Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast (especially the Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce and Piedras Blancas National Park) is one of the planet’s most spectacular marine and rainforest environments. Its waters have been called by National Geographic ‘one of the ocean’s 20 wildest places’ and its rainforests are Central America’s most species-diverse. Joined by Costa Rica’s foremost guides, conservationists and scientists, you’ll explore the ocean and rainforest in magnificent style, with a spectacular jungle retreat as your base and a private yacht at your disposal to explore by day. It is a multi-level reef-to-rainforest experience designed for families looking to enjoy extraordinarily powerful and intimate wildlife encounters while playing a crucial role in protecting this treasure trove of biodiversity.
"You'll learn about and participate in coral reef restoration, contribute to the monitoring and conservation of the region’s sea turtle species, and catch and tag juvenile hammerhead sharks."
After a short flight from San Jose, the nation’s capital, your conservation adventure begins in Golfito, where you’ll jump aboard a luxury yacht to explore the secrets of the Pacific. With a fresh ocean breeze and the warm sun on your face, watch for some of the 25 species of whale and dolphin in the Golfo Dulce, or try an exhilarating ocean activity. There are many available, from scuba diving to sub-wings, with highly experienced hosts on hand to show you the ropes.
Alongside marine biologists, NGO founders and scientists, you’ll learn about and participate in coral reef restoration, contribute to the monitoring and conservation of the region’s sea turtle species, and catch and tag juvenile hammerhead sharks. You’ll also be able to ‘adopt’ and name your own shark, and receive updates and reports on its travels and growth over time. At night, enjoy a swim from the private beach of your lodge and marvel at one of the most incredible bioluminescence spectacles Earth can offer.
On land, you’ll have the opportunity to become part of the team at Osa Conservation, playing a crucial role in their conservation effort, working alongside scientists and researchers on projects deep in the rainforest of the Osa Conservation Area. Projects are varied and fulfilling, and you can join in activities such as recording apex predators like jaguars and pumas, or rope up for an ascent into the jungle canopy to study frogs and birds, and check the arboreal camera traps to see what the endangered spider monkeys have been up to.
The highlight of your adventure is yet to come. Enormous gatherings of up to 3,000 wild spinner dolphins occur regularly off the Costa Rican coast, and we’ll be monitoring where they are from a spotter plane. As soon as we receive the nod, you’ll sail out to their location. With a team of dive instructors beside you, you can join the dolphins in the water, swimming with them or using a sea-bob. Their joy, leaping and spinning as they rush past, is contagious. Finding yourself at the heart of a dolphin megapod is one of the most privileged, humbling and magical wildlife experiences that our beautiful planet offers, and one that will utterly transform your perspective on life.
