TOURIST ACTIVITIES
Tourist activities possible in the south of the country vary by area, and may be related to culture, adventure or nature.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Horseback riding in the south offers myriad possibilities for visiting natural places, communities and cultural and heritage sites, including Rivas de Pérez Zeledón, Dominical, Palmar Sur, Rincón de Osa, Puerto Jiménez, Sierpe and San Vito, as well as several beaches, such as Dominical, Ballena, Tortuga, Drake, Platanares, Carate and others. In addition, the Puerto Jiménez–Playa Preciosa Preserve horseback ride takes place during Holy Week.
HIKING
Hiking is a major activity for enjoying the region’s natural and cultural attractions. Outstanding areas include Chirripó, Piedras Blancas, La Amistad and Corcovado National Parks, as well as an endless number of beaches and forested areas, both public and private.
RECREATIONAL CYCLING
The Southern Zone features a variety of roads for adventure and nature-watching. Touring is possible on regular or mountain bikes. Interesting trips include Palmar Sur–Sierpe, Rincón de Osa–La Palma, Dominical–Parque Marino Ballena, Golfito–Playa Cacao, San Vito–Agua Buena and Jiménez–Playa Carate, to name just a few.
CUISINE
Well-developed communities offer sodas (small restaurants serving local food), cafes, restaurants and, in San Isidro de El General, the market, where visitors can sample traditional Costa Rican fare as well as international cuisine.
SPELUNKING
In the outskirts of Ciudad Neily, the Fila de Cal caverns offer visitors the adventure of exploring their many chambers.
BIRD-, WILDLIFE- AND NATURE-WATCHING
Public protected areas such as Ballena, Térraba-Sierpe, Golfito and Corcovado, as well as the Wilson Botanical Garden, offer wonderful experiences amid the region’s natural diversity.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography stands out as a popular activity due to the varied cultural, archeological and scenic options available, as well as the wealth of flora and fauna, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, ranches and African palm and sugarcane plantations.
SPORT-FISHING
Sport-fishing is easy to enjoy here, thanks to the Gulf’s riches and the many places offering services, such as Puerto Jiménez, Golfito and Zancudo.
CHIRRIPÓ MOUNTAIN RACE
Unique in Central America, this competition takes place every year during the last week of February, in the village of San Gerardo de Rivas in Pérez Zeledón. More than 200 athletes participate, mostly nationals, though there are entrants from other parts of the world as well. The ascent is steep; athletes climb from 1,000 to 3,500 meters in the Valle de los Crestones in very short time. The route is 14 kilometers.
RURAL TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
Las Quebradas Lodge and Biological Station: Located in the town of Quebradas, eight kilometers from downtown San Isidro de El General. Activities: Four trails between 500 meters to two kilometers long allow bird-watching. Visitors can also enjoy butterfly gardens, organic farms and coffee plantations, as well as horseback riding.
Montaña Verde Environmental School: Located in the town of Rivas, eight kilometers from San Isidro de El General, on the highway to Chirripó National Park. Activities: Horseback rides, shopping for handicrafts and organic coffee, visits to agro-ecological farms.
Dúrika Lodge and Biological Preserve: Located 18 kilometers north of Buenos Aires de Puntarenas. Activities: Hiking on the preserve’s trails and through indigenous reservations, visits to Dúrika hill.
Tesoro Verde Eco-lodge: Located in the village of Agujitas, four kilometers from Playa Drake. Activities: Horseback tours in the mountains, guided hikes, visits to nearby waterfalls and pools, nature-watching.
Ernesto Pérez C. Lodge and Research and Training Center: Located in the town of Rincón, on the road to Puerto Jiménez. Activities: The 60-hectare preserve offers hiking and nature-watching on four kilometers of trails, fishing and boat trips to the Golfo Dulce mangrove swamps.
Rey Curré Handicraft Shop: Located in the town of Rey Curré, 10 kilometers from Buenos Aires on the southern Interamerican highway. Handicrafts made by women artisans include engraved gourds, natural-fabric bags, masks, balsa-wood ornaments and more.
Boruca La Flor Handicraft Shop: Located in the town of Boruca, nine kilometers west of the southern Interamerican highway. Handicrafts include tablecloths, centerpieces, hats, engraved gourds, natural-fabric bags, masks, balsa-wood sculptures and more.
Hotel Canto de Ballenas: Located in the community of Uvita, 750 meters from Playa Punta Uvita. Activities: Whale- and dolphin-watching, visits to Isla del Caño, mangrove swamp and estuary tours, bird-watching, hiking on trails in tropical forest, mangrove swamps and beaches, visits to butterfly gardens.
Longo Mai Lodge: Located in Buenos Aires de Puntarenas. Activities: Tours to neighboring communities, forests and waterfalls. Organized guided tours are available to Cabécar hill.
