Casa Orquideas & Zamia Project, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Morning stretching exercises on a deserted beach was our first activity in the Golfo Dulce. A particularly interesting and unique marine environment is found in the gulf due to the unusual depth for such a small body of water. Waves rushing on a pebble beach provided background sound.

After breakfast, we left for a leisurely walk at Casa Orquideas (orchid house), a wonderful botanical garden that delivers great bird watching, too. Spotted crowned and thick billed euphonias, bay headed, Cherrie’s and summer tanagers, toucans, tent making and white lined bats and howler monkeys were some of the animals that we saw at the garden. We had the opportunity to go through the history of the dispersal of some species of plants that have conquered the world by being useful for humans. The vegetable ivory was a solution to carve buttons, the bread fruit tree was the object of many expeditions to the South Pacific for the source of starch that it represents. Cocoa, vanilla, black pepper and pineapple were just as fascinating.

The day had started with bright sunshine and the promise of a very hot day. After lunch, the rain was very refreshing and cooled off our afternoon activities helping us experience a true rainforest. Kayaking was available for most of us, but a few of us went up the river to Zamia on a rainforest walk, where collared peccaries were reported.

As we returned on board shortly before dark, we weighed anchor for our long voyage to Coiba Island, where a new experience awaits for us in another country, Panama.