tides. The best time for the walk
is during low tide, since on some places
one can get cut off during high tide. If
you cannot follow along the beach there are
in-land trails around that obstacle.
The exciting part of the Corcovado National
Park is its long trails that all lead to
a ranger station. This National Park with
its enormous amount of different Flora and
Fauna harbors the largest population of the
beautiful Scarlet Macaw or Lapa Roja together
with Tapirs, 5 species of Cats, Crocodiles,
Peccaries, Giant Anteaters, Monkeys and Sloths.
There are over 400 species of birds, even
the almost extinct Harpy Eagle can be found
here. But please don't think that they are
lined up along the trails. Most of the animals
are very hard to see, and it is a good idea
to get a experienced Nature Guide.
The big selection of different activities
and immense Bio-Diversity in this area makes
a stay of at least 3 - 4 days recommendable,
specially if getting there is by ground transportation.
Activities range from canoeing, scuba diving
to snake nature hikes. My personal favorite
place between Palmares and Golfito the Esquinas
Rain Forest Lodge, it is located near the
Piedras Blancas National Park in a Nature
Reserve also called the Rain forest of the
Austrians, because Austrian Doctors collected
the money to buy this Private Rain Forest
Reserve.
A little further on that road only passable
with a 4 x 4 vehicle, you'll reach Golfito.
This port town once used by the point where
bananas left Costa Rica on ships, but today
the main atraction is a duty free zone at
the very north end of Golfito. It also is
a good point from where to start expeditions
to Puerto Jiménez, the Corcovado National
Park or take a small boat and go to the nearby
Playa Sancudo.
About 15 km south of Zancudo is the Bahía
de Pavón. It is famous for its Surf, Surfers
say it is the best in all Central America.
April to September is the time with the highest
waves. A big long left can give you a three
minute ride. But besides surfing, there is
not much to do in this area. The so called
Pavones comprises the two beaches Río Claro
and Pavones. If you keep on going further
south you soon will reach Panama.
See the Listings of the Southern
Pacific
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