29 Fun Facts About Osa Costa Rica
February is the shortest month of the year. It’s also one of the most popular months to visit the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.
Leap year is back, ya’ll! Each one of us will gain 1,440 extra minutes in February this year, and if you’re one of the lucky few that get to cash in your leap year 2024 minutes in Osa Costa Rica, we hope you’ll spend them at one of our breathtaking luxury villas.
The Osa Peninsula is a stunning and diverse place, located on the southern Pacific coastline of Costa Rica. In honor of this brief stop on our yearly calendar and the phenomenon that is leap year, here are 29 fun facts to help you learn all about the Osa Canton in Costa Rica.
1. The Osa contains just under 3-percent of the entire world’s biodiversity.
2. It comprises an area of 1930 km2, beginning near Dominical at the Barú River and extending along the coast south toward the Panamanian border.
3. The region was named after indigenous Chief “Osa” who reigned in 1522.
4. National Geographic once referred to the Osa as “the most biologically intense place on earth.”
5. You’ll find some amazing, world-class beaches in the Osa, including the famous Pavones surf break where if the swell is right, the wave breaks for nearly a mile.
6. The Osa is home to the world famous Corcovado National Park, the largest national park in Costa Rica that encompasses a third of the Osa Peninsula.
7. In the 2011 census, 30,000 people called Osa their home. There are six districts in the Osa Canton, and our vacation villas are located in the district of Bahia Ballena.
8. The Stone Spheres of Costa Rica are located in this canton. The UNESCO World Heritage site in Finca 6 helps shed light on this ancient archaeological mystery.
9. The Osa peninsula was formed by a geological fault system that extends as far north as California.
10. The Osa Peninsula experiences some of the highest tides in the world, reaching up to 12 feet in some areas.
11. The main town in the Peninsula is Puerto Jimenez, where gold mining began in the 20th century.
12. Fifty percent of all species living in Costa Rica are found in the Osa Peninsula.
13. The Osa is home to all four species of monkeys: the howler monkey; Central American squirrel monkey; capuchin monkey (white-faced monkey); and the spider monkey.
14. Golfo Dulce is a popular breeding ground for humpback whales.
15. Osa has its own small airport located in Puerto Jimenez.
16. There are 100 butterfly species and more than 400 species of birds.
17. The Sierpe Terraba Wetland Reserve is the largest mangrove in Costa Rica and second largest in all of Latin America.
18. The Osa Conservation Area was established as a protected wildlife preserve.
19. Playa Hermosa Reserva Biologica, just south of Dominical, is home to 1,000-year-old ancient tropical trees.
20. Drake’s Bay is believed to be a port that was used by Sir Francis Drake during his raids, and may still hold lost treasure!
21. Every December to March and July thru October, humpback whales migrate to the area and make it a top spot for whale watchers.
22. Osa is home to Whale’s Tail Beach in Uvita, a famous land formation shaped like the tail of a whale, that juts into the Pacific. You can see it from many of our vacation homes!
23. It is home to many endemic species. The harpy eagle, which was believed to have gone extinct in 1989, was spotted in Corcovado National Park.
24. Osa has the largest population of scarlet macaws in Central America. Many have recently come to roost in Playa Dominical.
25. More than 700 species of trees can be found here, including the largest tree in Central America, a giant Silk Cotton, standing more than 75 meters tall.
26. The endangered jaguar still roams the jungles in Corcovado. Only a few hundred of the large cats remain in Costa Rica.
27. The indigenous Boruca tribe historically ruled the Peninsula. Today most members of the tribe live about 14 miles northeast, in the Talamanca Mountains. They still hand carve their amazing and famous Boruca masks at the present time.
28. Cano Island is located 17 km off the coast of the Osa Peninsula. The island has a long history; archaeologists found pre-Columbian stone spheres, grave sites of indigenous and evidence it was a popular pirate stop in the 17th and 18th centuries.
29. You deserve a vacation to Costa Rica this leap year to experience the unrivaled natural beauty of the Osa.
Vacation Rentals Costa Rica
YouGetHere Vacation Rentals still has some amazing properties available for the upcoming high-season months, and you can save a ton of money on your next big vacation getaway by booking directly with us. We can also reserve tours to Corcovado National Park, Cano Island and Sierpe, the largest mangrove in Central America.
Email [email protected] to experience the best the Costa Rica has to offer. And happy leap year!