Pristine rainforests and rugged natural beauty makes the region one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica. Declared by the National Geographic Magazine as “one of the most biologically intense places on earth”, it isn’t surprising that the Osa has become the premier eco-tourism destination in the country. Named the ‘Last Frontier’ jutting out in to the Pacific Ocean in the southwest corner of Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula is largely untouched by man and is one of the worlds last remaining havens for a variety of endangered wildlife, from Jaguars to Dolphins.

The Osa itself holds 6% of the worlds biodiversity, in an area smaller than central London. The park is home to 52 species of nocturnal bats, feeding on some 6,000 species of insect. Large predator cats, such as jaguar (below) and Puma live alongside Tapir and Anteaters on the forest floor, while howler monkeys sound above in the trees. Another famous inhabitant of this area is the Scarlet Macaw, which you are almost certain to see upon visit to this wonderful area. Tourists staying in the Osa will find themselves closer to nature than they thought possible, a perfect place to come and relax, unwind and forget about home. The park has an area of 41,788 hectares of secluded nature wonderland playing home to many of the country’s rare and endangered species. In the park you can find 13 major ecosystems, including beach and cloud forest.

The Osa Peninsula is where jungle meets the sea: lowland tropical rainforest lines pristine, white sandy beaches and mangroves. There are a variety of activities and tours in the Osa which are exclusive to the area. The Osa is also one of the best sport fishing spots for large Marlin and Sailfish.

A large chunk of the Osa is The Corcovado National Park with the single largest expanse of a lowland tropical rainforest in Central America and one of the tallest rainforests in the world. If wanting to explore, use a tour guide as it is home to Costa Rica’s most deadly snake, the aggressive Fer-de-lance. The one main problem in the area is that the national park only covers 1/3 of the Osa Peninsula, meaning that there is no protection against the ongoing exploitation of the other 2/3rds.

Situated near the border with Panama, the Osa is just a 90 minute flight from San Jose, with a variety of ecological inns and retreats to choose from on arrival. The best way to visit the park is through Puerto Jimenez as it is a brilliant place to start hiking on the extensive network of paths. Drake Bay is another popular destination, first discovered by Sir Francis Drake during his world exploration; this town has a lot to offer. From here you can take a day trip to snorkel to the amazing Isla del Caño or you can go sport fishing or sea kayaking. For the more adventurous there is a night tour for all the fascinating bugs in the area.

Everything available from hiking the rainforest or whale and dolphin watching tours to simply lying on the beach and relaxing in the sun are offered in the Osa Peninsula.

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