Golfo Dulce & Casa Orquideas
On the first day of the year 2008, the sun shone brightly over the glassy waters of Gulfo Dulce, the pristine forests and unspoiled mangroves which frame this natural treasure of Costa Rica. After breakfast some of us boarded the kayaks and paddled towards the mouth of Rincon River, others accompanied Fico on a birding walk along a dirt road through the forest and the rest of us went on Zodiac cruises through the river where we saw many different types of birds, herons and egrets, ibises, cormorants, a roseate spoonbill, and a couple of chestnut mandibled toucans. Then we returned to the ship for lunch. The tropical sun taught us how well deserved siestas are performed in this region of the world. At two o’clock we met in the lounge to attend the Nalini Nadkarni’s thought provoking presentation on the relationship between humans and trees. As soon as Nalini finished talking, the naturalists opened the curtains of the lounge and we were surprised by how close our ship had anchored from shore. The forest appeared almost like a painting on the walls of the bar - a grand finale to a talk that had opened a new perspective on the way we see the forest.
We boarded the Zodiacs once the tropical sun was not as intense and we landed at Casa Orquideas, a beautiful botanical garden planted by a couple of American expatriates (Ron and Trudy MacAllister) some 30 years ago. The garden is a real work of love. We wandered on our own or with the naturalist guides looking at the plants in the well kept trails and at the birds and mammals that coexist in this fantastic setting. As the sun began to set in the horizon for the first time this year, we headed back to the ship and continued sailing. This was our last day in Costa Rica as we continued our journey into Panama.
On the first day of the year 2008, the sun shone brightly over the glassy waters of Gulfo Dulce, the pristine forests and unspoiled mangroves which frame this natural treasure of Costa Rica. After breakfast some of us boarded the kayaks and paddled towards the mouth of Rincon River, others accompanied Fico on a birding walk along a dirt road through the forest and the rest of us went on Zodiac cruises through the river where we saw many different types of birds, herons and egrets, ibises, cormorants, a roseate spoonbill, and a couple of chestnut mandibled toucans. Then we returned to the ship for lunch. The tropical sun taught us how well deserved siestas are performed in this region of the world. At two o’clock we met in the lounge to attend the Nalini Nadkarni’s thought provoking presentation on the relationship between humans and trees. As soon as Nalini finished talking, the naturalists opened the curtains of the lounge and we were surprised by how close our ship had anchored from shore. The forest appeared almost like a painting on the walls of the bar - a grand finale to a talk that had opened a new perspective on the way we see the forest.
We boarded the Zodiacs once the tropical sun was not as intense and we landed at Casa Orquideas, a beautiful botanical garden planted by a couple of American expatriates (Ron and Trudy MacAllister) some 30 years ago. The garden is a real work of love. We wandered on our own or with the naturalist guides looking at the plants in the well kept trails and at the birds and mammals that coexist in this fantastic setting. As the sun began to set in the horizon for the first time this year, we headed back to the ship and continued sailing. This was our last day in Costa Rica as we continued our journey into Panama.
