The drier, warmer Pacific coast of Costa Rica is one of the untamed wonders of the western world. The northern coast is largely the Guanacaste province and peninsula, and provides the adventurous explorer breathtaking bays, wild rivers, volcanoes, golden sands, forests, jungles, exotic marine life -- and much of it remains unexplored. Fishing villages like Tamarindo, named after the local tamarind trees, and Samara are bringing more travelers each year as word gets out about the spectacular beauty of the region. The Marino las Baulas National Park features both monkeys and leatherback turtles, while the Isla Santa Catalina is a popular point for bird watching. The southern Pacific coast belongs to the very long reach of the Puntarenas province panhandle extending almost the entire length of Costa Rica western shore. Here the Corcovado National Park hosts 500 species of tress, over 140 varieties of mammals, and hundreds of bird species.