Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
GolfoDulce: A paradise of emerald waters surrounded by green jungles. As we slept last night, our boat rocked with the motion of the waves as usual. Then all of a sudden the rocking came to a complete stop and the National Geographic Sea Lion starting cruising though absolutely calm waters. We knew we had just arrived in paradise.
We woke to discover emerald waters and green lush tropical rainforests surrounding us in the beautiful Golfo Dulce. The name of this gulf means the Sweet Water Gulf. Its name refers to the lower salinity of the water, due to the heavy rain the area receives. Sweet was the beginning of our day. It started with a visit to the mangrove forest at the Esquinas River; some decided to go by kayak and others on a Zodiac. We started unveiling the secrets of the mangrove forest when herons, ibis, trogons, wimbrels, kingfishers, lizards, tree boas and monkeys started to appear for our enjoyment.
First, a dip in the warm ocean and then a delicious lunch, the afternoon promised great things judging by the beginning of the day. We arrived at Casa Orquideas, a botanical garden in the middle of the rainforest. With no access by road, Casa Orquideas is as large and gorgeous a botanical garden as the ones found in higher populated areas.
As we walked through the gardens, the Naturalist unveiled the secrets of plant colors, new flavors and of course new colorful bird species like tanagers, toucans, manakins and guans. By the end of the day we left the gardens with painted faces from the annatto plant, bitter tastes from the quinine plant, sour tastes form the pickle tree and sweet memories of this colorful paradise. We can hardly wait to see what tomorrow has to offer!
