Golfito
Coordinates: 8 ° 38 ′ N , 83 ° 10 ′ W
The port city of Golfito ( Spanish : small bay ) is located in the province of Puntarenas on the southern Pacific coast of the Central American state of Costa Rica , near the border with Panama and around 370 km southeast of San José and has 7598 inhabitants (2011).
geography
The city lies on a narrow strip of land between the bay that gives it its name and a hill in the bay of Golfito and in the larger Golfo Dulce . It is separated from the open Pacific by the Osa Peninsula .
The core city consists of two parts, the residential areas near the harbor and downtown , the inner city. Further to the north are the duty-free zone and an airport. From the northern section, which was formerly the headquarters of the United Fruit Company (today: Chiquita Brands International ), paths lead up the hill to the Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Golfito - the Golfitos wildlife sanctuary.
Most of the coastal lowlands are covered with evergreen tropical rainforest . With 381–508 cm of precipitation, the area around Golfito is one of the wettest areas in the world.
history
The city was founded in the 1920s. In the middle of the twentieth century it was a stronghold of banana cultivation and therefore had one of the largest ports in southern Costa Rica. Labor unrest, declining foreign trade , rising export taxes and poor harvests led to the closure of the United Fruit Company in 1985 . Attempts to plant African palm oil plantations instead have been unsuccessful.
During the 1980s, tourism began to grow in Golfito. The city itself and the area around Playa Cacao became attractions for tourists. Goods purchased in the duty-free zone can only be picked up the following day, so that the buyer is forced to spend the night in the city.
Economy and Infrastructure
Ferries cross the Golfo Dulce from Golfito to Puerto Jiménez , the main departure point for trips to Osa and Corcovado National Park .
Much of the tourist offer is concentrated on sport fishing . Many hotels operate their own fleets with boats for sport fishermen and experienced captains. Sailing, boating and water sports are also available. The beaches south of Golfito - Zancudo , Pilon and Pavones are suitable for surfers.
The film Chico Mendes was shot in the south of the city .