The authentic town of Ojochal is a really nice town that offers basic services that you may be looking for during your vacations. The slow pace of this city has not yet been affected by tourism, which makes this place a very quiet place compared to other destinations.
Playa Tortuga or Ojochal as the locals call it, is a clean stretch of beach adored by the Ticos and alike by foreigners.The town of Ojochal is right on the coast but also surrounded by mountain forests. It is located very close to the beaches.
Ojochal is fortunate to be off the beaten track in a part of the country that has only been accessible by paved road for the last ten years. The jungle is a little greener here, the water is a little cooler. The beaches are a little less crowded than anywhere else you visit, but the people are warmer and friendlier. Maybe that’s why everyone is so relaxed in the pura vida spirit, because they live in such a unique place in the world?
So, if you are ready for an adventure and want to go somewhere your friends have probably never been, you have a short list of places to visit in this area. A place that has both a wide range of eco-tourism and a wide Ojochal culinary offer!
Playa Tortuga Reserve is a non-profit biological research and education center formed in 2009 by members of the “resident scientists” community and Costa Rican scientists. RPT aims to contribute to the fields of biological research and science-based conservation management, as well as to promote a culture of environmental conservation in the areas influenced by the National Wetlands of the Térraba-Sierpe basin.
Playa Tortuga is primarily a nesting beach for olive ridley turtles although other species may occasionally arrive. Thanks to the efforts of the Reserve, it was officially declared a nesting beach in 2014.
It is one of the most famous waterfalls in the region and it is truly spectacular. It is located deep in the jungle and can only be reached by 4 × 4 car. You should park near the tilapia farm and restaurant. After driving almost 4 km on that road, walk about 100 meters on an easily accessible road to find this magical place. Silence dominates here and you have the impression of being alone.
The deepest part of this waterfall is about 5 meters and you can see the bottom: this forest is so clean! You can visit this waterfall without paying an admission ticket, but be sure to stop for a lunch at the Tilapia restaurant. You will have a fresh and delicious casado with fried Tilapia, which is a traditional Costa Rican dish. It’s a good place to visit when you want to spend the day off the beach.
Ojochal is known as the culinary capital of Costa Rica. Decades ago, French and international restaurateurs came to this region to “get away from it all”, as we still do. They eventually became famous, here and abroad. Today, some of those establishments remain, and many more join in this delicious fun! Below are some of our absolute favorites when it comes to the haute cuisine that Ojochal is known for.
Several highly rated restaurants are also renowned for their live entertainment in a charming location, offering a lively atmosphere, with a different musical performance almost every night of the week. People love this destination for fun times with large groups of friends in the evenings. Open for lunch, dinner and only some for breakfast. F.eg.: Exótica, Citrus, Heliconia, El castillo’s kitchen.
Not all the monkeys scream in Ojochal but most of them are high in the mountains peacefully gathering fruit. Do you want to see them more closely? There is possibly no better place in Costa Rica than with the Canopy Tour. This adventure tour has 9 zip lines between 14 platforms, all of which are sustainably suspended so as not to disturb wildlife or damage trees. Many cables and platforms are relocated after several years to keep up with changes in nature. There are also two different stations where you can rappel backwards, do a suspension bridge and try Tarzan’s swing. You can see monkeys, sloths, morpho butterflies, toucans, and more.
It is possibly one of the most impressive beaches in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. Perhaps all over the world. This is a public beach, but if you manage to get there early you may be one of the only people on this beach, which is truly breathtaking to behold! Coconut palms blend with almond trees, providing shade.
The beach is perfect, with spectacular sea caves around that you can enter at low tide. But the best thing is the view of the jungle-covered mountains from the water. There are hardly any places like this left in the world and it is a natural wonder. Ventanas is a beach that is kept clean and free of garbage by people from the community. In it you will find bathroom rentals, showers, parking, as well as a picnic area in front of the palm trees that surround the beach.
This is one of the largest natural borders, encompassing around 10% of the entire land mass of Costa Rica. There are dense mangroves surrounding the Térraba river basin. As guides take you on this relaxing tour, they will show you what the wildlife is like and even teach you how local farmers can keep up with what they grow and catch at sea. You can see scarlet macaws, iguanas, monkeys, and maybe even a crocodile. The second part of the tour takes you to the other side of the isthmus: Garza Island. Here, you can spend time on a remote beach and enjoy a tropical lunch. Simply awesome, safe, and fun for the whole family.
Thanks to the complete protection in this area and the limit on the numbers of tourists, many interesting marine animals can be found in the waters of the island. Diving there is an amazing opportunity to meet manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks, and even whales face to face. The Isla del Caño Nature Reserve is frequently linked as one of the best diving spots in Costa Rica. Also, there are many water sports that can be practiced such as snorkeling and whale watching.
The area of the island and the incredible biodiversity of the area has been protected as a biological reserve since 1978. The area is famous for good visibility and warm water, both of which are elements that make it a good place for diving. Diving in Caño Island will be an incredible adventure for those that are more experienced and for those who are just starting their diving adventure. Costa Rica Divers can help you organize this trip with transportation to our dive center.
Travel to southern Costa Rica and discover the majesty and beauty of the most iconic waterfalls on the Osa Peninsula, a must-see for anyone who wants to experience the rainforest and the waterfalls. You will be surprised by the legendary Nauyaca waterfall. Uvita Waterfall is a unique opportunity to slide down a waterfall on a natural rock slide, which is sure to make even the most insane traveler smile. We will take you to our favorite swimming spots, a bamboo forest and our favorite lookout point.
This is a 2-day activity on the island that is very remote. It is also the best place to do an activity away from people. You will have many possibilities to see sloths in the surroundings and you will be with a local family, eating typical food and seeing how a Costa Rican family spends their time. This tour begins at 7:00 am from Drake or Sierpe and then there will be a night kayak tour, which will have a maximum duration of 2 hours. The bioluminescence activity in a Kayak cannot be seen if the moon is not visible. But you still can enjoy that part of the tour.
As you can see Ojochal and its surroundings have a lot to offer and everyone will find something for themselves. Of course, we encourage you to take advantage of the rich offer of attractions offered by the ocean, because it is the greatest attraction here. If you want to try diving in Marino Ballena or snorkeling, we invite you to our diving center.
