Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Today, we woke up on the calm waters near Golfito (little gulf) with a spectacular sunrise. Rays of light shone through mystical clouds arranged around the peaks of rainforest mountains, grazing the blue sky. As we headed towards the Rio Esquinas river mouth, pilot whales waved their tails and fins saying: “Welcome to Costa Rica”. The mangroves were awaiting us with hot weather, showing us the magnificence of the most productive ecosystem on Earth. These waters are where the rainforest drops 30% of the fertility of the soil carried out by rain run-off. This soup of nourishment is home to ocean life in their young stages, finding shelter between the stilt roots. But the food web goes beyond the water. Land animals and birds also live there to enjoy a diverse buffet. Crab eating raccoons, mangrove hawks, herons, egrets, ibises and other water birds, rainbow boas and bird-eating snakes were some of the inhabitants who showed up in our Zodiac or kayak rides.
After lunch, we moved the anchor to Casa Orquideas botanical gardens. On the way, we had the performance of the Pantropical spotted dolphins jumping and playing with waves made by our vessel. The same tropical rain that keeps the gardens and rainforests around Casa Orquideas shining, gave us an adventurous welcome. We walked through paths decorated with bright green leaves and awesome flowers with such a “momentum”, that the impressive sunset was not a priority for everybody. The light went down on this pristine paradise to open up space to a calm and peaceful night.
Today, we woke up on the calm waters near Golfito (little gulf) with a spectacular sunrise. Rays of light shone through mystical clouds arranged around the peaks of rainforest mountains, grazing the blue sky. As we headed towards the Rio Esquinas river mouth, pilot whales waved their tails and fins saying: “Welcome to Costa Rica”. The mangroves were awaiting us with hot weather, showing us the magnificence of the most productive ecosystem on Earth. These waters are where the rainforest drops 30% of the fertility of the soil carried out by rain run-off. This soup of nourishment is home to ocean life in their young stages, finding shelter between the stilt roots. But the food web goes beyond the water. Land animals and birds also live there to enjoy a diverse buffet. Crab eating raccoons, mangrove hawks, herons, egrets, ibises and other water birds, rainbow boas and bird-eating snakes were some of the inhabitants who showed up in our Zodiac or kayak rides.
After lunch, we moved the anchor to Casa Orquideas botanical gardens. On the way, we had the performance of the Pantropical spotted dolphins jumping and playing with waves made by our vessel. The same tropical rain that keeps the gardens and rainforests around Casa Orquideas shining, gave us an adventurous welcome. We walked through paths decorated with bright green leaves and awesome flowers with such a “momentum”, that the impressive sunset was not a priority for everybody. The light went down on this pristine paradise to open up space to a calm and peaceful night.
