Visiting The Nicoya Peninsula In Costa Rica
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Visiting The Nicoya Peninsula In Costa Rica

The southern edge of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, which is actually part of Puntarenas, offers a lot of beauty that many visitors to Costa Rica should not ignore.

The best way to get there is through the ferries that depart from Puntarenas. That is by far the fastest route to the Nicoya Peninsula from San José. It takes a long time, but it’s a fun and beautiful route to take by boat.

You get to see San Lucas Island, which was a penal colony until the 1970s along the lines of Alcatraz and Devil’s Island. You can arrange guided tours of Prison Island from Puntarenas for a guided tour of the now-abandoned prison.

The Nicoya Peninsula is separated from the mainland of Costa Rica by the Gulf of Nicoya and the Tempisque estuary. Nicoya Peninsula Costa Rica From its northern base in the arid lowlands of Guanacaste, the peninsula stretches 140 km to the south, where the landscape becomes more mountainous.

There are two current ferry routes, one to Playa Naranjo, which is the most popular beach in the area, and the other to Paquera. I suggest taking the ferry to Paquera. Making the trip down the coast is beautiful, where you come across howler monkeys and beautiful beaches.

Must-see stops include the Curu Wildlife Reserve, which is one of the highlights of the Nicoya Peninsula and a dream come true for ecotourists and animal lovers. Curu is privately owned and part of a large estate that combines sustainable agriculture and forest management with the protection of wildlife and nature. Curú has a rich and diverse wildlife in five different habitats ranging from marine areas and mangroves, to dry and humid tropical forests, as well as farmlands. The entrance to Curú is 6 km after Paquera and 16 km before Tambor. It is open daily from 7 am to 3 pm and the cost: $8 per person per day.

Then continue your trip to Tambor, which has a beautiful beach and an excellent all-inclusive resort called Barceló. You can hop off and visit the popular surfing beaches of Montezuma, Santa Theresa, and Mal Pais. As you make your way to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, it is situated on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. With its unique combination of climate and geographic location, it is among the most beautiful nature reserves in Costa Rica. It was the first land protected by the Costa Rican government in 1963 so there are no condominiums here. The Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve encompasses 1,172 hectares of mixed forest, which is classified as a humid tropical forest. Beautiful hiking trails that are

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 8 am – 4 pm Cost: $8.

From Manzanillo you can go up the coast to the province of Guancaste and the beaches of Samara and Tamarindo. During much of the year this road is in poor condition and can only be traveled with a 4×4 with a high clearance to tackle slopes with open abysses and ford the three rivers. In rainy season it is sometimes impossible to drive on this road. Signs indicating directions are few and confusing. Make sure you have filled with gasoline. The next gas vendor on your way is in San Francisco de Coyote. Before you leave, ask the locals about current road conditions. I do not recommend this route to Guancaste unless you like adventure and do not get seasick.

The Hotel Barceló in Tambor is an all-inclusive hotel and highly recommended. The rooms are comfortable. It’s right on the beach and they have several pools to enjoy.

Follow this route and you will enjoy your visit to the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Don’t forget to bring your camera and say hello to the howler monkeys.

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