If you only explore the by land, you are missing half of it. An enormous and glorious part of this magical place is the Golfo Dulce (. ), which Jacques Cousteau called the most pristine of the worlds four tropical fjords. Proximity to one of the worlds greatest natural fisheries and some of the most bio-diverse National Parks in the world, make this body of water unique. Only by water can you visit much of the Golfo Dulces jungle shoreline, rivers, tropical beaches and mangrove estuaries that serve up a tremendous variety of unique flora and fauna. And simply being on this fabulous gulf is a rejuvenating, inspiring experience. We recommend Changing Tides Tours because they are the safest, most informative and most professional outfit in the area. They have the newest, largest, most stable and most comfortable boats with experienced, English-speaking, lifeguard trained captains and crew. Each boat is equipped with new engines, GPS, depth sounders, VHF, back-up VHF, cellular, pony motor, dolphin hydrophones, life vests for all sized guests, first aid kits, and fresh water showers. Our guests consistently rave about these tours, and have found (as have we) that it is a highlight of their trip. Golfo Dulce Dolphin and Wet-Sport Tour with Wildlife Sanctuary. Changing Tides Tours takes you on a fabulous ride across the magnificent Golfo Dulce (. ) to the Cana Blanca Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the most special places we have been in. (or anywhere). Only accessible by boat, this is a must do for anyone who loves wildlife and enjoys seeing animals up close and personal! This remote, non-profit foundation receives injured, orphaned and endangered animals in order to rehabilitate and release them back into the wild, usually at. which borders the facility. Carol and Earl, the dedicated heroes of this amazing place, will give you a tour and introduce you to their charges. When we visited, we were greeted by several monkeys (and held a baby), petted baby sloths, a kinkajou, a jaguarundi, and saw a magnificent eagle and other recovering creatures. It was an unforgettable highlight for us, and weve been coming to the Osa for 15 years! Caution: hold onto your glasses and hats, as the monkeys enjoy grabbing them! Note: No children under six are allowed in the sanctuary. Parents may trade- off child care in order to visit the facility. Cana Blanca is only accessible by boat, so an added treat is an exhilarating and informative guided tour of the fabulous Golfo Dulce in a comfortable, safe, shaded, 25-foot tour boat. The boats have English-speaking captains and crew and are equipped with contoured seats and a full canopy for plenty of shade. If youre lucky, youll have a swim with dolphins while plane boarding behind the boat. (These tours encounter dolphins 70% of the time, but even if you dont, being towed through the water is lots of fun). Theres also a good chance you will get to hear dolphin language through new hydrophones. On this tour guests have also seen whales, manta rays, sea turtles, schooling fish, sea birds and jungle flora and fauna. Snorkeling (equipment supplied) may also be enjoyed, depending on conditions. Once back at the boat, you can rinse off under a fresh water shower, for a comfortable ride back across the gulf. Tour leaves from Puerto Jimenez pier. Duration: 4 - 5 hours. (Subtract $20/person if NOT going to. $92.50/person includes: Comfortable, shaded, safe boat with English-speaking guide. Fresh water shower on boat. Snorkeling gear, masks. Life jackets, adult and child sized. Children five and under: half price; under 18 months, free. Sport sandals or water shoes. We particularly enjoyed the tour. Thanks so much for suggesting it to us. On that single tour we saw probably about 50 spotted dolphins, and swam with them, enjoyed the rehabilitation center tour, and particularly the young monkey that kept pointing where it wanted me to scratch, and the snorkeling. For us the highlight was the trip across the gulf to the animal refuge where we hugged a few spider monkeys, howler monkeys, bottle- fed sloths and another possum like animal. An experience we won't forget. We all agreed that the Sanctuary tour was the best tour of our whole trip. We cuddled sloths and a baby howler monkey. The people who run it could not have been more gracious. Im so glad you recommended that tour. Esquinas Tour with Wildlife Sanctuary. In their most inclusive trip, and arguably the finest on the Gulf, Changing Tide Tours takes you on an unforgettable six-hour tour of the beautiful Golfo Dulce, with its over 40 miles of lush, tropical coastline and deltas. It also includes a visit to the amazing Cana Blanca Wildlife Sanctuary (see above). Youll wind your way through the jungle up the Rio Esquinas, where spectacular birding and natural wonders abound, explore a mangrove estuary and cool off in a clear, spring-fed pool surrounded by lush jungle. You travel in comfort, in a, shaded, safe, 25-foot boat, complete with fresh water shower, snorkeling equipment, food, drinks and tow-behind plane board, with which you are pulled behind the boat and if lucky along with dolphins. (These tours encounter dolphins 70% of the time, but even if you