Our last day in Costa Rica was an opportunity to explore the shores of one of the deepest Gulfs on the Pacific coast of the Americas. The entrance to the Gulf has a depth of about 60 meters, but as you proceed further into it, it reaches up to 200 meters in depth. This allows many species of fish to be found there, and as the sun rose we could see a large school of silversides (sophisticated term for we couldn’t identify the species) feeding actively. The morning was clear and sunny and we all embarked on different activities. Zodiac cruising and kayaking were offered through a mangrove estuary into a wide river, where we had the chance to explore at our own pace. We spotted many species of birds and found a lot of plant species new to us. A third group decided to take a shot at birdwatching, and the results were phenomenal. Yellow billed cotingas, chestnut mandibled toucans, swallows, sandpipers, whimbrels, and many more decided to welcome us into their realm.
Once on board, and having had the blessing of our Captain, many of us decided to take a dip in the warm waters of Golfo Dulce, or “the Sweet Gulf”. As we repositioned our vessel to our next destination, Casa Orquideas, Joan Edwards gave an incredible presentation on flowers and their adaptations, very pertinent for our next site! An astonishing spot – which can make many amateur gardeners quite frustrated, as plants we fight to make survive at home can reach astronomical sizes here – Casa Orquideas is unique! Ron and Trudy McAllister, expats from America, have made this place their home for the last twenty-eight years; I cannot help but wonder: “Could I live like that??” The answer depends on the mood I am in. I cannot stop admiring these two people for building this place with their own bare hands. Plants, flowers, birds, lizards, and the calls of the forest were the last things we saw as we departed from Costa Rica, and headed towards the next country of this trip, Panama.
