Storm clouds open over the Pacific at dusk, seen from the tropical forest
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Osa, Costa Rica: the wildest corner of the Pacific

Pura Osa is the independent travel guide to Costa Ballena, Sierpe, Drake Bay, Corcovado and the Golfo Dulce, written by people from here. Honest logistics, local stories and travel that gives back to the forest and the sea.

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  • Uvita
  • Ojochal
  • Sierpe
  • Drake Bay
  • Caño Island
  • Corcovado
  • Puerto Jiménez
  • Matapalo
  • Golfito
  • Zancudo
  • Punta Burica

What you'll find here

Practical guides for one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and the people who protect it.

A country road winds down toward the Pacific coast

Getting there

Boats from Sierpe to Drake Bay, domestic flights, 4x4 roads and the best order to visit each area.

A giant buttressed tree in the rainforest, seen from below

Corcovado

Permits, certified guides, ranger stations and what to expect on each trail.

A boat passes a rocky island off the Pacific coast

Whale seasons

Humpback whales visit twice a year. When to come, where to see them and how to choose a responsible tour.

A green-and-black poison dart frog on the forest floor

Regenerative travel

Lodges, guides and communities that leave Osa better than they found it, and stories from the people behind them.

A sea cave opening onto a quiet beach A crested caracara perched in the forest A white-faced capuchin monkey in the canopy Driftwood on a wide, empty beach The Pacific and a small island seen over the rainforest A rocky beach framed by palm trees

From here, for real

I was born in Cortés de Osa and grew up between Ballena, Tinoco and Uvita, long before the region appeared on travel maps. After more than twenty years in tourism, I want to share Osa the way locals know it: wild, generous and worth protecting.

Geinier Alvarado Guzman

All photos on this page: Geinier Alvarado Guzman.