Isla del Caño Biological Reserve
Nature spot · Osa Peninsula
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A forested island 16 km off the Osa coast, protected as a biological reserve: coral beds, turtles, rays and dolphins under the surface, whales in season, and pre-Columbian stone spheres on the island itself.
- Cost
- about $20
- Time there
- 6 h
- Best time
- morning
- Kids
- 4 / 10
- View
- 8 / 10
- Crowds
- 6 / 10
- Swimming
- 9 / 10
- Effort
- 3 / 10
- Location
- 8.709, -83.874 — Google Maps
Tip
Go with a boat tour from Drake Bay (about an hour each way; Sierpe and Uvita also run trips) and book the morning departure: snorkeling here is excellent while dive visibility can be cloudy.
Be careful
Landings are wet beach landings in surf: keep bags and camera in a dry sack, follow your guide, stay off the coral and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Getting there
Boat only, 1 hour or more from Drake Bay; the reserve fee is usually included in the tour price and trips depend on sea conditions.
Places nearby
- Soda Los PaniquinesSodas & Local FoodA tiny family soda along the Drake Bay coastal trail, reached by a signed path behind a soccer field and past a few small houses — a good lunch stop for hikers, with a solid casado.
Sources: Wikidata Q182214 · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_del_Ca%C3%B1o · https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Drake_Bay · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q182214