Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Today was our second day in tropical rain forests, and let me tell you that the rain forest lived up to its name. Of the 12 feet of rain or so that this place is supposed to get over the year, at least two feet fell today. But this was our first day in Costa Rica, and in that magical rain, we got to see one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Right after breakfast we explored what is known as a mangrove forest and what an experience we had.
We had two options for exploring the mangrove: one by kayak and one by Zodiacs, both of them are unique. We were able to see white ibis, snowy egrets, little blue herons, whimbrels, ospreys, brown-hooded parrot, a glimpse of white throated capuchin monkeys and great looks of the rainbow boa (the picture), one of the animals very well adapted to this mangrove ecosystem and which preys on the small mammals and birds that inhabit this ecosystems.
After the mangrove and lunch, the ship was relocated to a different place in this gulf to see an open botanical garden known as Casa Orquideas where we were able to explore and see some of the local and some exotic plants. Amoung them were miniature orchids as well palms. There were alo scarlet macaws, chestnut mandible toucans, red capped manakins, white ruffed manakin and quite a few tanagers.
So what more can I say? This is one of the most diverse regions of the world, so every day is a unique and brand new day.
Today was our second day in tropical rain forests, and let me tell you that the rain forest lived up to its name. Of the 12 feet of rain or so that this place is supposed to get over the year, at least two feet fell today. But this was our first day in Costa Rica, and in that magical rain, we got to see one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Right after breakfast we explored what is known as a mangrove forest and what an experience we had.
We had two options for exploring the mangrove: one by kayak and one by Zodiacs, both of them are unique. We were able to see white ibis, snowy egrets, little blue herons, whimbrels, ospreys, brown-hooded parrot, a glimpse of white throated capuchin monkeys and great looks of the rainbow boa (the picture), one of the animals very well adapted to this mangrove ecosystem and which preys on the small mammals and birds that inhabit this ecosystems.
After the mangrove and lunch, the ship was relocated to a different place in this gulf to see an open botanical garden known as Casa Orquideas where we were able to explore and see some of the local and some exotic plants. Amoung them were miniature orchids as well palms. There were alo scarlet macaws, chestnut mandible toucans, red capped manakins, white ruffed manakin and quite a few tanagers.
So what more can I say? This is one of the most diverse regions of the world, so every day is a unique and brand new day.
