Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
The easiest way to travel on the eastern coast of the peninsula is by car. Otherwise, fre-
quent buses ply the sole road between La Palma and Puerto Jiménez (US$0.50, 30
minutes).
Puerto Jiménez
Sliced in half by the swampy, overgrown Quebrada Cacao, and flanked on one side by the
emerald waters of the Golfo Dulce, the vaguely Wild West outpost of Puerto Jiménez is
shared equally by local residents and wildlife. While walking through the dusty streets of
Port Jim (as the gringos are wont to call it), it's not unusual to spot scarlet macaws roost-
ing on the soccer field, or white-faced capuchins traversing the treetops adjacent to the
main street.
Then again, it's not too hard to understand why Puerto Jiménez is brimming with wild-
life, mainly because the town lies on the edge of Parque Nacional Corcovado. As the pre-
ferred jumping-off point for travelers heading to the famed Sirena ranger station, the town
is a great place to organize an expedition, stock up on supplies, eat a hot meal and get a
good night's rest before hitting the trails.
Indeed, Puerto Jiménez is the 'big city' around these parts, and here you'll find the re-
gion's largest and most diverse offering of hotels, restaurants and other tourist services.
But Puerto Jiménez is very much a close-knit community at its core, and its small-town
charm and languid pace are surprisingly infectious. While it is understandably difficult to
resist the pull of the deep jungle just beyond, consider putting the brakes on and lingering
here for a few days.
