Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
After three fantastic days in Panama we proceeded into Costa Rica. Early in the morning the ship docked at the port of Golfito where the Costa Rican authorities cleared us for entry. From there we sailed for a few minutes to “Casa Orquideas,” an extraordinary private botanical garden belonging to Trudy and Ron McAllister, an American couple from New Hampshire who came to visit the area some thirty years ago and were captivated by the beauty of the rainforest, to the point that they decided to make it their home. After purchasing a couple of hundred acres of land in the Osa Peninsula, they started planting a garden in front of the beach which has now become a full time job and their livelihood. A fresh breeze blew through the garden as we wandered through its well-kept trails under the warm sun. First were the orchids, both terrestrial and epiphytic, then the herb garden, the bromeliad section, medicinal plants, exotic fruits and all kinds of heliconias. All our senses were being assaulted by the variety of colors, tastes and smells. At the end of our visit we had time to jump into the calm waters of Golfo Dulce and take a swim. The young and adventurous opted for a ride on the banana boat, which amused the prudent and pumped some adrenaline through the brave.
Back on the ship, lunch was served as we sailed to Rincon River. The heat of the day motivated some of us to experience the joy of “siesta time” then a slide show by Julio on Archaeology of the Rainforest and back to a new expedition looking for wild life along the mangroves and the banks of Rincon River. We were given the options of going by Zodiac, kayak or walking. The highlights of this expedition were probably the two-toed sloths that most of us saw and the many shorebirds we found along the river. One of the groups had the opportunity of counting sixteen chestnut-mandibled toucans perched on a single tree. It is common for these birds of the Rhamphastid family to travel in small flocks and gather on a tree, however, having the tree so close to us and with no leaves allowed us to see them without the need of binoculars. These birds have become an icon of the neotropics. Their enormous beaks seem to pose a real aerodynamic problem to these birds seemingly without a possible solution, but actually these beaks are light as a feather and quite strong. They are, like everything in tropical ecology, a magnificent example of adaptation. Toucans are mostly but not exclusively frugivores and their long bills allow them to reach fruits of difficult access and also to hunt for insects, spiders, lizards and snakes as well as to eat chicks and eggs from other birds’ nests. Costa Rica hosts six different types of toucans and toucanets.
After three fantastic days in Panama we proceeded into Costa Rica. Early in the morning the ship docked at the port of Golfito where the Costa Rican authorities cleared us for entry. From there we sailed for a few minutes to “Casa Orquideas,” an extraordinary private botanical garden belonging to Trudy and Ron McAllister, an American couple from New Hampshire who came to visit the area some thirty years ago and were captivated by the beauty of the rainforest, to the point that they decided to make it their home. After purchasing a couple of hundred acres of land in the Osa Peninsula, they started planting a garden in front of the beach which has now become a full time job and their livelihood. A fresh breeze blew through the garden as we wandered through its well-kept trails under the warm sun. First were the orchids, both terrestrial and epiphytic, then the herb garden, the bromeliad section, medicinal plants, exotic fruits and all kinds of heliconias. All our senses were being assaulted by the variety of colors, tastes and smells. At the end of our visit we had time to jump into the calm waters of Golfo Dulce and take a swim. The young and adventurous opted for a ride on the banana boat, which amused the prudent and pumped some adrenaline through the brave.
Back on the ship, lunch was served as we sailed to Rincon River. The heat of the day motivated some of us to experience the joy of “siesta time” then a slide show by Julio on Archaeology of the Rainforest and back to a new expedition looking for wild life along the mangroves and the banks of Rincon River. We were given the options of going by Zodiac, kayak or walking. The highlights of this expedition were probably the two-toed sloths that most of us saw and the many shorebirds we found along the river. One of the groups had the opportunity of counting sixteen chestnut-mandibled toucans perched on a single tree. It is common for these birds of the Rhamphastid family to travel in small flocks and gather on a tree, however, having the tree so close to us and with no leaves allowed us to see them without the need of binoculars. These birds have become an icon of the neotropics. Their enormous beaks seem to pose a real aerodynamic problem to these birds seemingly without a possible solution, but actually these beaks are light as a feather and quite strong. They are, like everything in tropical ecology, a magnificent example of adaptation. Toucans are mostly but not exclusively frugivores and their long bills allow them to reach fruits of difficult access and also to hunt for insects, spiders, lizards and snakes as well as to eat chicks and eggs from other birds’ nests. Costa Rica hosts six different types of toucans and toucanets.
