San Pedrillo, Osa Peninsula; Casa Orquideas, Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
This morning found us still in the Osa Peninsula on the southwestern part of Costa Rica, one of the most remote and pristine areas in the country. At 6:30am the first walkers disembarked onto the beach in the ranger’s station called San Pedrillo. Four options of hikes were at hand: two long ones, a medium one, and a flat short hike. Blue morpho butterflies, agoutis, howler monkeys, and the call of bellbirds and manakins welcomed us into their territory. Two of the hikes ended up in a waterhole and a couple of waterfalls, the coolness of their waters was exactly what most of us needed after a quite difficult, steamy, and hot walk.
Heading back to the ship, all of us were amazed at the skill our Zodiac drivers who made surfing four feet high waves seem easy!!
After sailing for some time, a very good lunch, and an interesting lecture by one of our naturalists, we reached Golfo Dulce, where Ron and Trudy McAllister have found and founded their own private haven. Twenty-five years ago they decided to stay in Costa Rica and create their dream home. Plants from the Costa Rican forests and some brought in from all over the world’s tropics adorn their land: hibiscus, pickle trees, star fruit trees, heliconias, ferns, bromeliads, plumeria trees, cacti, yuka plants, and a varied array of spices and veggies conform their small orchard. Most of us were overwhelmed and a bit frustrated with our own gardens, when we compared the size of their orchids, bromelias, begonias with our own… After a quick, but heavy shower, the sun came out again and with it an innumerable amount of “birds from out of this world,” as one of our guests put it.
Another perfect day in paradise is over, and we are all ready for the new day ahead of us.
This morning found us still in the Osa Peninsula on the southwestern part of Costa Rica, one of the most remote and pristine areas in the country. At 6:30am the first walkers disembarked onto the beach in the ranger’s station called San Pedrillo. Four options of hikes were at hand: two long ones, a medium one, and a flat short hike. Blue morpho butterflies, agoutis, howler monkeys, and the call of bellbirds and manakins welcomed us into their territory. Two of the hikes ended up in a waterhole and a couple of waterfalls, the coolness of their waters was exactly what most of us needed after a quite difficult, steamy, and hot walk.
Heading back to the ship, all of us were amazed at the skill our Zodiac drivers who made surfing four feet high waves seem easy!!
After sailing for some time, a very good lunch, and an interesting lecture by one of our naturalists, we reached Golfo Dulce, where Ron and Trudy McAllister have found and founded their own private haven. Twenty-five years ago they decided to stay in Costa Rica and create their dream home. Plants from the Costa Rican forests and some brought in from all over the world’s tropics adorn their land: hibiscus, pickle trees, star fruit trees, heliconias, ferns, bromeliads, plumeria trees, cacti, yuka plants, and a varied array of spices and veggies conform their small orchard. Most of us were overwhelmed and a bit frustrated with our own gardens, when we compared the size of their orchids, bromelias, begonias with our own… After a quick, but heavy shower, the sun came out again and with it an innumerable amount of “birds from out of this world,” as one of our guests put it.
Another perfect day in paradise is over, and we are all ready for the new day ahead of us.
