About the Area
South Pacific Costa RicaTHE LAST FRONTIER
Most people don’t know that South Pacific Costa Rica was nearly unreachable for tourists six years ago; it was a 10- to 12-hour “adventure” drive from San Jose. Thanks to a new highway completed in 2010, it is now a pleasant three-and-a-half hour drive to El Castillo. That is what makes the area special: an unspoiled culture, a slow-paced lifestyle, untouched beauty—and you.
Villages Near El Castillo
El Castillo Is Located In The Intimate Village Of Ojochal—About A Quarter Mile Past The Village Entrance—Far From The Touristy Areas Of More Developed Costa Rica. Ojochal Is A Small Untouched Village Known For Its Restaurants And Surrounding Tropical Beaches. It Is Situated About Midway Between Dominical To The North And Sierpe To The South, Providing Limitless Outdoor Opportunities.
Uvita is a small village, just to the north of El Castillo, known for its annual music events and proximity to Marino Ballena National Park. Uvita is also known for its beautiful beaches and tropical landscape with estuaries and mangrove waterways.
Dominical is a small beachfront community with an abundance of local amenities, dining options, and excellent shopping. Dominical is a nice day-trip from El Castillo. It boasts consistent waves year-round, making it a hot spot for more experienced surfers.
Surrounded by densely forested mountains, Palmar Norte is the epicenter of a major banana-growing region. This small town connects to Palmar Sur—known for its regional airport—via a thin steel bridge over the Rio Grande River. It is here you will find Finca 6, which houses a museum dedicated to the mysterious pre-Columbian stone spheres which UNESCO has recognized as a World Heritage Site.
This small community lies on the banks of the Rio Sierpe and offers restaurants and accommodations, as well as water transportation to Isla del Caño to fish or dive nearby. Tourists often access Corcovado National Park via the Río Sierpe to view exotic animals.
Beaches Near El Castillo
Attractions Near El Castillo
This small community lies on the banks of the Rio Sierpe and offers restaurants and accommodations, as well as water transportation to Isla del Caño to fish or dive nearby. Tourists often access Corcovado National Park via the Río Sierpe to view exotic animals.
The beautiful Cascada Pavon Waterfall is located in Ojochal a short drive from El Castillo. It is accessible via a short walk down a trail to rock stairs that lead down to the waterfall and pool, which is nice for swimming. There is also a side trail to access the top of the “stuck rock.” Locals are known to jump off the rock and plunge into the pool below! No guides are required so there is no cost to visiting Cascada Pavon.
Marino Ballena National Park is named after the humpback whales that migrate here each year from December to March to mate and give birth before returning to the frigid waters to the north. The humpbacks from Antarctica come from August to October. Year-round you can see many species of dolphins and sea turtles. Ballena is primarily a marine park with 13,000 acres/5,400 hectares of ocean and 270 acres/110 hectares of land. It was established in 1990, making it one of the newest national parks in Costa Rica. The park contains the largest coral reef on the Pacific side of Central America.
Accessible only by boat, or “panga,” this island is an extraordinary place for snorkeling and observing a variety of marine species.
Rich in marine life, the famous Whale’s Tail features a reef that shelters it from dangerous currents and strong surf, making it a perfect place to swim and cool off in its waters. It’s also a popular spot among snorkelers.
Located behind Punta Uvita, this mangrove swamp is rich in coastal flora and is home to several species of seabirds, including blue heron, white ibis, and osprey.
The viewpoints on this rocky hill swathed in vegetation offer views of Dominicalito, Roca Árbol Island, and the stunning mountain and maritime landscape stretching south.
Gorgeous and pristine, the Nauyaca Waterfalls are tucked away in a secluded canyon. You can hike to the falls without a guide for only $8 per person. The falls, which were on the Tico Times 2015 list of the six most stunning falls in Costa Rica, cascade down the rock face in two tiers, one measuring 150 feet and the other 65 feet. Nauyaca spills into a large crystalline pool, nice for swimming after a long hike. The hike is about 2.5 miles; approximately an hour each way. The trail is very easy in places and moderately difficult in others – overall a relatively easy hike. Crazy thrill seekers occasionally dive from ledges near the top of the falls. The trailhead is about 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) from the main road and parking is available (4-wheel-drive recommended.) Your hosts at El Castillo can help you with planning and reservations if you prefer a horseback tour to the falls.
Corcovado National Park encompasses an area of 424 square kilometers (164 square miles). It is the largest park in Costa Rica and protects about a third of the Osa Peninsula. It is widely considered the crown jewel in the extensive system of national parks and biological reserves spread across the country. The ecological variety is quite stunning. National Geographic has called it “the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity.” The park is popular with tropical ecologists and visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife.
Situated 20 kilometers offshore from Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula, Isla Del Cano is an important island for Costa Rica, both archeologically and environmentally. The waters surrounding this biological reserve are swarming with marine creatures, while the island itself protects several artifacts that date back to pre-Columbian times. Best accessed through Sierpe, it is a popular destination for snorkeling and diving. Your hosts at El Castillo can help you with planning and reservations.