Camino de Oro, the first tourism route of Caminos de Osa, will have its soft opening in the spring of 2016. Featuring entrepreneurs who have been supported by the Caminos de Liderazgo program, the Camino de Oro is a network of rural community tourism businesses. The Camino de Oro starts at Finca 6, an archaeological site in Palmar Sur, and will eventually reach Carate.

While on the Camino de Oro the tourist experiences many incredible attractions: including the world-reknown biodiversity of the Osa and Golfito region and the culture of the families that inhabit this special place. As one travels down the Camino de Oro, the history of gold in the region is explored. From archaeological sites, to indigenous communities of the region, to modern-day gold panners: history comes alive along the Camino de Oro.

Stanford students Ardsley Sanders and Genevieve Dezso helped make it possible to tell the rich stories of the communities of the Camino de Oro, spending two months last summer recording oral histories along the new tourism route.  Interviewing many of the community elders, Sanders and Deszo documented stories of the founding of the different communities, what brought different families to the region, and details of how people lived 50-100 years ago when the communities were first being settled.

To plan your trip to hike the Camino de Oro and visit the wonderful families running businesses along this part of the Caminos de Osa, visit here.