Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) is located at the South of the Province of Puntarenas on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica.

The Piedras Blancas National Park, in the northeast part of the gulf, with 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) of protected rainforest and tropical lowland wet forest, was established in 1992 as an extension of the Corcovado National Park, in the Osa Peninsula, to which it is connected by a forest corridor which ensures biodiversity and self-sustaining ecological and evolutionary processes between wildlife populations.

Golfo Dulce was announced a Mission Blue hope spot in February 2019, following the recognition of the unique biome of the tropical gulf as home to marine life including the Humpback whale, Orcas  among others that visit the area and use it as a breeding ground and nursery for their calves. It is also ideal place for 4 types of dolphins among them the Spotted Dolphins and Bottle Nosed Dolphins and some species of shark, Needle Fish, Marlins and Dorados are popular too.

Of the marine reptiles that live within the gulf, sea turtles are the most prominent with several species such as the Pacific Green Sea Turtle, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, and Pacific Leatherback. Along with sea turtles, yellow bellied sea snakes, saltwater caimans, and saltwater crocodiles also inhabit the area.

The ecosystem that surrounds is just as rich in life as in the water with two to three percent of flora being found nowhere else on Earth. It is also home to reptiles, birds, amphibians, insects, and even mammals. Iguanas, Saltwater Caimans, Saltwater Crocodiles, numerous species of snakes both venomous and non-venomous, several species of geckos, the Scarlet Macaw and the Toucan, and all four monkey species found in Costa Rica (the Central American squirrel monkey, the Geoffrey’s spider monkey, the Mantled howler monkey and the White-headed capuchin monkey), they are all part of this full of life ecosystem.

There are a few lodging facilities in the area, some of them a real treat to the soul and mostly accessible only by boat. Our favorite, Playa Cativo Lodge an amazing place, with full board and activities included top of the notch service, warm people, excellent food.