Top 7 Bodies of Water in Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica

*It is always advised to call ahead in case Finca Cántaros must close unexpectedly for special circumstances* Finca Cantaros is a 17.3-acre private nature reserve about 2 km south of the town of San Vito. Enjoy grand vistas of the surrounding Coto Brus countryside & Talamanca Mountains; walk the trails through gardens and secondary forests; relax in one of several ranchos/shelters; bird watch; view several archaeological objects on the grounds close to Laguna Zoncho, a natural wetland with aquatic birds. Entry fees. Foreign visitors: $6.50/adult, $3.25/adolescent (12-17), under 12 free. Residents: ¢2000/adult, ¢1250/adolescent (12-17), under 12 free. The owners also maintain a store of selected crafts and other artisanal products of Costa Rica as well as crafts from Central and South America. Proceeds of store purchases as well as entrance fees help defray the expenses of maintaining the nature reserve.

There are only a few places in the world where bioluminescence can be seen every day of the year. And luckily for travelers to the Nicoya Peninsula there is one such place here. Let's back up a minute and talk about the bioluminescence. What is it really? Bioluminescence is a light created by living organisms through a chemical reaction, biological light. You might have seen it in some form on land as fireflies or glow worms. In the gulf it is the algae that create this magical effect. Upon being disturbed, the algae give off a burst of light. Since there are millions of them it looks like sparkles. One of the best ways to see it is to get a look from above, and kayaking is a great way to see it well. The algae stick to your paddle, your hand or floating debris glowing for many seconds if you encounter a strong patch. When you kayak over shallow areas, fish will be scared up and it looks like fireworks under water as they take off, leaving a trail of “fairy dust" in their wake.