Tourist activities possible in the south of the country vary by area, and may be related to culture, adventure or nature.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Horseback riding in the south offers myriad possibilities for visiting natural places, communities and cultural and heritage sites, including Rivas de Pérez Zeledón, Dominical, Palmar Sur, Rincón de Osa, Puerto Jiménez, Sierpe and San Vito, as well as several beaches, such as Dominical, Ballena, Tortuga, Drake, Platanares, Carate and others. In addition, the Puerto Jiménez–Playa Preciosa Preserve horseback ride takes place during Holy Week.
HIKING
Hiking is a major activity for enjoying the region’s natural and cultural attractions. Outstanding areas include Chirripó, Piedras Blancas, La Amistad and Corcovado National Parks, as well as an endless number of beaches and forested areas, both public and private.
RECREATIONAL CYCLING
The Southern Zone features a variety of roads for adventure and nature-watching. Touring is possible on regular or mountain bikes. Interesting trips include Palmar Sur–Sierpe, Rincón de Osa–La Palma, Dominical–Parque Marino Ballena, Golfito–Playa Cacao, San Vito–Agua Buena and Jiménez–Playa Carate, to name just a few.
CUISINE
Well-developed communities offer sodas (small restaurants serving local food), cafes, restaurants and, in San Isidro de El General, the market, where visitors can sample traditional Costa Rican fare as well as international cuisine.
SPELUNKING
In the outskirts of Ciudad Neily, the Fila de Cal caverns offer visitors the adventure of exploring their many chambers.
BIRD-, WILDLIFE- AND NATURE-WATCHING
Public protected areas such as Ballena, Térraba-Sierpe, Golfito and Corcovado, as well as the Wilson Botanical Garden, offer wonderful experiences amid the region’s natural diversity.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography stands out as a popular activity due to the varied cultural, archeological and scenic options available, as well as the wealth of flora and fauna, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, ranches and African palm and sugarcane plantations.
SPORT-FISHING
Sport-fishing is easy to enjoy here, thanks to the Gulf’s riches and the many places offering services, such as Puerto Jiménez, Golfito and Zancudo.
CHIRRIPÓ MOUNTAIN RACE
Unique in Central America, this competition takes place every year during the last week of February, in the village of San Gerardo de Rivas in Pérez Zeledón. More than 200 athletes participate, mostly nationals, though there are entrants from other parts of the world as well. The ascent is steep; athletes climb from 1,000 to 3,500 meters in the Valle de los Crestones in very short time. The route is 14 kilometers.
RURAL TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
Las Quebradas Lodge and Biological Station: Located in the town of Quebradas, eight kilometers from downtown San Isidro de El General. Activities: Four trails between 500 meters to two kilometers long allow bird-watching. Visitors can also enjoy butterfly gardens, organic farms and coffee plantations, as well as horseback riding.
Montaña Verde Environmental School: Located in the town of Rivas, eight kilometers from San Isidro de El General, on the highway to Chirripó National Park. Activities: Horseback rides, shopping for handicrafts and organic coffee, visits to agro-ecological farms.
Dúrika Lodge and Biological Preserve: Located 18 kilometers north of Buenos Aires de Puntarenas. Activities: Hiking on the preserve’s trails and through indigenous reservations, visits to Dúrika hill.
Tesoro Verde Eco-lodge: Located in the village of Agujitas, four kilometers from Playa Drake. Activities: Horseback tours in the mountains, guided hikes, visits to nearby waterfalls and pools, nature-watching.
Ernesto Pérez C. Lodge and Research and Training Center: Located in the town of Rincón, on the road to Puerto Jiménez. Activities: The 60-hectare preserve offers hiking and nature-watching on four kilometers of trails, fishing and boat trips to the Golfo Dulce mangrove swamps.
Rey Curré Handicraft Shop: Located in the town of Rey Curré, 10 kilometers from Buenos Aires on the southern Interamerican highway. Handicrafts made by women artisans include engraved gourds, natural-fabric bags, masks, balsa-wood ornaments and more.
Boruca La Flor Handicraft Shop: Located in the town of Boruca, nine kilometers west of the southern Interamerican highway. Handicrafts include tablecloths, centerpieces, hats, engraved gourds, natural-fabric bags, masks, balsa-wood sculptures and more.
Hotel Canto de Ballenas: Located in the community of Uvita, 750 meters from Playa Punta Uvita. Activities: Whale- and dolphin-watching, visits to Isla del Caño, mangrove swamp and estuary tours, bird-watching, hiking on trails in tropical forest, mangrove swamps and beaches, visits to butterfly gardens.
Longo Mai Lodge: Located in Buenos Aires de Puntarenas. Activities: Tours to neighboring communities, forests and waterfalls. Organized guided tours are available to Cabécar hill.
