Golfo Dulce and Casa Orquideas
Welcome to Costa Rica! We arrived to Golfo Dulce, one of the most profound gulfs in the world with 600 feet at its deepest point. After clearing customs at the port of Golfito, we headed to our first activity in the morning, the botanical garden at Casa Orquideas. Casa Orquideas is the home of Ron and Trudy MacAllister, a couple of North Americans that have custody of a remarkable collection of plants and trees from different locations of the world’s tropics.
This visit offered us the opportunity to observe from beautiful flowers, such as orchids, hibiscus, heliconias and gingers to different birds and a few mammals like tent-making and white-lined bats. Everyone with different interests in the natural history of tropical regions were satisfied. The myriad of vibrant interactions occurring at this corner of the southern Pacific Costa Rica kept us really busy the entire morning.
The day continued with a hearty lunch, a lecture about the geology of Costa Rica by geographer/naturalist Ronald Calvo and in the late afternoon, birding and exploration walks, Zodiac cruises and kayaking in the river Rincon.
Exploring the mangroves and riparian forest gave us the opportunity to observe more birdlife, such as white ibis, chestnut-mandibled toucan and a new mammal for our list, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. By 6:45 p.m we returned to the ship to enjoy cocktails, recaps and a delicious traditional Costa Rican buffet. Undoubtedly a day to remember. Gustavo Abarca, Naturalist; Photo: Ronald Calvo, Naturalist
Welcome to Costa Rica! We arrived to Golfo Dulce, one of the most profound gulfs in the world with 600 feet at its deepest point. After clearing customs at the port of Golfito, we headed to our first activity in the morning, the botanical garden at Casa Orquideas. Casa Orquideas is the home of Ron and Trudy MacAllister, a couple of North Americans that have custody of a remarkable collection of plants and trees from different locations of the world’s tropics.
This visit offered us the opportunity to observe from beautiful flowers, such as orchids, hibiscus, heliconias and gingers to different birds and a few mammals like tent-making and white-lined bats. Everyone with different interests in the natural history of tropical regions were satisfied. The myriad of vibrant interactions occurring at this corner of the southern Pacific Costa Rica kept us really busy the entire morning.
The day continued with a hearty lunch, a lecture about the geology of Costa Rica by geographer/naturalist Ronald Calvo and in the late afternoon, birding and exploration walks, Zodiac cruises and kayaking in the river Rincon.
Exploring the mangroves and riparian forest gave us the opportunity to observe more birdlife, such as white ibis, chestnut-mandibled toucan and a new mammal for our list, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. By 6:45 p.m we returned to the ship to enjoy cocktails, recaps and a delicious traditional Costa Rican buffet. Undoubtedly a day to remember. Gustavo Abarca, Naturalist; Photo: Ronald Calvo, Naturalist
