Palmar Sur
Costa Rica · Puntarenas
Description
Palmar Sur, in the Diquís Delta of southern Costa Rica, is home to the country's only UNESCO World Heritage cultural site, the Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquís. Perfectly round petrospheres, some over two metres across, were carved by the Diquís culture more than a thousand years ago and remain scattered across the delta's banana plantations and forests. The Finca 6 archaeological site and museum is the only one of the four listed locations still showing spheres in their original arrangement, alongside mounds, tombs and a small collection of recovered artifacts. Palmar Sur is also the gateway to the Sierpe River, whose boat traffic winds through vast mangrove wetlands toward Drake Bay and the Osa Peninsula.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Finca 6 Archaeological Site & Museum
- Original in-situ stone spheres
- Diquís culture artifacts & burial mounds
- Finca 6 nature trails & wildlife
- Birdwatching at Finca 6
- Sierpe River boat departure point
- Térraba-Sierpe mangrove wetlands
- El Silencio & Batambal archaeological sites(Day trip)
Getting there
- Airports:
- PMZ
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry