Acclaimed for its astonishing biodiversity, the Peninsula de Osa is swaddled in the expanse of tropical rain forest along the Pacific coast of the isthmus. Beach loves can choose from panoply of endearing beaches, where the surfing is fabulous and a bevy of top-ranked eco-lodges belie the final frontier feel.

Much of its jungle-cloaked interior is banked within Parque Nacional Corcovado, created in the 1970s to guard against the encroachment of man. Much of the Osa is owned by logging companies which still fell hardwoods.

The former gold-mining villages now cater to ecotourism, offering horseback riding and guided hikes into Corcovado.