Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
This morning we anchored in front of Casa Orquideas, a beautiful botanical garden surrounded by a pristine rainforest in the middle of nowhere. Casa Orquideas is the home of Ron and Trudy Macallister, an American expatriate couple who moved to Costa Rica some thirty years ago. Here they purchased an abandoned cacao plantation where they attempted to live off the land. Initially they started planting a garden for their own enjoyment. With time their garden grew to becoming an extraordinary collection of both native and exotic plants which has now become a major attraction for visitors coming from all over the world. After breakfast we had the opportunity of walking through the well-kept trails which this couple maintains in a constant work of love. As we walked around the garden, we enjoyed the beauty of their orchid collection, their paths bordered with heliconias, bromeliads and catatheas. Then we learned about medicinal plants as well as all the delicious fruits that come from the rain forest. Jumping into the warm water from the stern was a soothing way of ending our visit to this unforgettable gem.
After lunch we repositioned the ship to Rio Rincon where we took a walk along a remote public road, took Zodiac trips along the mangroves or went kayaking. Toucans, tanagers, king vultures, and sea birds were present all along our expedition. At sunset we made it back to the ship where after recap we had our last glimpse of Costa Rica as we tasted some of the local food of the country and proceeded on to Panama.
This morning we anchored in front of Casa Orquideas, a beautiful botanical garden surrounded by a pristine rainforest in the middle of nowhere. Casa Orquideas is the home of Ron and Trudy Macallister, an American expatriate couple who moved to Costa Rica some thirty years ago. Here they purchased an abandoned cacao plantation where they attempted to live off the land. Initially they started planting a garden for their own enjoyment. With time their garden grew to becoming an extraordinary collection of both native and exotic plants which has now become a major attraction for visitors coming from all over the world. After breakfast we had the opportunity of walking through the well-kept trails which this couple maintains in a constant work of love. As we walked around the garden, we enjoyed the beauty of their orchid collection, their paths bordered with heliconias, bromeliads and catatheas. Then we learned about medicinal plants as well as all the delicious fruits that come from the rain forest. Jumping into the warm water from the stern was a soothing way of ending our visit to this unforgettable gem.
After lunch we repositioned the ship to Rio Rincon where we took a walk along a remote public road, took Zodiac trips along the mangroves or went kayaking. Toucans, tanagers, king vultures, and sea birds were present all along our expedition. At sunset we made it back to the ship where after recap we had our last glimpse of Costa Rica as we tasted some of the local food of the country and proceeded on to Panama.
