Dos Brazos Abiertos

Activities

Dos Brazos del Rio Tigre
 Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica

The Dos Brazos del Rio Tigre area offers a treasure trove of mountain eco-tourism activities.  With at least two novels and countless books that describe the gold mining center of the 1980's gold rush, Dos Brazos remains filled with the gold-culture that originally founded it.  Today the yellow metal is still wrested from the world-class placer rivers, but the real treasure today is green.  While Dos Brazos does not yet have an official park gateway, Corcovado National Park is a couple hours brisk hike from town.  There are two large rivers that can be hiked or explored on horseback.  Both boast a number of waterfalls as well as tributaries.  Many trails traverse the land, and there are overland trails that follow old mining routes to Madrigal and Carate on the Pacific side.  Bosque del Rio Tigre Lodge hosts the peninsula's most renowned bird-watching tour as well as a variety of guided hikes and horseback riding tours.  For guided tours sponsored from our friends at Terrapin Lodge, or for self-guiding kayak and horseback adventures, consider the following:

JUNGLE HIKING AND WILDLIFE VIEWING

The two branches of the Rio Tigre extend from the town of Dos Brazos into the forest interior of the Osa Peninsula and into Corcovado National Park.  Both watersheds can be explored on foot starting from the front door of Dos Brazos Abiertos, either self-guiding for free, or with a bilingual naturalist guide for $50 per person.

HORSEBACK RIDING

The two watersheds, the tributaries draining into them, and kilometers of foot trails connecting the rivers are ideal for horseback riding in the forest.  Guided tours are $40 per person for a half a day.  Horse rentals for self-guiding tours are $25 per person.

RECREATIONAL GOLD MINING

Both forks of the Rio Tigre are gold-bearing and have seen years of plenty during the gold rush period of the 1980s.  To this day, hand miners continue to mine both watersheds and tributaries draining into the two forks of the Rio Tigre.  With a local gold miner as a guide and a bit of elbow grease, a gold pan, shovel, barra, and a sluice box, you are guaranteed to come away from this guided tour with gold colors.  $35 per person. 

BIRD WATCHING

Bosque del Rio Tigre Rainforest Lodge is the Osa Peninsula's premier birding destination and is a ten minute walk away from Dos Brazos Abiertos Guest House.  Early morning birding tours depart daily under the leadership of the expert guidance of either Abraham or Liz.  Hundreds of species in a variety of habitats, this tour is sure to please.  $35 per person.

KAYAKING

Both mangrove and sunset dolphin watching kayak tours depart daily from Puerto Jimenez, a mere twenty minute drive from Dos Brazos Abiertos Guest House.  The mangrove tours depart according to high tide, and the sunset dolphin watching tours depart daily at three p.m.  On days where the high tide is between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. you can do a five-hour combination of the two tours for the discounted rate of $45 per person.  Individually the kayak tours are $35.

SPORT FISHING

The blue water off the Osa Peninsula is one of the world's hottest sailfish fisheries and home to marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna.  Golfo Dulce inshore waters boast four species of snapper, grouper, a variety of jacks, roosterfish, snook, African pompano, and many others.  Half day fishing adventures in the gulf start at $300 and full day offshore trips start at $600 and go as high as $1000 per day.  Departure is from the Puerto Jimenez pier, about twenty minutes away from Dos Brazos Abiertos Guest House

If organized tours are not your thing, just take off hiking up Rio Piedras Blancas or along the two-track on the other side of the river that decays into a foot trail that goes all the way to Carate.  Alternately, head up the other fork and enjoy the serene majesty of undisturbed rain forest and a primal mountain river and the vast stores of wildlife that call this watershed home.  When you are ready for a bit of culture, head into Puerto Jimenez for a variety of dining alternatives, Internet, souvenirs, and travel planning.

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