Climate: Hot and humid.
Average Temperature: 79°F with humidity ranging from 75 to 90%, depending on season
This southern zone has the highest percentage of land preserved in national parks and other reserves than any other region. The South Pacific Region includes the southwest coast of Costa Rica and the southern part of the Puntarenas Province from Playa Dominical, Uvita, Marino Ballena, Ojochal. It extends to the east into the Talamanca Mountain Range and includes part of the the La Amistad International Park and Mount Chirripo.
The South Pacific Tourism Region is best known for remote beaches, diving, sport fishing, Marino Ballena National Park, bird u0026amp; wildlife watching
Dominical
Dominical is a surfer’s paradise where waves can reach over 10 feet high. An experienced surfer’s beach, Dominical lies some 40 kilometers south of the lovely Playa de Jaco in Puntarenas province. Attracting surfers not only from across the country, but from all over the world, this village is a great place to lie back and enjoy the various activities and water sports found around here. Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants in the area. With its stunning backdrop of lush green forests and palm tress, this beach is also a great place to bird watch or take a canopy tour of the surrounding locale.
At Ballena National Marine Park just south of Dominical, swimmers and snorkelers can enjoy calmer waters. The park is also a hot spot for dolphin and whale watching. In this watery realm, named after the humpback whales that migrate there from August – October and December – April, visitors can explore miles of deserted beaches, mangrove forests and coral reefs. Protecting more than 5300 hectares of ocean and nine miles of coastline, the park also serves as a nesting site for endangered Olive Ridley and hawksbill sea turtles.
Marino Ballena National Park is named after the Humpback Whales that migrate here each year from December to April to mate before returning to the frigid waters to the north.
Playas Uvita ,Ballena and Ojochal are relatively unvisited stretches of white and golden sand. Green marine iguanas (iguana verde) bask in the sun between dives to feed on the algae growing on the rocks and coral. Between the beaches are areas of mangrove habitat.
The largest coral reef on the Pacific Coast of Central America forms a crescent necklace with the three small islands known as Las Tres Hermanas (three sisters) and Ballena island as the center piece. The park stretches from the southern end of Playa Hermosa to the northern end of Playa Piñuela and about 9 miles (15 km) seaward.
Protected areas: Hacienda Baru, Chirripo National Park, Ballena National Marine Park, Rancho La Merced Wildlife Refuge,Parque Reptilandia.