Costa Rica Sailing Destinations:
 Isla
del Coco, which is 330 miles southwest of the Costa Rican coastline,
offers world-class snorkeling and diving, second to none in the region.
Cocos Island is an oceanic island of
volcanic origin. The
landscape is mountainous and irregular and the summit is
Cerro Iglesias, rising 671 m
high in the southwestern part. Several short rivers and streams drain
the abundant rainfall, the largest of which are the Genio and the
Pittier, which empty into Wafer Bay. The mountainous landscape and the
tropical climate combine to create over 200 waterfalls throughout the
island.
Cocos Island is home to dense and exuberant tropical
moist forests. It is the only oceanic island in the eastern Pacific
region with such rain forests and their characteristic types of flora
and fauna. Nearly 90 bird species have been reported. The island and
neighboring rocks are home to large nesting colonies of migratory
seabirds, including the Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, Great Frigate
bird, White Tern and Brown Noddy. Seven species of land birds inhabit
the island, including three endemics: the Cocos Cuckoo, Cocos Flycatcher
and Cocos Finch. The island has five land mammal species, including
pigs, deer, cats and rats. All these land mammals were introduced by
humans. The Costa Rican government has vowed to control the populations
of these animals, as they are harmful to the local ecosystems.
 The
rich coral reef, volcanic tunnels, caves, massifs and deeper waters
surrounding Cocos Island are home to more than 30 species of coral, 60
species of crustaceans, 600 species of molluscs and over 300 species of
fish. These include large populations of yellow fin tuna, giant mantas,
sailfish and sharks, such as white-tips and hammerheads. The largest of
all species of fish is also present, the whale shark. Other large marine
animals include humpback whales, pilot whales, bottle-nose dolphins, sea
lions, hawksbill turtles, green turtles and olive ridley turtles.
Thanks to the breathtaking marine life in its waters,
Cocos Island was named one of the best 10 scuba diving spots in the
World; a "must", according to experts. Some of the largest schools of
hammerhead sharks in the World are consistently reported there.
Encounters with dozens if not hundreds of these and other large animals
are nearly certain in every dive. Smaller and colorful species area also
abundant in one of the most extensive and rich reefs of the south
eastern pacific. The famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau visited the
island several times and in 1994 called it "the most beautiful island in
the world".
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.
 Manuel
Antonio National Park One of Costa Rica most popular parks is just
south of Quepos on the Pacific Coast. It has expensive white sand
beaches backed by an evergreen forest that grows right up to the high
tide line. The principal habitants are primary forest, secondary forest,
mangrove swamps, lagoons and beach vegetation. There is quite a varied
fauna with 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds. The park includes 12
little isles just off the coast; these are a number of dolphins and, at
times, migrating whales can be observed. The islands of Manuel Antonio
provide an important refuge, mating and nesting site for frigate birds,
brown pelicans, brown boobies, white ibis and anhingas. Its flora and
fauna includes three toed sloth, white-throated capuchin monkeys, howler
monkeys and anteaters, as well as bare-throated tiger heron, orange
chinned parakeet and the American pygmy kingfisher, the smallest
kingfisher on the continent.
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.
Isla Tortuga is beautiful island with white sand beaches,
towering palm trees, turquoise water and an abundance of wildlife. The
island is privately owned and offers guests many activities including:
snorkeling, canopy tours, water bikes, beach combing, swimming and
sunbathing.
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.
Isla San Lucas Wildlife
Refuge protects an island in the Gulf of Nicoya, just offshore from
Puntarenas. Isla San Lucas was a penal colony until 1991 and it had the
reputation of being the roughest jail in Costa Rica. A network of
underground prison cells hosted society's undesirables who ran the
community, fished, farmed and did domestic chores. Today the 100 year
old prison cells can be toured.
Playa Tamarindo is a popular beach resort community with upscale
hotels, fine dining and souvineer shops. The close by Parque Nacional
Marino Las Baulas ( Playa Grande Marine Turtle National Park) is part of
the Tempisque Conservation Area and covers approximately 1,100 acres of
shoreline and 54,000 acres marine habitat. It protects the largest
nesting colony of leatherback sea turtles on the Pacific coast of Costa
Rica.
Bahía Ballena is the largest and most popular of the beaches in
this area.
Bahia Herradura: About mid-way down Costa Rica’s Pacific coast at
Bahia Herradura is an area known as El Jardin (The Garden), that is
famed for its formations of soft coral and sea fans which hosts a large
variety of tropical fish as well as immense grouper, snapper and such
game species as wahoo, roosterfish, jacks and tuna.
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.
Costa Rica Sailing Charters
Terrence C. Boone
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Telephone: 011-506-383-3170
Email: terrencecboone@yahoo.com
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