THE OSA PENINSULA CHRONICLES
Osa Peninsula Historical Stories
TOURISM INFORMATION CENTER
THE STORIES BEHIND THE HISTORY
The Osa Peninsula traveled through time and space…
The historical chronicles of the Osa Peninsula is steeped in mystery, and at one time this biologically intense place was a part of the ocean floor.
However, as the volcanoes continued to erupt and the tectonic plates collided, an unbroken land bridge between North and South America formed, and the Osa Peninsula rose above the surface of the water. Our Osa Peninsula historical stories begin. READ MORE
HISTORICAL STORIES- Doña Berta Stories from the 1970s, Carate River and Corcovado National Park.
Doña Berta lived among the goldmines and ran the pulperia in Carate for many years at the end of the road. Small in stature, yet strong in presence, she was not to be crossed. The gold miners all understood that. Eventually, Berta returned to Puerto Jimenez and was owner and operator of the small hotel called Cabinas The Corner right up until her death a few years ago. READ MORE
The United Fruit Company
Osa Peninsula History, a Banana Republic
In the 1930’s, things started to change on the Osa. The United Fruit Company decided to desert the Atlantic region and to move to the Pacific because of a deterioration of the land near the Caribbean coast. READ MORE
Anita Polanco, an Osa Peninsula Pioneer
Osa Peninsula Historical Stories
Anita Polanco first arrived with her husband in search of gold as the first gold rush took hold in the years before 1940. They came to the village of Puerto Jimenez to begin their walk across the mountains looking for gold. READ MORE
The Crown Jewel, Corcovado National Park
By Alvaro Ugalde
My First Encounter with the Osa Peninsula…It was the year 1965. I was returning to Costa Rica from the United States, on a flight of the famous and now defunct Pan American Airlines….READ MORE
Father of Costa Rica’s National Park System
Osa Peninsula Historical Stories
Alvaro Ugalde of the National Parks System and President Daniel Oduber formed a strong partnership that gave Ugalde the power to act on the presidents behalf; and it is with this power that conservation on the Osa Peninsula came about. Ugalde, who was now known as ‘The President’s Man’, got the banks to stop leading money to the land speculators of the OSA.
In 1976, Alvaro Ugalde presented plans for moving forward on the development and funding, while the new Corcovado National Park was declared a national emergency due to the number of squatters. It took a year and $1.7 million to remove all the squatters from the park. However, a small number of gold miners remained entrenched.
Initially, Alvaro Ugalde and Mario Bazo faced a challenge in convincing Costa Ricans that national parks were of great value to the country. With the election of Oscar Arias as President and his Nobel Peace Prize award, Costa Rica was garnering a lot of attention around the world; and the national parks became a magnet for tourists.
1965 – Alvaro visits the Osa for the first time as a guide for an American.
1968 – Alvaro goes to a North America National Parks seminar.
1969 – He joins Boza at the Parks Department.
1970 – Becomes Director of the Santa Rosa NP and later Volcán Poás NP.
1973 – Rises to Director of the NP.
1986 – Alvaro leaves as Director of the NP.
1991 – He becomes Director of the NP’s again.
2003 – 2006 Alvaro Regional Director Corcovado National Park.
2006 – 2015 Continued his work with Corcovado NP up until his death.
Alvaro was raised in a village inside the Costa Rican volcanic mountain range. His father was a road engineer who discussed the importance of environmental preservation with him. His upbringing and schoolyears ingrained in him principles of compassion and respect for the environment and for the people. Recognizing a love for nature at an early age, he was driven to study biology at the University of Costa Rica and later received a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management at the University of Michigan. He also valued the importance of spending a year working manual labor jobs in the state of Georgia. These manual labor jobs helped him learn English, a skill that moved him through many circles during his life, as well as provided him the opportunity to carefully explain environmental projects to conservation groups and major donors alike.
Now, a total of 166 protected areas, both public and private, protect Costa Rica’s natural resources.
Still, to the end of his life, Ugalde said that a lot of work remains so as to guarantee the preservation of the country’s national parks, especially Corcovado, where development pressures and gold miners, in the words of Ugalde, “put it in danger of extinction”.
Thank you to the Tico Times.
Osa Stories and News
You captured some of the colourful historical events of the Osa Peninsula.
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People Who Earn Their Stories
The arrival of oreros (goldmines) to the areas on the Osa Peninsula in the late 1930s had very little social impact, beyond the establishment of bars and the rise of certain vices. There were no roads onto the Osa Peninsula till the 1980s.
We continue to look for Osa Stories as we all know her history is hidden in the people who lived here at that time. Pura Vida!
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Costa Rica Establishes First Village on the Osa Peninsula
Puerto Jiménez Established at Present Day Site
EcoTourism Comes to The Osa Peninsula
Acontecimientos Históricos que Marcaron el Camino de la Península de Osa a través de la Historia
The Stories Behind the History
Submit Your Story Below / Envíe Su Historia a Continuación
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THE OSA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER
Up-To-Date Tourist Information from the Osa Peninsula
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TOP TEN THINGS TO EXPERIENCE ON THE OSA PENINSULA
1. Visit Corcovado National Park: The Park is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and is home to a variety of wildlife, including jaguars, tapirs, and scarlet macaws.
2. Go Whale Watching: The Osa Peninsula is one of the best places in Costa Rica to go whale watching. You can spot humpback whales, pilot whales, and even orcas.
3. Explore the Beaches: The Osa Peninsula is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. From white sand beaches to black sand beaches, there is something for everyone.
4. Go Sport Fishing: The Osa Peninsula is a great place to go sport fishing. You can catch a variety of fish, including marlin, sailfish, and roosterfish.
5. Visit the Waterfalls: The Osa Peninsula is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica. From the majestic King Louis (Matapalo Waterfall) to the awesome Magical Mogos Waterfalls, there is something for everyone.
6. Go Bird Watching: The Osa Peninsula is home to a variety of birds, including toucans, parrots, and oropendolas.
7. Take a Boat Tour of the Golfo Dulce: Take a boat tour of the Osa Peninsula and explore the mangroves, islands, and beaches.
8. Go Kayaking: Kayaking is a great way to explore the Osa Peninsula. You can paddle through the mangroves and explore the islands.
9. Go Hiking: The Osa Peninsula is home to a variety of hiking trails, from easy to difficult. Explore the rainforest and spot a variety of wildlife.
10. Surfing: It is a great destination for surfers, with some of the best waves in the country. The waves here are suitable for all levels of surfers, from beginners to experienced surfers.
Osa Tourism / Turismo de Osa
WE PROTECT THE THINGS WE LOVE
PROTEGEMOS LAS COSAS QUE AMAMOS
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Contact / Contáctenos
SHOWING THE COLORS OF THE OSA PENINSULA
MOSTRANDO LOS COLORES DE LA PENÍNSULA DE OSA
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DIRECCION
Puerto Jiménez
Península de Osa, Costa Rica