Costa Rica Central Pacific in a glance

The Costa Rica Central Pacific Coast is a magnificent region for incentive programs, events or meetings. Close to the main international airport (1 1/2 hours on the 27th and Coastal Highways), it is luscious green, it has great tours and activities, National Parks and gorgeous beaches. 

Costa Rica Central Pacific Map

The Central Pacific, and mainly Herradura Beach, with its famous Los Sueños Marriott is the center of many successful incentive programs and corporate events. And incidentally a popular vacations route for hundreds of executives, famous Hollywood stars and even rock singers, every year.

Geographical Location

The Central Pacific region runs from the western parts of the Central Valley and Puntarenas provinces, from the Tarcoles River (The popular crocodiles bridge) to Dominical Beach (Soth from Manuel Antonio National Park.

Landscape

The region is quite flat with a permanent view of rolling hills and mountains that turn into amazing rainforests once one gets in them.   As you drive through the area in the sunny season you may notice that there are several leafless trees together with luscious forests and this happens because at this particular point is where the tropical dry forest turns into humid rainforest.

Weather

The Costa Rica Central Pacific has two main periods: The sunny (Also called the dry season), from December to mid-May and the rainy season, from mid-May to November, with a very stable and quite pleasant temperature of 85° F all year round. However, in the sunny season it may rise to 90’2 and even occasionally to the 100°’s F°.

In the rainy season temperature does not change much and rains happen usually two or three hours in the afternoons. (Except whenever there are hurricanes or low pressure systems in the Caribbean that may cause episodes of continuous pouring rains on the Pacific side. But then, again, these happen twice or three times in the year).

The relative humidity is constantly at 85 percent.  In January and February, it drops to between 75 and 80 percent humidity, and reaches its peak of 90 percent humidity in June, September and November

Along the coast, average rainfall is 143 inches per year, but as you go up the mountains up to 260 inches

In the surrounding central mountains temperature may drop a little specially in December and January. (To 60°s F°)

Read also: Central Valley for programs, meetings and events

Culture

The area of Costa Rica had, for decades three main sources of income: Bananas, Palm oil (After the banana plantation left) and fishing. Fishing remains in the travel industry, to be one of the most important things to enjoy in the region. You can have deep sea fishing and/or artisanal fishing.

Area, population and cities

With an area of 3911 km² (2430 m2) and as of 2011, it has a population of 300,000 people.

Most popular areas in terms of the travel industry are Herradura, Manuel Antonio, Quepos and Puntarenas (As a cruise ships port of call).

National Parks in the Central Pacific Region:

• Carara National Park
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Pájaros Island
• San Lucas Island
• Tolinga Islands (Where Tortuga Island is)

Read also: Manuel Antonio National Park hike... Is it for everyone? 

Accommodations for Incentives Programs and Events:

Los Sueños Marriott Resort

• Los Sueños Marriott

Read also: Guanacaste for Incentives, meetings and events

Activities and Excursions

Some of the most popular activities for participants are:

Aerial Tram

• Golf
• Aerial Trams
• Rainforest Hikes
• Bird Watching
• Spas
• Rainforest Zip-lining Tours
• White Water Rafting
• Horseback Riding
• Shopping
• Snorkeling
• Diving
• Sailing
• Surfing
• Projects of social sensitivity
• Wildlife Rescue Centers

Juan Santamaria International Airport

Airlines arriving in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO):

Commercial carriers

Aeroméxico: Mexico City

Air Canada Rouge: Toronto–Pearson

Air Panama: David, Panama City-Albrook

Air Transat: Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson

Alaska Airlines: Los Angeles

American Airlines: Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami

Seasonal: New York–JFK, Phoenix

Avianca Costa Rica: Bogotá, Guatemala City, Lima, Managua, Panama City, San Salvador

Seasonal: Cancún

Avianca Guatemala: Guatemala City, San Andrés, Tegucigalpa

British Airways:  London-Gatwick (begins April 27th,  2016)]

Condor: Frankfurt, Santo Domingo

Copa Airlines:  Guatemala City, Managua, Panama City, Tegucigalpa

Copa Airlines: Colombia Guatemala City, Panama City

Cubana de Aviación: Havana

Delta Air Lines: Atlanta, Los Angeles

Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK

Iberia:Madrid

Interjet :Mexico City

JetBlue Airways: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando

Nature Air: Bocas del Toro, Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Limón, Managua, Nosara, Puerto Jimenez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero

Sansa Airlines: Costa Esmeralda, Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Limón, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jimenez, Quepos, San Isidro, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero

Southwest Airlines: Baltimore, Houston–Hobby

Spirit Airlines: Fort Lauderdale, Houston–Intercontinental

United Airlines: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles

Seasonal: Denver [17]

Veca Airlines: San Salvador

Volaris: Cancún, Guadalajara

WestJet: Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson

Source: Premio DMC