A stay at Hermosa Retreat is a private base for the best of Costa Rica’s South Pacific, from the primary rainforest of Corcovado National Park to the reefs of Isla del Caño, all just a short drive or boat ride from your villa. Our on-call tour manager handles the logistics: bookings, transport, timing around the tides. You just show up and go.
Ranked by National Geographic among the world’s most biologically intense places on Earth, Corcovado is the crown jewel of the Osa Peninsula, home to jaguars, tapirs, scarlet macaws, and more than 400 bird species across its protected rainforest. Full-day excursions depart by boat from nearby Uvita, combining a scenic coastal ride with guided hiking through primary forest at San Pedrillo Ranger Station. It’s a serious wildlife destination, and one of the most rewarding day trips in the country.
Explore the coastline and jungle the way Costa Ricans have for generations. Rides depart from working ranches just outside Uvita and wind through pastureland and secondary forest before opening onto the sand at Playa Hermosa, with time to swim, watch for howler monkeys along the trail, and catch the sunset over the Pacific from the saddle. Waterfall routes are also available for guests who’d rather trade the beach for a jungle swimming hole.
Tucked into a family-run reserve in the hills above Uvita, Santa Lucía is a guided hike to three waterfalls through private rainforest trails, carved and cared for by the same local family for generations. Expect birdwatching, swimming holes along the way, and a home-cooked Costa Rican lunch to finish. It’s one of the most authentic, least touristed experiences in the area, and a favorite among guests looking to get off the beaten path.
For a different perspective on the Whale’s Tail, take to the air. Tandem paragliding flights launch from the ridgeline above Dominical and soar over jungle canopy and open ocean, guided by an experienced pilot the entire way. Available during the dry season (December–April), this is the fastest way to see just how dramatically the rainforest meets the Pacific along this stretch of coast.
Set sail from Uvita on a private catamaran and let the afternoon unfold at its own pace, snorkeling over calm reef, keeping an eye out for dolphins and migrating whales, and toasting the sunset from the water as the sky turns over Playa Hermosa. Half-day and full-day charters are available, fully private for your group, with no fixed itinerary but the one you choose
Isla del Caño sits roughly 20 miles off the coast, inside a marine reserve so protected that daily diver numbers are capped, keeping the reefs and marine life remarkably intact. Two-tank trips depart from Uvita, just minutes from your villa, for a boat ride past coastline where dolphins and (in season) humpback whales are common company. Expect visibility up to 60–80 feet, white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and rays across dive sites often compared to Costa Rica’s famed, and far more remote, Cocos Island.
The South Pacific has so much to offer. Every Hermosa Retreat booking includes access to our concierge and tour management team, who can arrange tours, along with airport transfers, private chefs, and in-villa spa services. Contact us to build your itinerary.
