Playa Caletas & Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
The day started as the Sea Voyager dropped anchor off Playa Caletas, a private wildlife refuge in the Osa Peninsula that protects the rainforest and a sea turtle nesting beach. As we disembarked we were received by the owner and by a very active troop of white throated capuchin monkeys. Some juveniles were playing while others were grooming. An adult male would not let go off his nutritious prey which consisted of a big lizard. A few of them stayed still watching us as if we were as much of a spectacle for them as they were to us. Some people took the opportunity to ride the horses along the coastline to Rio Claro. Others joined the different walks that were offered. We spotted Mantled howler monkeys and many species of birds during the walks. Southern Costa Rica and Western Panama share a bioregion that holds several endemic species that are considered endangered. We found three of them: Baird’s trogon, black hooded antshrike and the black cheeked ant tanager. For a great ending, we saw the red legged honeycreepers and a unique view of the scarlet macaws up close eating the nuts of a Terminalia tree.
After a morning of learning, emotions and sightings, we came back to the Sea Voyager with the feeling of a great day. We had lunch as we repositioned to San Pedrillo’s ranger station. The most intense forest experience of the day (and our trip) was yet to come. Corcovado National Park is the jewel among the protected areas of Costa Rica. Some people took a walk to the waterfall and they dove in the clear water of the San Pedrillo River. The other group took to the coastal trail. Among the animals seen were many species of birds including the scarlet macaws that kept flying over our heads. The howler monkeys were eating leaves and we found two troops of Central American spider monkeys on our walks. A female was eating fruit with her offspring and a male made a wonderful and aggressive territorial display at us.
We finished the day with a great Costa Rican dinner, tropical dances and the visit of the greater fishing bat off the stern of the ship.
The day started as the Sea Voyager dropped anchor off Playa Caletas, a private wildlife refuge in the Osa Peninsula that protects the rainforest and a sea turtle nesting beach. As we disembarked we were received by the owner and by a very active troop of white throated capuchin monkeys. Some juveniles were playing while others were grooming. An adult male would not let go off his nutritious prey which consisted of a big lizard. A few of them stayed still watching us as if we were as much of a spectacle for them as they were to us. Some people took the opportunity to ride the horses along the coastline to Rio Claro. Others joined the different walks that were offered. We spotted Mantled howler monkeys and many species of birds during the walks. Southern Costa Rica and Western Panama share a bioregion that holds several endemic species that are considered endangered. We found three of them: Baird’s trogon, black hooded antshrike and the black cheeked ant tanager. For a great ending, we saw the red legged honeycreepers and a unique view of the scarlet macaws up close eating the nuts of a Terminalia tree.
After a morning of learning, emotions and sightings, we came back to the Sea Voyager with the feeling of a great day. We had lunch as we repositioned to San Pedrillo’s ranger station. The most intense forest experience of the day (and our trip) was yet to come. Corcovado National Park is the jewel among the protected areas of Costa Rica. Some people took a walk to the waterfall and they dove in the clear water of the San Pedrillo River. The other group took to the coastal trail. Among the animals seen were many species of birds including the scarlet macaws that kept flying over our heads. The howler monkeys were eating leaves and we found two troops of Central American spider monkeys on our walks. A female was eating fruit with her offspring and a male made a wonderful and aggressive territorial display at us.
We finished the day with a great Costa Rican dinner, tropical dances and the visit of the greater fishing bat off the stern of the ship.
