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WTF is Isla del Coco

Welcome to Where To Find, our growing guide to those little-known places that never seem to show up on the travel radar--until now. We're not saying they're undiscovered, but you may need to look 'em up on our WTF Map.

Even though it's a World Heritage Site, Cocos Island doesn't see many visitors. Maybe that's because you have to take a 300-mile boat trip to reach it?

The best way to get there is with Undersea Hunter. (Before you ask: It's a tour operator, not a classic comic book character.) You'll hop a live aboard dive boat in Puntarenas, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, and end up floating in Chatham Bay about 36 hours later. Since visitors aren't really allowed on the island--it's a well-guarded National Park--the few voyagers who make the trek are all about the world class diving offshore.

Hammerhead sharks, white tip sharks, eagle rays and the occasional whale shark populate this part of the Pacific and with the area's frequently good visibility, you should have no trouble scoping them. The only thing to be wary of are your fellow divers: Even 300 miles from a dive shop, you know there's gonna be at least one guy prattling on with a bunch of tall tales.

[Photo: jonrawlinson]

Related Stories:
· WTF Map [Jaunted]
· Cocos Island [Official Site]