dont, being towed through the water is lots of fun). Throughout the tour, you will learn about this unique area from an English-speaking captain. On this trip, guests have sited myriad birds, schooling fish, whales, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, sea snakes, sea turtles, monkeys, peccaries, crocodiles, and more. Tour leaves from Puerto Jimenez pier. Duration: 6 hours. Visit to the amazing. Swimming and snorkeling at a remote, tropical beach; and lush mangrove estuaries; Lunch and drinks by a cool, mountain fed, fresh water swimming hole; An exhilarating trip across the great, blue waters of the Gulf. Tour leaves from Puerto Jimenez pier. Times vary according to tide. PLEASE NOTE: This tour is tide sensitive (in order to go up the. ) and is only available 15 days a month. No children under six are allowed in the sanctuary. Parents may trade- off child care in order to visit the facility. $105/person includes: This was the best side trip ever. What a great experience. One Ill never forget! It was the most wonderful time Ive had in. One of our favorite experiences was the boat ride to the. Blanca wildlife sanctuary. My husband and I had a boat for years (before kids) and I just loved being on the water. Blanca was really neat in that you got to touch and hold the monkeys - that was really worth it. The gentleman that took us was pretty entertaining and was American, so language wasn't a problem. This tour is the most outstanding tour weve encountered in Costa Rica, bar none! Enjoyed monkeys, mangroves and snorkeling. Great tour! Surf right in front of Casa Bambu, where there is a dream wave to learn on with a perfect right point break for beginners and different sections to match ability levels.. You are guaranteed to stand up! There is a large selection of boards (soft tops for easy learning and more advanced hard boards). You go out at low tide and surf for approximately two hours. Its a BLAST. Provided: Lycra shirts to protect from rashes and sunburn. Recommended to bring: booties and lots of sun block. $40/person. The surfing lessons were great. Id recommend them to anyone. This open ocean paddle takes you out into the gulf from our coast out at Matapalo. From here you get a great view of the forested coastline of and Matapalo. You can shoot the arch (a pyramidal rock eroded by waves to create a large arch to kayak through). You can also climb the arch. This tour depends on surf and wind conditions.

Where is the property located exactly? Where is the nearest place to eat or buy groceries? Can you recommend a place to stay in San Jose? How bad are the bugs? What is the climate like? Is there electricity? Is the water safe to drink? Do we need to hire a guide, or can we find our own way around? What should we bring? Is the beach in front of the house ever crowded? Is the beach safe for swimming? Do I need to get any shots? Is there snorkeling? Are there medical facilities nearby? Do you advise bringing children? How far is it to Corcovado National Park? What if someone at home needs to contact me, or vice versa? What is the nearest town? How far in advance should I reserve? If you have any questions please feel free to. We want to help make your trip a fantastic experience! Our property is located about 200 miles south of San Jose, in Costa Ricas southern Pacific region, at the tip of the Osa Peninsula where the Pacific Ocean meets the Golfo Dulce. It is 18 km or 11 miles south (35-40 minute drive) of Puerto Jimenez, the Osa's largest town and about one hour from famous Corcovado National Park. The Osa Peninsula is on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica, just north of Panama. The Golfo Dulce (sweet gulf) is a huge gulf separating the Osa Peninsula from the Costa Rican mainland. For more information on the Osa and the Matapalo area, visit. Matapalo the Osa Peninsula. Often, due to flight schedules, youll need to stay over in San Jose on your way down to, or back from our house. We have discovered a couple of great, well-priced places - old world style, well-run and charming - the kind we like! They both treat our guests very well. One is San Joses oldest hotel and within an easy walk of museums, shops and other sights and the Nature Air terminal. The other is a lovely place with a gorgeous view of the city located near the International airport and the Sansa terminal. We are happy to help set you up in either of these excellent hotels. Since this is a tropical rainforest, it can be hot and humid at times, pleasantly temperate at others. Because we are right on the water, we often have a lovely breeze and it almost always cools off in the evening. All our beds are equipped with bed fans, so sleeping is comfortable. Temperatures are normally in the low 80s to low 90's, 70's at night. During the dry season, from mid-December to the end of April, it rarely rains and sun worshippers love it. Temperatures then range from the high-80s to 90s, with March and April the hottest months. Later in the year, August through November, it is generally cloudier and cooler, with temperatures in the 70s. Early May to July is the beginning of the green season, when it rains a few times a week, usually at night. August through