South Pacific Region
Considered as the wildest region of the country, the Southern Pacific zone encompasses Corcovado National Park, one of the most biologically-diverse areas in Costa Rica. The territory extends from the Baru river to the Panamanian border and from the Talamanca mountain range to the Pacific coast. There are a vast number of lagoons, mangroves, rivers, rain forests, lowland cloud forests, and 28 miles of sandy coastline.
The region is rich in flora and fauna, and its dense forests serve as a refuge to endangered species such as the tapir, panther and scarlet macaw. In Corcovado National Park, there are 500 species of trees, 140 species of mammals, 367 species of birds, 40 species of freshwater fish, and 117 species of amphibians and reptiles. In addition, there are some 6,000 species of insects.
The climate is humid and warm in the lowlands, and cool in the highlands due more to cloudy conditions than altitude. The torrential rain falls mainly from mid April to December. The dry season runs from January to mid April.
From San Jose, the Southern Pacific region is an eight-hour trip by land. The fastest way to arrive is by domestic flight from San Jose and landing in Palmar Sur, Puerto Jimenez, Golfito or Drake Bay. Here you can scuba dive and sport fish. The majority of hotels located in the area offer multi-day packages that include transportation, lodging, meals and tours.
