Golfo Dulce Tour with Wildlife Sanctuary

 

If you only explore the Osa Peninsula by land, you are missing half of it.  An enormous and glorious part of this magical place is the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf), which Jacques Cousteau called the most pristine of the world’s four tropical fjords.  Proximity to one of the world’s 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 Dulce’s 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.

 

This tour takes you on a fabulous ride over 30 miles around the magnificent Golfo Dulce, including a tour of the Cana Blanca Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the most special places we have been in Costa Rica (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 Piedra Blanca National Park, which borders the facility.  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 we had 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.

 

This tour is conducted by the safest, most informative and most professional outfit in the area.  They have the largest, most comfortable boats with experienced, English-speaking, lifeguard-trained captains.  Each 25-foot boat features contoured seats, a full canopy for shade and a shower.  If you’re lucky, you’ll swim with dolphins while plane boarding behind the boat. (These tours encounter dolphins 80% of the time, but even if you don’t, being towed through the water is lots of fun).  There’s also a good chance you will get to hear dolphin language through new hydrophones.  And you can also sail over the azure waters on the Dolphin deck and Air Chair, which suspend you out over the ocean for an optimum view of sea life and the sensation of flying over the water.   Snorkeling (equipment supplied) may also be enjoyed at coral reefs, home to beautiful tropical fish (depending on conditions). 

 

On this tour guests have seen huge pods of dolphins, whales, manta rays, sea turtles, schooling fish, sea birds and jungle flora and fauna.  The boats are 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 this tour, and often say it is a highlight of their trip. 

 

Tour leaves from Puerto Jimenez pier at 7:30 AM.  Duration:  4 - 5 hours

 

Prices:

 

One – five passengers: $350 plus $25/person tax deductible donation if going to Sanctuary

 

Includes:

Snacks

Cold drinks

Comfortable, shaded, safe boat with English-speaking guide

Fresh water shower on boat

Snorkeling gear, masks

Life jackets, adult and child sized

 

Group discounts:

6 passengers:  $390 + Sanctuary donation

7 passengers:  $420 + Sanctuary donation

8  passengers: $480 + Sanctuary donation

9  passengers: $540 + Sanctuary donation

 

Child discounts:

Children five and under:  half price (minus Sanctuary fee, as they can’t go in); under 18 months, free. 

 

Bring:

Sun block

Sport sandals or water shoes

Swim suit & towel

Sun glasses

Binoculars are good

Hat

Camera

 

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.

Chuck – Salt Lake City, UT

 

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.

Richard – North Canterbury, New Zealand

                                            

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. I’m so glad you recommended that tour.

Sylvia – Austin, TX

 

This was the best side trip ever.  What a great experience.  One I’ll never forget! It was the most wonderful time I’ve had in Costa Rica.

Sarah  –  Grosse Isle, MI

 

One of our favorite experiences was the boat ride to the Cana Blanca wildlife sanctuary.  My husband and I had a boat for years (before kids) and I just loved being on the water. Cana 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.

Debbie, Ron, & Ronnie – Pittsburgh, PA

 

This tour is the most outstanding tour we’ve encountered in Costa Rica, bar none!

Karen & Ron

 

Golfo Dulce Casa Orquideas Botanical Gardens

 

Take the same Gulf Tour as above, but instead of the Sanctuary, stop at these amazing botanical gardens, where you will see all kinds of plants in one place that would take hours of hiking in remote locations to view otherwise.  We felt like munchkins in a magical land as we walked the paths among more than 100 species of orchid, 50 varieties of heliconias,  giant palms and other trees, a cannonball tree, and sampled edibles, miracle fruit and spices. In addition, you can enjoy the over 100 species of birds attracted to the gardens. 

There are both guided and self-guided tours available every day but Friday

 

Sail the Gulf

 

Take an exhilarating ½-day excursion on the 36-foot sailing vessel Sorrento, manned by an experienced captain/owner and mate.  If the winds are right, mother nature propels you around the magnificent gulf, usually without another boat in sight.   Depending on conditions, activities include snorkeling, dive boarding, swimming, viewing sea life, visits to nearby attractions.  Celebration of special occasions can be added for an unforgettable celebration (extra charge applies).  The Sorrento provides a bathroom, shade bimini, padded seating, stereo system, below deck cabin, safety equipment, navigational gear and life jackets for all sizes. 

 

Tour leaves from Canasa harbor at about 11 AM and returns about 4 PM.

Lunch, snacks and soft drinks provided.

 

Prices:

1 – 4 people: $350

5 people: $400

6 people: $450

 

 

Deep Sea Fishing

 

World class fishing is right here on the beautiful Golfo Dulce and in the deep, blue Pacific.  We will link you up with the best, most professional fishing outfits in the area for a fishing trip of a lifetime.  The diversity of offshore big game fishing in this area is legendary.  Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and Yellowfin Tuna are commonly caught.  Inshore you can expect to catch Roosterfish, Snapper and Spanish mackerel.  

 

Fish with William: from the beach or our kayaks

 

Catch dinner on the beach, right out front!  Jack Crevalle, Bonito, Spanish mackerel and various species of snapper, are regularly caught.  You might also catch Snook, Roosterfish and Pompano. Bring whatever tackle you can, ie: hooks, sinkers, floats to use with the small sardines you will use as live bait. William, our manager, is an experienced fisherman who knows just what to do and where to go.

Arrange with William when you get there

 

 

Surf Lessons

 

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.  It’s a BLAST.

 

Provided:  Lycra shirts to protect from rashes and sunburn. 

Recommended to bring:  booties and lots of sun block.    $55/person: 2 hour lesson.  Surfboard rentals available.

The surfing lessons were great.  I’d recommend them to anyone.

Michael -  Middlesex, VT

 

Paddle Board tour

 

Paddle your way around the beautiful Golfo Dulce on beginner paddle boards and catch a wave or two!

$55/person

 

 

Ocean Kayaking

 

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 Corcovado 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.

 

$45/person