Golfito History
The port town of Golfito was founded in the late 1930’s by the United Fruit Company, primarily for the processing and exportation of Bananas. Within a short time, Golfito was built into a prosperous trade center, bustling with activity and industry. At that time and into the 1980’s, Golfito was the most important port in southern Costa Rica.
Due to declining market conditions, increase in taxes and a banana blight, the United Fruit Company pulled out of Golfito in 1985, and eventually an economic depression ensued throughout the area. The United Fruit Company eventually turned over all of their real estate holdings to the Costa Rican government. The following year, the Golfito Reserve, or Refugio National de Vida Silvestre was established as a National Park and Wildlife Refuge Area.
In 1990, a duty free shopping zone was opened in Golfito attracting Costa Ricans from all over the country. That, combined with a thriving Eco-tourism industry developing around Goflito has revived the town and boosted the local economy
Golfito Today Today, Golfito is once again a bustling community that has an established port economy for the exportation of Palm Oil, as well as an ever growing tourism industry. Tourists are treated to a variety of activities including world class sport fishing (both inshore and offshore), whale watching in Golfo Dulce, kayaking through the tranquil waters of Golfito Bay and nearby rivers, as well as a myriad of other eco-tourism activities that abound in the region.
The community also boasts a variety of hotels and resorts, restaurants, bars, markets, and retail outlets allowing you access to services and goods. Medical facilities include a hospital in Golfito, as well as a future 224 room critical care hospital near Palmar Sur, which is planned as part of the new international airport. I think that this region will be converted as the new Papagayo development of Costa Rica.
Brisas Pacíficas is a new eco-com
