CAFENET EL  SOL

Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica More Information

Points North Dos Brazos / La Palma / Rincón / Mogos

GENERAL

The bone-jarring Chacarita Jimenez Highway is one of the most picturesque and captivating hour and a half drives on the planet.  Way regions include the wet highlands of Mogos, the breathtaking view of the Golfo Dulce just north of Rincon, where the Drake highway cuts off, and La Palma, the second largest community on the peninsula, and the alluvial plane communities of Amapola, Cañaza, Agujas, Ñeque, Sándalo, Gallardo, Bambú, and Dos Brazos a few miles up the Rio Tigre off the main highway.  Bridges crossing the major rivers were put in in 1992 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and before that, 4WD access to the peninsula was only during the dry season.  While the road is still primitive, it is the peninsula of the lifeline and as storied in its infancy in its own way as the famed Silk Road is storied in its antiquity.

Mogos remains forested, steep, and wetter than the lowland alluvial plane below.  There is essentially no economy in this region outside of real estate speculation, the odd eco-lodge, and illegal logging.  Agriculture and cattle are dominant industries along the alluvial plane.  Historically gold mining has been important to the regional economy.  Currently, tourism is the rising economic star.

GETTING HERE

RENTAL CAR:  From San Jose, the shortest route is the Panamerican-Costanera route, but there are three routes that can be taken, described below.

• Panamerican-Costanera:  Take the Panamerican Highway (Hwy 2) from San Jose to San Isidro.  Turn right on Dominical Highway.  At the end turn left on the Costanera Highway.  Drive through Dominical, Uvita, and take a right on the Panamerican Highway at Palmar Norte.  Take a right 45 minutes later at Chacarita, and gas up at the intersection as needed.  Proceed to Puerto Jimenez.
   

• Panamerican:  Take the Panamerican Highway (Hwy 2) from San Jose to Chacarita, passing through San Isidro, Buenos Aires, and Palmar Norte en route.  Take a right at Chacarita, and gas up as needed.  Proceed to Puerto Jimenez.
   

• Costanera:  Take the Puntarenas freeway west past the airport and pick up the Jacó exit and from the coast, pick up the Costanera.  Be prepared for abysmal road conditions between Quepos and Dominical, but push on happy from Dominicall all the way to Palmar Norte and your right on the Panamerican.  Take a right 45 minutes later at Chacarita, and gas up at the intersection as needed.  Proceed to Puerto Jimenez.

AIR:  There are 5-6 daily commercial flights between San Jose and Puerto Jimenez between two airlines, Natureair and Sansa.  The charter airline Aero Taxi Alfa Romeo also provides charter air service between Puerto Jiménez and any domestic airport desired.  Seasonal flight schedules and rates for 2005 for Natureair and Sansa are shown below.  Alfa Romeo's rate schedule for different routes are presented as well.  From Puerto Jimenez take a taxi north.  You can also fly into Palmar Sur, which is a closer access point than Jimenez for the Mogos region, though not by much.

BUS:  Below is a listing of all the bus schedules originating and finishing in Puerto Jimenez.  Please note that there are three actual bus pickup points for the different lines, so ask in town to make sure you're at the right place.  There is the Main Bus Station, the Carate Bus Station, and the La Palma buses pick up on the corner beside El Regalón in downtown Puerto Jimenez.

TAXI:  You can secure a van and driver for up to six people and luggage from San Jose for around $250.

