Pavones Costa Rica Castillo Hotel

A blue bird day on the point

The best thing you can do when visiting Pavones is relax and unwind.  Just sitting under a palm tree out by the beach listening to the sounds of the sea and watching surfers take the ride of their life, could be exactly what you need.  There is so much to take in when you are in this environment that silence is golden.  Everywhere you look there is so much to see, both far and near.  With seabirds diving on schools of anchoveta in the distance as the afternoon sun turns the water to a golden shimmer, your mind can reconnect with a peace and harmony that will last long after you leave the South Pacific.

The ancient hardwood trees of the Pavones region and tropical rainforest ecosystems running down the sides of mountains set the scene for what is known as a canopy tour. Massive indigenous hardwoods slope the hillsides while many meters above, horizontal branches create a dense canopy of treetops. A Zipline canopy ride is perfect for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. This activity is something very exciting and unique that is not available many places on earth. Along the way you will “zip” along the tree line canopy that local monkeys, sloths, and birds call home. The Castillo de Pavones has extensive experience in providing guests with the best canopy tours in the Osa Peninsula and Pavones regions.

canopy-zipline-tour

Thanks to deep clear South Pacific Ocean currents and the living coral reefs that inhabit the Golfo Dulce, the Pavones region offers world class scuba diving and snorkeling. Just 10 years ago, Costa Rica was not well known as a world class dive destination, but today the word is out. Many of the waters that surround the Corcovado National Park and the Golfo Dulce are protected from commercial exploitation by Costa Rica and consequently offer a glimpse into a pristine undersea environment. In warm tropical waters the world below the sea is always accessible and something amazing to experience. The best time to visit is during the dry season from February to April. These conditions make for idea water clarity and are best for snorkeling or scuba diving. The Castillo de Pavones is owned and operated by a PADI certified dive instructor with regional expertise that will insure a safe and enjoyable undersea adventure that you will never forget.

pavones-costa-rica-dive

Another perfect wave at Pavones

Pavones is among the top two longest left breaking waves in the world. Not only is the wave long, but on most occasions the shelter provided by the Golfo Dulce makes for very nice enjoyable rides. In the winter months through early spring, The swells are smaller but perfect coupled with weeks on end of South Pacific sunshine. This is a great time for people to learn to surf and a time for more experienced surfers to really enjoy some perfect rides through paradise. By the end of the green season in summer, the swells pick up and the surf becomes world class in terms of size and character. Pavones has long been a haven for professionals as well as some fortunate beginners. The combination of a South Pacific current originating in Easter Island, a very deep entrance to the Golfo Dulce, and a sizeable coral reef in front of Pavones make for the perfect ingreedients to create a world class surfing destination.

Pavones is located in a relatively remote area of SW Costa Rica. When flying from abroad to Costa Rica, you will arrive in San Jose. From San Jose, it is a 4-5 hour journey to reach Playa Pavones and the Castillo. The Castillo de Pavones will provide all transportation to and from San Jose if you are traveling via the international airport in San Jose. On the ride from San Jose to the Castillo you will see friendly Costa Rica in all of it’s glory passing through the countryside and over rivers that a short time ago where unpassable. There have been major developments to the Civil infrastructure in the past decade so the quality of the Pavones experience today is better than it has ever been.

Pavones in relation to San Jose

fine dining in Pavones

The Golfo Dulce combined with tropical mountainous terrain, provides our region with the finest seafood and crops found anywhere in Costa Rica. The fresh food we serve in the Blue Morpho Lounge atop the Castillo, is of the finest quality. We select the finest regional produce and prepare local fish including Dorado (mahi-mahi) and Yellowfin Tuna which are both common in South Pacific waters and especially plentiful in our area of Costa Rica. We want you to enjoy the best Pavones has to offer while staying at the Castillo de Pavones. The Blue Morpho provides full room service for those occasions that you just want to take in the view from the privacy of your suite.

Costa Rica is said to hold 5% of all bio-diversity on the planet.   More than 25% of the nation’s land is dedicated to preservation.  In this bio-diverse world of life, there is a vast abundance of tropical flora and fauna.  Our region borders a land filled with all that you would expect to find in a tropical rainforest that meets the Pacific Ocean.  There are streams, waterfalls, rivers, active volcanoes, ancient canopy topped forests,  and many species of exotic wildlife.  Some of the most beautiful flowers and trees in the world are native to the Pavones region where everday is a new adventure.  Much of this can be enjoyed in peace due to the lower numbers of biting insects that you find in this region of Costa Rica compared to some of the other topographical locations.  This unique ecosystem also makes for some of the best bird watching found anywhere.

flowers of Costa Rica

Corcovado National Park

Looking out from the Castillo you can see the tip of the Corcovado National Park off in the distance.  The Osa Peninsula is home to the Corcovado National Park where live some of the region’s best kept natural wonders and a great place to visit when staying at the Castillo de Pavones.  Our region is considered one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet and no place exemplifies this better than Corcovado National Park.  Corcovado is said to host approximately 140 species of mammals, 367 birds, 117 amphibians and reptiles, 40 types of freshwater fish, and it is estimated that there are some 6,000 types of insects.   This is a truly special place.  With so many specialized activities to choose from when visiting Pavones, we will be happy to arrange your chosen activities in the region before you arrive.  Corcovado National Park is a popular place to tour by sea kayak where you can witness some of the most pristine streams in the wolrd as they make their way to the Pacific Ocean.  The waters around the park host some of the best snorkling in the region.  For land lovers there hiking tours, mountain bike tours, bird watching, and much more.  As a guest of the Castillo our experience in the region and within the tourism industry will be something you can count on when planning a journey to Corcovado National Park.

horseback riding costa rica

Have you ever been horseback riding along the sea?  Most people would respond no to such a question; however, in Costa Rica horeseback riding is one of the most popular land-based activities.  In the Pavones region we are fortunate to have remote stretches of beach along the Pacific Ocean and high country farms that overlook both the Golfo Dulce and the Pacific Ocean.  By horseback, you can ride through sceneary like you have never imagined.  There are spring fed rivers that cascade down mountainsides enroute to the sea.  Many natural wonders await you in Pavones, Costa Rica – many are off the beaten path.

The environment that surrounds the Castillo de Pavones is bursting with life. On any given night you can hear the rhythm of the jungle as the sounds combine with that of the sea and help you find true peace and harmony with nature. The sun and moon rise and set over the Golfo Dulce and the Pacific Ocean, allowing time to flow with the tides as nature intended. The sounds of the Jungle will assist in bringing you back to the natural state of being that will energize and revitalize you.

Nothing like the Castillo......