Kayak Crossing of Golfo Dulce 🛶🌴🐬

🌟 Introduction

Golfo Dulce is an incredible place that blends tropical rainforest, crystal-clear sea, secluded beaches, and wildlife encounters like dolphins and sea turtles. Now imagine crossing it in a kayak... it doesn’t get better than that. 🌊💚

📌 How to get there?

Waze

🚗 Vehicle: Any car. The road is in excellent condition from San José to Puerto Jiménez.
🕒 Duration: 4 days and 3 nights
🐾 Pets: Not allowed
💸 Cost: $300 per person for groups of 8 or more.

✅ Includes:

• Support boat for 3 days
• Guides and equipment (kayaks)
• Camping spot the night before the tour in Chontal, Rincón de Osa
• Day 1: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 3: Breakfast

Lodging in pre-set tents on Day 1 and 2 at Saladero Lodge.

📞 Contact: Flow Trips – Jhonny Calderón

🎒 What to bring?

Swimsuit / light pants, quick-drying clothes with sun protection, water shoes, sandals, lots of sunscreen, bug repellent, sunglasses, hat, towel, headlamp, bed sheets, and waterproof camera. Some people brought gym gloves for paddling... and hammocks were a total success! 😄🕶️🧴

🌄 Our experience

We left San José on December 26th, right after Christmas. Since it’s a time when everyone heads to the beach, we decided to take the Cerro de la Muerte route — a great decision! It was a clear day, with light traffic and scenic mountain views 🚗☁️🌄.

We passed through Pérez Zeledón, continued down the Interamericana Sur, and stopped for lunch in Ballena. From there, we headed toward Rincón, a small town just before Puerto Jiménez. The road was pristine, newly paved with reflective markers.

We arrived early enough to visit a souvenir shop called Jaguar, where they sell homemade ice cream and 100% natural local products 🍦🌿. After that, we went back to Rincón to settle into our lodging: Campamento Chontal, a rustic site with simple but comfy cabins, clean bedding, towels, and a private bathroom. Dinner was fresh fish — absolutely delicious 🐟 — and we met our guides that night for a logistics briefing.

🚣‍♂️ Day 1 – Let the paddling begin!

We woke up at 6:00 a.m., had breakfast, and geared up. By 7:00 a.m., everyone was ready in their double kayaks with foot-controlled rudders for steering. We paddled for about 1.5 to 2 hours until reaching Los Mogos, a set of small islands halfway across the gulf. There, we rehydrated, ate fresh fruit, swam in the sea, and rested a bit 🍉💦.

Back on the water, we spotted dolphins along the way 🐬 — not too close, but they gave us a magical moment. The last stretch took about another hour until we reached Saladero Lodge.

Upon arrival, we found cozy open huts with palm-leaf roofs and inflatable mattresses. Our guides had a delicious sandwich lunch ready 🥪. We rested in the ENO hammocks, which were amazing, and later played games and hung out.

That evening, dinner was top-notch: seared tuna fillet, mashed potatoes, and garlic bread — all homemade and mouthwatering 🤤. Afterward, we laid down under the stars. Even with the full moon, the sky was clear and breathtaking 🌕✨.

🐠 Day 2 – Snorkeling & moonlit mangroves

Next morning, we paddled for 45 minutes to a secluded beach perfect for snorkeling. The reef was beautiful, with colorful coral and fish we’re not used to seeing on the Central Pacific side. The water was crystal-clear 🌊🐠.

We returned for a hearty pasta lunch 🍝 and later explored nearby jungle trails, lined with yellow flowers 🌼🌿. The highlight of the day came in the evening: a moonlight paddle.

We prepped with headlamps and paddled into the Esquinas River, surrounded by mangroves and the nocturnal sounds of the jungle. It was surreal and peaceful, paddling in the dark under the full moon 🌑🔦🌴.

🏁 Day 3 – Reflection and return

On the final day, we had breakfast and set out for our return. This time the route was shorter — just under two hours. We paddled in silence, reflecting on the whole experience and how small we felt amidst such vast, beautiful nature 💭🌊.

We stopped for a snack on the way home, grateful for completing such a memorable and meaningful adventure. A trip we’ll treasure forever.