Costa Rica Sailing Destinations
Caño Island*:
Isla Del Caño is a small island in the Bahia de Coronado (Bay of Coronado) in Costa Rica. It is on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica, east of the Peninsula de Osa. It has been established as a protected national park, with a permanent ranger station on the island. Nonetheless, it is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its beaches, coral beds, and sea life. Marine life includes manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, whales, and a wide variety of fish. The island has a great historical and archaeological legacy: it was considered an ancient indian cementery, but the most amazing finding is the great number of stone spheres found throughout the island. Some are almost perfect and have different sizes. The vegetation is quite similar to Corcovado National Park. The only mammals present are pigs and tepezcuintles. There is a trail going around the whole island. Camping is allowed near the administration office, and there are latrines and drinkable water.
Gulf of Nicoya:
The Gulf of Nicoya separates the Nicoya Peninsula from the mainland of Costa Rica, and encompasses a marine and coastal landscape of wetlands, rocky islands and cliffs. Originally formed by a Volcanic fault line that caused the existing land to fall into the sea the Gulf is shallow and provides the perfect habitat for mangroves which are an important role in the ecosystem of Costa Rica. Many animals live in the lush green mangrove colonies: raccoons, frigate birds, crabs, kingfishers, lizards and snakes of numerous variety, oysters, and even stingrays and small sharks. The Nicoya region is famous for the Ridley and the Leatherback turtles that come to lay their eggs during specific times of the year. Within the biological reserves of southern Nicoya, visitors can spot anteaters, sloths, boa constrictors, ocelots and pumas, herons, caracaras, and agoutis. There are over 20 different islands, many with beautiful beaches and all with their own unique biodiversity. Nicoya is a landscape clad in wildlife-rich dry and wet tropical forest. A Nature lovers paradise.
Punta Coral Island is a 30 acre private reserve, nestled in some of the world’s last remaining tropical dry forest and is home for many species of wildlife. They offer private beaches, snorkeling, kayaking, guided hiking tours.
Drake Bay: The area has been accessible only by sea until recently, and consequently remains a largely pristine low-land tropical rainforest. It is one of the last such remaining areas on the Pacific coast. Since about 1990, eco-tourism has been the principal economy of the area. Believed to be a port used by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century and the location of one of the British pirate's fabled hidden treasures. The main town of Drake Bay is Agujitas and has a population of about 1,000 residents. There are miles and miles of beautiful coastline with rocky crags and sandy coves that extend from Agujitas, where the village of Drake Bay is located southward toward the boundary of Corcovado National Park about 12 miles to the south.
