Rincon River and Casa Orquideas, Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
The first Spanish explorers that ventured into Golfo Dulce during the sixteenth century noticed that the waters of this gulf contrasted with those of the Pacific Ocean in the content of salt. The large numbers of rivers that flow into this area decrease the salinity of its waters. It is for this reason that the Spaniards gave it the name of Golfo Dulce which means the “gulf of sweet [meaning fresh] water.” Almost five hundred years later, Golfo Dulce continues to look very much like what the conquistadors found. Turtles, dolphins and whales are found here in great numbers and the pristine forests and mangroves serve as a frame to this unique place.
This morning we rose with the sun. Before breakfast, we gathered at the stern and proceeded to get on the kayaks. Silently we paddled our way into the mangroves where we found egrets, ibises, hawks, toucans and parrots among other birds. Other traveling companions later on joined us on the Zodiacs and found the same peace and beauty. As the tide started receding we returned to the ship on time for breakfast. Then we enjoyed a talk by Terry Gosliner from the California Academy of Sciences on “Islands, Living laboratories of Evolution.” We had tacos and chocolate mudslide cookies for lunch and that was nice. After a short siesta came a talk on Central American history.
By mid afternoon as the tropical sun started cooling down, we went back on land to explore the “Casa Orquideas” botanical gardens with a fantastic collection of tropical plants. By sunset we came back onboard and continued our journey through this very wild and remote side of Costa Rica.
The first Spanish explorers that ventured into Golfo Dulce during the sixteenth century noticed that the waters of this gulf contrasted with those of the Pacific Ocean in the content of salt. The large numbers of rivers that flow into this area decrease the salinity of its waters. It is for this reason that the Spaniards gave it the name of Golfo Dulce which means the “gulf of sweet [meaning fresh] water.” Almost five hundred years later, Golfo Dulce continues to look very much like what the conquistadors found. Turtles, dolphins and whales are found here in great numbers and the pristine forests and mangroves serve as a frame to this unique place.
This morning we rose with the sun. Before breakfast, we gathered at the stern and proceeded to get on the kayaks. Silently we paddled our way into the mangroves where we found egrets, ibises, hawks, toucans and parrots among other birds. Other traveling companions later on joined us on the Zodiacs and found the same peace and beauty. As the tide started receding we returned to the ship on time for breakfast. Then we enjoyed a talk by Terry Gosliner from the California Academy of Sciences on “Islands, Living laboratories of Evolution.” We had tacos and chocolate mudslide cookies for lunch and that was nice. After a short siesta came a talk on Central American history.
By mid afternoon as the tropical sun started cooling down, we went back on land to explore the “Casa Orquideas” botanical gardens with a fantastic collection of tropical plants. By sunset we came back onboard and continued our journey through this very wild and remote side of Costa Rica.
