Golfo Dulce and Casa Orquideas
Today we had our last day in Costa Rica before crossing over to Panamanian waters. In the morning we explored Rincon River. Here we spent the morning kayaking or taking Zodiac cruises among mangrove forests, and those who wished to enjoy a hike along a tiny, unpaved public road. This was a great place to do birdwatching and to look for wildlife, amongst which we saw hummingbirds, summer tanagers, white ibises, whimbrels, two-toed sloths, white-throated capuchin monkeys, and many more tropical species.
During lunch the ship repositioned to the other side of the gulf, so we could spend an afternoon in Casa Orquideas.
How many botanical gardens do you know where you are looking at a plant and then suddenly there are a toucan and a couple of scarlet macaws fly right over you?
Well, Casa Orquideas is exactly that the type of botanical garden!
This is a place that painstakingly nurtured for years by a couple from the USA, Ron and Trudy McAllister. They came to Costa Rica in 1974, with the idea of growing their own food. During the many years spent struggling to grow sufficient crops with which to make an income, they became intrigued with the natural plants surrounding them. By collecting from the hills and shorelines around the gulf, trading with some botanical gardens and taking advantage of the exotic plants established in nearby Golfito by the United Fruit Company, the McAllisters have created a unique, incredible and outstanding botanical garden. It was here that during our afternoon walks we explored this tropical paradise, wandering between native and introduced plants and tropical birds flying over our heads.
Today we had our last day in Costa Rica before crossing over to Panamanian waters. In the morning we explored Rincon River. Here we spent the morning kayaking or taking Zodiac cruises among mangrove forests, and those who wished to enjoy a hike along a tiny, unpaved public road. This was a great place to do birdwatching and to look for wildlife, amongst which we saw hummingbirds, summer tanagers, white ibises, whimbrels, two-toed sloths, white-throated capuchin monkeys, and many more tropical species.
During lunch the ship repositioned to the other side of the gulf, so we could spend an afternoon in Casa Orquideas.
How many botanical gardens do you know where you are looking at a plant and then suddenly there are a toucan and a couple of scarlet macaws fly right over you?
Well, Casa Orquideas is exactly that the type of botanical garden!
This is a place that painstakingly nurtured for years by a couple from the USA, Ron and Trudy McAllister. They came to Costa Rica in 1974, with the idea of growing their own food. During the many years spent struggling to grow sufficient crops with which to make an income, they became intrigued with the natural plants surrounding them. By collecting from the hills and shorelines around the gulf, trading with some botanical gardens and taking advantage of the exotic plants established in nearby Golfito by the United Fruit Company, the McAllisters have created a unique, incredible and outstanding botanical garden. It was here that during our afternoon walks we explored this tropical paradise, wandering between native and introduced plants and tropical birds flying over our heads.
