Overlooking the Golfo Dulce on the Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez is a laid-back coastal town in the far south of Costa Rica. It serves as a gateway to the country’s largest national park, Corcovado, with its tropical ecosystems supporting one of the world’s highest levels of biodiversity.
Things to do in Puerto Jiménez
For a day at the beach, head to Playa Puntarenitas, which lies where the Rio Plantanares flows into the Golfo Dulce. It’s most easily accessed by boat or kayak and offers soft sands that make it ideal for sunbathing. On the other side of the headland is Playa Arizona, which connects south to the palm-backed sands of Playa Platanares.
Sprawling west of Puerto Jimenez is Corcovado National Park, which covers around a third of the Osa Peninsula. Hiking trails wind along the park’s picturesque coastline and through its lowland tropical forests, which provide habitat for jaguars, pumas and endangered Baird’s tapirs. Several primate species also live within the park, including spider monkeys and white-faced capuchins, while two and three-toed sloths can be spotted in the canopy.
If you’re interested in the traditional use of rainforest plants for medicinal purposes, visit the Osa Interactive Gardens, a botanical facility and nature reserve that showcases the biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula. Join a guided tour to learn how Indigenous peoples have used plant-based remedies for centuries and the importance of protecting Costa Rica’s rainforests.
Getting around Puerto Jiménez
Puerto Jimenez Airport is a five-minute drive from the town centre and has regular flights to San Jose. By road, the Costa Rican capital is six hours away. Buses connect to Puerto Jimenez and the town is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of exploring the Osa Peninsula.