Sierpe: Costa Rica's Gateway to the Osa Peninsula

Sierpe

Embark on a journey through the captivating mangroves and waterways of Sierpe, a gateway to the Osa Peninsula's pristine wilderness and abundant wildlife.

Sierpe, located in the Diquis Valley, is a small pueblo that many use as a stop staging point before venturing on to the Osa Peninsula. The town sits along the Sierpe River but the Pacific Ocean and Drake Bay are only a short, but scenic boat ride away. Main attractions of the area include Corcovado National Park, Cano Island Biological Reserve, and the Terraba-Sierpe Wetlands. Most visitors staying for more than a night come for the authentic Costa Rican experience and welcoming people.

Sierpe is a popular archeological area as there are numerous stones spheres and pottery that dates back to the indigenous cultures of hundreds of years ago. One can observe a handful of these spheres in the Central Park located right in town. Nearby Finca 6 was recently designated a World Heritage Site.

The Terraba-Sierpe Wetlands are another attraction to the area. The wetlands begin where the Sierpe and Terraba rivers merge creating the mangrove reserve, which happens to be the largest in all of Latin America. Many species of wildlife call this reserve home including crocodiles, monkeys and numerous bird species.

While it is difficult to consider Sierpe a mainstream tourist destination, it still has plenty to offer in terms of activities. One can enjoy experiences such as hiking, horseback riding, ATV, snorkeling, scuba diving, and bird watching. Fishing is pretty good for snapper and snook in the Sierpe Mangroves.

Weather and Packing List

Weather

The South Pacific is a region of vast contrasts in weather. Temperatures remain the same nearly year round with average day time highs in the upper 80s to low 90s and night time lows in the upper 70s. Precipitation varies by month with the months of December through April being the driest.

Packing List

Visitors should pack a bathing suit, towel, shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block, and insect repellent.

Facts

Fun Fact: Archaeologists still cannot figure out how the indigenous were able to create the stone spheres so symmetrically as some are near perfect spheres.