late November is rainier, with the heaviest rains in mid-September to late October. Then the typical pattern is hard afternoon or night rains, followed by bright, sunny mornings. Around mid-June to mid-August little summer occurs, when rain is less likely. The green season is one of our favorite times in Costa Rica. It's not as hot and the jungle is lush. Often we are treated to liquid sunshine, with the sun lighting up the intermittent raindrops for a dazzling display. Surprisingly, there are few or no mosquitoes, as they are washed away. Generally it rains 3 - 4 times a week, mostly at night. Rain ranges from mist to several inches an hour. (When it rains that hard, it's unforgettable). Because San Jose is in a mountain valley its weather is very different from Matapalo. It can be quite cool, so bring a light jacket or sweater for that part of the trip. It is generally safe to drink the water in San Jose and Puerto Jimenez (although we like drinking bottled). However, the water at our houses is pure nectar, straight from our artesian wells. Don't even think about getting bottled water while there. At our houses you drink and shower with the some of nature's best. You dont need a car, as most activities and restaurants are within walking distance and taxis are readily available for anything else. However, some people prefer to have their own vehicle and there are rental cars available in Puerto Jimenez. We can help you arrange this. Never! Playa Pan Dulce is often deserted, or at most shared by a few. It is a glorious spot to relax; swim in warm, tropical waters; pick up shells; play in waves; watch hermit crabs; spot whales and dolphins; gaze at pelicans; gape at sunrises; stroll under palm trees; explore tide pools. Weve even had the thrill of seeing baby turtles hatch out there and scramble into the ocean! Ours is one of a string of beaches in the immediate area that are among the most beautiful in Costa Rica. Is the beach in front of the house safe for swimming? Generally it is a wonderful swimming beach and quite safe. However, as always with the ocean, caution is recommended. If it seems too big (or too small) you can simply change beaches! The waves become progressively smaller as you approach town, larger as you approach the Pacific. Ours is about in the middle in terms of difficulty. Although sometimes it can be like a lake, other times it has surfable waves. Its only 4-6 feet deep for 200 yards out and the clean, blue water averages 86 degrees year round. The end of the beach towards our house is somewhat rocky, so its advisable to swim at the other end. This is not a snorkeling destination. There are some places to snorkel nearby, but it is not Caribbean quality. We recommend taking advantage of all this area has to offer and saving your snorkeling for another location. There is a tour of the Golfo Dulce that provides snorkeling gear and will take you to a coral reef with tropical fish (along with swimming with dolphins and a wildlife sanctuary). (See Local Tours, On Water page). This is a very tranquil and friendly area and we have never heard of any violent crime occurring. However, we do recommend locking up your papers, money and valuable items in the house safe and lockable closets as a precaution and closing the doors to the outside, as you would at home. This magnificent, 100,000-acre park is a beautiful hour's drive away. Our manager, William, is an excellent (and affordable) guide for this trek. For more information on Corcovado visit. Matapalo and the Osa Peninsula. Known as the gateway to Corcovado Puerto Jimenez is 18 kilometers from our property (about a 35-40 minute drive). It's a small, laid back, friendly town with a growing number of restaurants and bars, a bank, airstrip, post office, gas station, dock, several stores and markets, a bakery, hardware store, liquor store and an Internet caf. There are well-equipped grocery stores in Puerto Jimenez. We send you a shopping list of what to expect in advance of your trip. We recommend you stock up when you arrive in Puerto Jimenez, as there are no stores out at Matapalo, where our houses are. However, we can arrange to have items sent out and there are restaurants within walking distance. For more information, visit. Usually bugs are only noticeable downstairs in the evening, if at all and easily discouraged with insect repellent. (Any brand that works where you live works in Costa Rica. Repellent containing DEET works for just about everybody, but often natural repellents work fine). Do not bring aerosol type bug spray or other items, as they are not allowed on the planes. Often biting insects are nonexistent. We have experienced much worse in Texas and New England! However, our houses are open with half walls, so it is advisable to be prepared with insect repellent. (There are shutters to pull down in case of rain). The beds have custom fitted nets that keep out everything, including no-seeums. Our houses run on solar power provided by eight solar panels. They have lights and fans that work perfectly, day and night, and are as convenient as regular electricity. They run on 110 volts, which is just like the U.S., so you dont need adaptors to charge your laptop o...