- Location: Puntarenas (600 km from the west coast of Costa Rica)
- Area: 23.85 km²
- Highest point: Mount Cerro Iglesias (771 m)
Coconut Island is lost in the Pacific Ocean, but it is quite popular among tourists who like thrills. It belongs to the state of Costa Rica ( Puntarenas province ). And this is a real uninhabited island! Let's learn more about it.
Why is Cocos Island interesting for tourists?
Coconut is one of the top 10 places for diving not only in Costa Rica, but all over the world. In order to admire the incredibly beautiful underwater world here, diving lovers come here. However, for beginners, diving can be dangerous because of changeable and strong currents.
An interesting legend is connected with Coconut. It says that in the XVIII-XIX centuries. on the island was hidden a large pirate treasure. Thanks to this legend, the island of Coconut is often called "pirate safe", "island of treasures" and "Mecca of treasure hunters". However, until now, treasures have not been found, although several hundreds of expeditions visited the island, many of which ended in tragedy. There is an opinion that this island was described in the famous adventure novels of Daniel Defoe and Robert Stevenson.
Do not confuse the Costa Rican Coconut with the islands of the same name on Guam, in the Indian Ocean and the archipelago near Sumatra. In addition, there are 4 more "coconut islands" on our planet: one on the coast of Florida and next to Australia and two more in Hawaii.
Nature of Cocos Island
Mountain waterfalls are one of the main attractions of the island and the whole of Costa Rica . Here there are more than two hundred, and in the rainy season, which lasts for Cocos from April to October, and even more. Water overflows into the sea from different heights, and each waterfall is unique. This spectacle will not leave anyone indifferent.
Flora and fauna of the island is very rich - it's not for nothing that Cocos became the prototype of the "Jurassic Park". Once wild bears were brought here, which violated the balance of the natural habitat, for the preservation of which these animals now have to be shot every year. For divers, fish and marine mammals living in coral reefs are of great interest. They are found in the water area of the island and dangerous sharks.
As for plants, 30% of them are endemic. The trees on the island are very high (up to 50 m). Dense impenetrable thickets of the rainforest are one of the reasons that these places are uninhabited. Since 1978, the entire territory of the island is considered one large national park and is listed as a UNESCO protected site.
How to get to Cocos Island?
To get to the island of Cocos in Costa Rica , you must first get to the province of Puntarenas, where the safari bots are moored. These ships, actively used by divers, go to the island for 36 hours. However, keep in mind: the island is protected from poachers by park personnel - rangers who can allow or forbid you to land.
The very island is quite modest: on the boat it can be rounded for half an hour. You can moor in one of two calm bays (Weyfer Bay and Chatham). The rest of the coastline is sheer cliffs, cut by arches and grottoes. The bays are equipped with anchorages, there are cafes and showers.
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