Golfo Dulce Costa Rica

Golfo Dulce (English: Sweet Gulf) is an inlet in Costa Rica, located on the Pacific Oceanside of Costa Rica. The Gulf has the distinction of being only one of three tropical fjords in the world.  With over 600 foot deep waters in the center, the Gulf is home to schools of humpback whales and is a haven for sports fishermen. The bay separates the Osa Peninsula from the mainland of Costa Rica. Golfo Dulce is ringed by large secluded beaches and an amazing tropical rain forest where visitors may encounter up to four species of monkey, including spider, howler and white faced, as well as, Poison Dart frogs, jaguars and anteaters and a plethora of other amazing animals and birds.   Nowhere else in Costa Rica will you find such diverse flora and fauna! Beautiful birds are plentiful- toucans, scarlet macaws, hummingbirds are among the most commonly seen, but there are way too many to list.

This area of Costa Rica was once the center of the pre-Columbian Diquis culture and the rumors of the gold that could be found here sent many a Spanish explorer in search hidden gold mines.  Gold panners (oreros) still sift for gold in the rivers of the Oso Peninsula but the Gold Rush in this region was short lived.  In the 1930’s the United Fruit Company set up in this area, building elegant home for its American managers- many of which are being restored to their original elegance. Golfito, the major port in the Gulf was a major port for banana export for several decades.  When United Fruit shut down in the mid-80’s, primarily because of worker unrest and rising export taxes, the area fell economically, but was bolstered by the Costa Rican governments decision to make the area a tax free zone. African palm oil plantations have replaced many of the old banana plantations, and  more and more land is devoted to grow this palm.  Sport fishing has become the most important tourist attraction in recent years.

Golfito Bay is within the larger Golfo Dulce, and separated from the open Pacific Coast by the amazing Osa Peninsula. There are frequent ferryboats cross the Golfo Dulce from Golfito to Puerto Jimenez, which is the primary access point for the Osa Peninsula and the remote, beautiful Corcovado National Park. The beaches south of Golfito offer amazing surfing and are still relatively undiscovered.  The break at Pavones is said to have the second longest break in the world! The beaches in this area are some of the most beautiful in the country!