The Osa Peninsula in the south of Costa Rica’s Province of Puntarenas is one of the few areas left where you can enjoy a virgin rainforest. Most of the Osa Peninsula is formed by the National Park of Corcovado and in the northwest you find the beautiful Drake Bay. The biggest city on the Osa Peninsula is Puerto Jimenez, which has an airport that connects the Osa Peninsula with Alajuela’s Juan Santamaria International Airport and San Jose’s Tobias Bolanos Airport. The other way to reach the Osa Peninsula is a long drive from the Central Valley, crossing the pass of the Cerro Chirripo following the Interamericana Highway. There is also a ferry between Puerto Jimenez and Golfito on the mainland that crosses the Golfo Dulce on the east side of the Osa Peninsula. The history of the Osa Peninsula goes back to pre-Colombian times, when an indigenous tribe called the Brunca inhabited the area. With the arrival of the Spanish conquerors the tribe of the Brunca were led by a chief called Osa, the name they gave to the peninsula. Although the Osa Peninsula was discovered as early as in 1522, the first foreign non-indigenous settlement was founded in 1895 on the coast of Golfo Dulce. In the second decade of the 20th century Chinese, Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans started to cultivate rice and raise cattle in what now is Puerto Cortes, close to Palmar Sur. The unspoiled natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula has made it a favorite destination for the eco-tourist who wants to combine a comfortable stay in one of the many lodges, tranquil beaches with an overwhelming natural beauty. There are some luxurious lodges embedded in the lush landscape, but also for the budget traveler there are plenty of options. The crystal blue sea is perfect for swimming, diving, fishing and snorkeling. Just north of the Osa Peninsula in the town of Uvita you can find the National Ballena Marine Park, named after the Humpback whales that migrate to the warm waters of Costa Rico to mate and give birth, before returning to the cold Northern or Southern waters. In this area hunting and fishing are of course strictly prohibited, but there are boat tours to spot the whales, to dive or to visit the beautiful Island of Cano, just a few miles off coast, to enjoy its pristine beaches and the sea around it with an incredible rich underwater life.