Travel Blog Costa Rica

In the Gulf of Nicoya you find most of Coat Rica’s islands. These islands are found in front of the coast from San Pablo, Naranjo and Paquera and form a collection of undiscovered attractions. Since the Gulf of Nicoya is relatively quiet, it’s possible to go and discover these treasures by kayak. Where the Rio Tempisque enters the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica’s second biggest island (after Isla de Coco) Chira Island can be found with more than 3,000 inhabitants. The main economic activity is fishing, followed by farming and a more unexpected one; the salt winning out of sea water. Chira Island is almost divided in half by a wide creek forming extended mangrove swamps. There is a daily connection with the city of Puntarenas on the mainland to deliver the fresh fish and seafood to the market and of course there are ways to charter a boat from the Nicoya Peninsula. For tourists there are hardly accommodations, so a visit to Chira Island will be limited to a day-trip. Venado Island offers more possibilities for tourists. The island has around 1,000 inhabitants who live from fishing. There are some accommodations and inviting trails to the rainforest and mangroves that cover most of the island. Caballo Island has beautiful beaches and a population of 200 souls. The dry rainforest covers the island. Right next to it you can find the small Bejuco Island, where nobody but a caretaker lives. San Lucas Island has a more notorious reputation, since it used to be a prison colony for more than 115 years. There is nothing left than ruins of the former toughest prison of Costa Rica, that was in service until the 1990’s. Gitana Island lies in front of Baha Gigante on the Nicoya Peninsula protecting it from the rough sea, making the bay a favourite boating destination. Next to it you find Isla Muertos an ancient indigenous burial ground. By far the most popular island in the Gulf of Nicoya is Tortuga (turtle) Island with over one hundred tourists visiting daily. There are two small, unpopulated islands that are surrounded by crystal clear water, ideal for snorkeling and diving. The tropical beaches are breathtaking. There is a canopy tour and a trail through the forest. Tortuga Island can be accessed through Puntarenas. Even a day tour from San Jose in the Central Valley can be organized to visit this gem in the Gulf of Nicoya.

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.

In the capital of Costa Rica’s Province of Guanacaste Liberia, the Daniel Oduber International Airport is the fastest growing airport of the nation. Not quite as big yet as Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela, but much bigger than the domestic Tobias Bolanos Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica’s third airport. The Liberia Airport is mainly receiving flights from the USA with tourists who prefer to skip the long travel from the Central Valley to the North-Pacific beaches. The distance between Liberia and San Jose is approximately 215 kilometres, a four to five hour long drive. From Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia it is only a short drive to popular beaches such as Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Hermosa and Playa Flamingo. Also the National Marine Park of Las Baulas is easy accessible from Liberia. Liberia’s airport is named after the former Costa Rican president Daniel Oduber, who initiated the construction of the airport in the mid seventies to give an impulse to the development of the Guanacaste region. After a renovation in 1995 Liberia’s airport was reopened and thanks to a growing attraction of Costa Rica as a relatively nearby destination for tourists who enjoy nature in all its pure beauty invites large numbers of passengers. The latest statistics show that more than 90% of the tourists who find their way to the airport in Liberia are flying in from the USA and that most of them spend their Costa Rican vacation in Guanacaste. The real estate business for foreigners is booming in Costa Rica and especially in Guanacaste where may expats and pensioners have purchased a home. From Daniel Oduber Liberia International Airport short domestic flights can take you directly to the beach towns of Samara and Tamarindo. But those destinations are also very easy to reach from Tobias Bolanos Airport, which offers flights to almost 20 destinations all over Costa Rica. If you have arranged a rental car to be picked up in Liberia, the airport has a quick connection with the highway that leads you directly to Playas del Coco, Papagayo and the town of Nosara.