Corcovado National Park and surroundings, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
In the 1970s, scientists realized that the Osa Peninsula was one of the richest, most diverse tropical areas on earth. The tremendous rainfall, remote location, and variety of unique habitats, made protection from developments imperative. Fortunately scientists won the battle against lumbermen and other proponents of rainforest destruction, and the 108,022 acre national park was founded in 1975.
It is semi-separated from the mainland, accessible mainly by boat or small aircraft. After an early breakfast, we disembarked to visit a very nice section of the park called San Pedrillo. The nature walks were organized such that one of them went to the waterfall, walking through a dense forest, over roots and crossing a stream. This group even had the chance to bathe under the waterfall in the middle of the wilderness. Another group took a trail that bordered the shoreline and to their surprise three different kinds of monkeys were spotted co-existing in the same area: mantled-howler monkeys, white-throated capuchin monkeys, and the one that all of us wants to see, the Central American spider monkey, due to the spectacular jumps that they are capable of in the canopy.
On the way back from our exploration we got to see the endangered scarlet macaws flying above the park ranger station. Suddenly, a troop of white-nosed coati ran across the trail. All of us we were delighted. It could not have been better than this.
After we returned to the ship, the Sea Voyager cruised nine miles further north where a barbecue lunch was waiting for us on the beach! After some short nature walks afterwards, we spent the rest of the afternoon lying back in hammocks or chairs, enjoying the beach and the scenery.
In the 1970s, scientists realized that the Osa Peninsula was one of the richest, most diverse tropical areas on earth. The tremendous rainfall, remote location, and variety of unique habitats, made protection from developments imperative. Fortunately scientists won the battle against lumbermen and other proponents of rainforest destruction, and the 108,022 acre national park was founded in 1975.
It is semi-separated from the mainland, accessible mainly by boat or small aircraft. After an early breakfast, we disembarked to visit a very nice section of the park called San Pedrillo. The nature walks were organized such that one of them went to the waterfall, walking through a dense forest, over roots and crossing a stream. This group even had the chance to bathe under the waterfall in the middle of the wilderness. Another group took a trail that bordered the shoreline and to their surprise three different kinds of monkeys were spotted co-existing in the same area: mantled-howler monkeys, white-throated capuchin monkeys, and the one that all of us wants to see, the Central American spider monkey, due to the spectacular jumps that they are capable of in the canopy.
On the way back from our exploration we got to see the endangered scarlet macaws flying above the park ranger station. Suddenly, a troop of white-nosed coati ran across the trail. All of us we were delighted. It could not have been better than this.
After we returned to the ship, the Sea Voyager cruised nine miles further north where a barbecue lunch was waiting for us on the beach! After some short nature walks afterwards, we spent the rest of the afternoon lying back in hammocks or chairs, enjoying the beach and the scenery.
