The southern edge of Guanacaste’s Nicoya Peninsula which is actually part of the Puntarenas offers a lot of beauty which many visitors to Costa Rica shouldn’t ignore.

The best way of getting there is via ferries departing from Puntarenas. That is by far the fastest route to the Nicoya Peninsula from San Jos?. It is time consuming but a fun and beautiful route to take via boat.

You get to see San Lucas Island which was a penal colony until the 1970′s along the lines of Alcatraz and Devil’s Island. You can arrange guided tours to the 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 Guanacaste lowlands the peninsula extends 140 km to the south where the landscape becomes more hilly.

There are two current ferry routes one to Playa Naranjo which is the most popular beach of the area and the other in Paquera. I suggest taking the ferry to Paquera. Making the drive down the coastline is beautiful where you encounter howler monkeys and beautiful beaches.

Must stops include the Curu Wildlife Reserve which is one of the highlights of the Nicoya Peninsula and a dream come true for eco-tourists and animal lovers. Curu is privately owned and part of a large farm which combines sustainable agriculture and forest management with the protection of wildlife and nature. Curu boasts a rich and diverse wildlife in five different habitats ranging from marine zones and mangrove swamps, to tropical dry and moist forest, as well as farmland. The entrance to Curu is 6 km after Paquera and 16 km before Tambor. It is open every day 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. and the cost: $ 8 per person per day.

Then continue your drive to Tambor which has a beautiful beach and a great all inclusive resort called Barcelo. You can make your way down and visit popular surfing beaches of Montezuma, Santa Theresa and Mal Pais. As you make your way to The Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is situated at the extreme southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. With its unique combination of climate and geographical location, it ranks among the most beautiful nature reserves in Costa Rica. It was the first protected land by the Costa Rican government in 1963 so no condos here. The Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve encompasses 1,172 hectares of mixed forest, which is classified as moist tropical forest. Beautiful hiking trails which are

Open hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 8 am – 4 pm, Cost: $8.

From Manzanillo you can drive up the cost to the Guancaste province and the beaches of Samara and Tamarindo. For much of the year this road is in bad condition and only passable with a 4WD with high clearance to tackle grades with gaping chasms, and to ford the three rivers. In rainy season it is sometimes impossible to drive this road. Signs indicating directions are scarce and confusing. Make sure you have filled up with gas. The next gasoline vendor on your way is in San Francisco de Coyote. Before leaving, ask the locals about current road conditions. I don’t recommend this route to Guancaste unless you enjoy adventure and do not get car sick.

The Barcelo Hotel 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 of Costa Rica. Don’t forget to bring your camera and say hello to the howler monkeys.
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