Isla del Cano is an island located 15 kilometres offshore from Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula in the south of Costa Rica’s Province of Puntarenas. The gateways to Isla del Cano are Coronado, Drake Bay and Corcovado. The main access to the Osa Peninsula is Puerto Jimenez, which has a ferry connection with Golfito close to the Interamericana Highway, connecting the south of Costa Rica with the Central Valley and the rest of the central and north Pacific Coast. Isla del Cano measures around 300 hectares and its history goes back to pre-Colombian times. Archaeological finds prove that the Isla del Cano has been inhabited thousands of years ago, because the famous stone spheres and burial grounds have been discovered. The other attraction of Isla del Cano are the opportunities for bird watching, since the island is used as a stop-over for lots of migratory birds on and from their way of warmer climates. The Isla del Cano is covered by an evergreen rain forest, which includes rubber and cacao trees. Geologists date the date of birth of Isla del Cano back 50 million years ago when the tectonic plates collided and formed the island. The most spectacular aspect of Isla del Cano is the underwater world though. Offering excellent opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling. The blue sea water not only offers clear visibility, but also one of the richest environments to observe the fascinating marine life of humpback whales, dolphins, manta rays, sharks, sea turtles such as the Olive Ridley, barracudas, moray eels and other colourful fish. Isla the Cano is a national reserve, so the number of people who have access is regulated, so make sure you book in time. There is a ranger station on the island and strict laws are applied, although there are some designated camping sites who receive visitors from Dake Bay and Dominical. One of the curious aspects of Isla del Cano is that the insect life is no more than one percent of that of the mainland, so you can leave your Off behind. The plant life suggest that the Isla del Cano has been used by the Indigenous people as some kind of plantation, because of the absence of herbivores.