Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
After one of the calmest transits of the season, we moved to the southwest part of the country. The Osa Peninsula is the second largest peninsula on the Pacific side of the country also containing the largest and most pristine piece of rainforest remaining in the Mesoamerican area. Isolated for a long time from the rest of the country by its inaccessibility, Osa was protected from lumbering and development. During a few years in the 70’s the area was accessed because of gold found in its rivers, but that was stopped just in time and the area became a giant national park called Corcovado.
During the morning, we landed on a privately owned reserve near Corcovado called San Josecito, where we had an array of options to satisfy the most diverse tastes. We could take a long horseback ride along the beach, or a long walk to a fresh water river, or take a bird watching oriented stroll among the gardens and grounds of the house or simply stay at the beach for swimming, beach combing or reading under a beach almond tree. All of the activities were rewarded with different sightings. Some people spotted scarlet macaws, others white-throated capuchin monkeys, others very active leaf-cutter ant trails, in general a very productive morning.
In the afternoon, activities were concentrated inside the National Park itself. Corcovado is the ultimate tropical rainforest, with tall giant trees, a dark understory, and large species of mammals that do not thrive in small patches of forest. It matches everyone’s idea of “the jungle”. With three different walking options we all could fulfill our personal expectations. A slower, flatter walk along a path parallel to the beach, a rougher walk towards a forest waterfall, and a long three hour walk along a mountain ridge through phenomenal old forest. Many wild animals escorted us through their realm: spider monkeys, coatis, leaf-cutter ants, army ants, boat-billed and bare-throated tiger herons, and many more.
Back on board, we began our night’s transit to the eastern side of the Osa Peninsula, inside the Golfo Dulce, for our next day’s destination.
After one of the calmest transits of the season, we moved to the southwest part of the country. The Osa Peninsula is the second largest peninsula on the Pacific side of the country also containing the largest and most pristine piece of rainforest remaining in the Mesoamerican area. Isolated for a long time from the rest of the country by its inaccessibility, Osa was protected from lumbering and development. During a few years in the 70’s the area was accessed because of gold found in its rivers, but that was stopped just in time and the area became a giant national park called Corcovado.
During the morning, we landed on a privately owned reserve near Corcovado called San Josecito, where we had an array of options to satisfy the most diverse tastes. We could take a long horseback ride along the beach, or a long walk to a fresh water river, or take a bird watching oriented stroll among the gardens and grounds of the house or simply stay at the beach for swimming, beach combing or reading under a beach almond tree. All of the activities were rewarded with different sightings. Some people spotted scarlet macaws, others white-throated capuchin monkeys, others very active leaf-cutter ant trails, in general a very productive morning.
In the afternoon, activities were concentrated inside the National Park itself. Corcovado is the ultimate tropical rainforest, with tall giant trees, a dark understory, and large species of mammals that do not thrive in small patches of forest. It matches everyone’s idea of “the jungle”. With three different walking options we all could fulfill our personal expectations. A slower, flatter walk along a path parallel to the beach, a rougher walk towards a forest waterfall, and a long three hour walk along a mountain ridge through phenomenal old forest. Many wild animals escorted us through their realm: spider monkeys, coatis, leaf-cutter ants, army ants, boat-billed and bare-throated tiger herons, and many more.
Back on board, we began our night’s transit to the eastern side of the Osa Peninsula, inside the Golfo Dulce, for our next day’s destination.