TOURS

WILDERNESS HIKES

Wilderness Hikes:  The mountains rising out of the alluvial plane are all virgin forest rising to Corcovado.  A full range of tours include both day and night virgin rain forest nature experiences with bilingual naturalist guides.  Other popular local touring destinations include the Los Patos park station environs, the Indian Reservation, the Rancho Quemado area,

BIRD WATCHING

Your guide, Liz Jones, is the Osa´s most recognized birding authorities and operates a full-services lodge that welcomes all but caters to birders.   Tours daily depart six a.m. at Bosque del Rio Tigre Lodge,  just upriver from Dos Brazos on the Piedras Blancas fork.  Habitat includes primary and secondary montane tropical rain forest, riverine and montane physiography.  Within the Golfo Dulce Forestry Reserve adjacent to Corcovado National Park.  $35.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Horseback tours can be arranged pretty much anywhere in the region.  Every region has horses and horsemen that intimately know all the coolest spots in their various regions.  $10 per person per hour is the standard base rate of this tour, with half day tours of $35.  Horseback from La Palma to Los Patos:  $20 per person.

GOLD PANNING

Dos Brazos is a former placer gold boom town with a population that at its peak in the mid eighties rivaled that of present day Puerto Jimenez.  Learn the regionally unique design of the Costa Rican style gold pan and it´s tail feather elegance.  Work as hard as you want.  Colors guaranteed.  Local hand miners with a sluice and good claim have a banner day when they can wrest two grams a day, about $25 worth or any time they land a nugget of any size..  $10 per hour.

LODGING

Regional all-inclusive eco lodges include the following.  For more information on the lodge of your choice or to make reservations, click on the link beside the lodge and let me know your dates.  If you would like general advice simply write me with your questions.  For budget hotels in the town of Drake, see the following section.

A WORD ABOUT PRICING:  Too avoid the possibility of dated information, Sol de Osa, no longer publishes prices for lodges.  We rate accommodations as budget (BUD), mid-priced (MID), and top-shelf (TOP) according to the relativities of the class of destination.  Most lodges are all-inclusive and are priced per person.  Others do not include taxes in their pricing structure, and hotels and vacation rentals are normally priced per night based on double occupancy.  Please inquire for current pricing. 

	BOSQUE DEL RIO TIGRE:  For an incomparable rain forest experience specializing in bird watching.  Located less than one kilometer from the outskirts of Dos Brazos on the Piedras Blancas fork of the Rio Tigre, BRT is located in the Forest Reserve next to Corcovado National Park.  Located on a river with gold placer, BRT offers a full range of tours, accommodations, and gourmet meals. MORE INFO	TOP
	CABINAS LOS MINEROS:  This Dos Brazos hotel offers four cozy cabinas with private baths and large open air restaurant and bar with a variety of international and Costa Rican dishes.  Adjacent to Corcovado National Park.  Get there from Jimenez three times daily by bus for $1 or by taxi for $15.  NO ADVANCE RESERVATIONS POSSIBLE.	BUD
	FINCA KOBO:  Hybrid organic agricultural, budget ecolodge, featuring 50 hectares in total, 30 of primary rain forest and 20 hectares of reforestation efforts.  Great hosts, accommodations, meals, and tours.  Excellent for student groups up to 18, close to Los Patos Ranger Station.  MORE INFO	MID
	LA DANTA LODGE:  Located on 35 hectares (12 primary) in Guadalupe outside of La Palma, this budget eco-lodge is ideally located near the Los Patos entrance of Corcovado National Park.  Horse rentals for Corcovado bound hikers.  MORE INFO	MID
	VILLA CORCOVADO:  Located on the far northwestern shores of the Golfo Dulce near Rinco, Villa Corcovado is sea level with striking primary forest rising behind to the Mogos heights.  The Golfo Dulce in this region is like a lake, excellent for swimming and snorkeling.  Wide assortment of tours and activities.  Argentinean owned, very comfortable, alternative energy.  MORE INFO	TOP

For general reservations inquiries, please fill out our Osa Peninsula Travel Information Questionnaire.  Alternately, please write me or call at one of the phone numbers provided below.  From the United States, remember to use the 011 direct dialing prefix.

CAFENET EL SOL Travel and Tour Information and Reservation Services
English:  506 2735-5702
Spanish:  506 2735-5719
Facsimile:  506 2735-5717

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