Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Have a Tropical Merry Christmas!
Many of us woke up this morning almost forgetting that it is Christmas Day, warm waters, clear blue skies and palm trees didn’t help our memory. Our trip went on to the best piece of standing tropical rainforest in Central America. The fact that the Osa Peninsula, on the southernmost Pacific side of the country, is literally in the middle of nowhere has preserved it from being altered. Although in the 1980’s the area was popular for gold-panners, they have been gone for a while now and the area became a protected jewel. A series of trails connect the various ranger stations where camping is permitted and offer wonderful scenic, flora and fauna surprises.
We disembarked onto the white sandy beaches of the San Pedrillo ranger’s station, inside the Corcovado National Park, and divided the group into three subgroups. One of the groups went on the longer, tougher walk to a waterfall and waterhole. A second one took the shorter walk to the same waterfall, and the third group went on a flatter trail eager for the possibility of wildlife. All of us got what we wanted! The walks to the waterfall proved to be fantastic, with the final reward of dipping in cool waters coming from the mountains. As for the other groups, howler monkeys galore and scarlet macaws were on the menu!
Back on board, we repositioned the ship a little bit north, on to a place called Playa Caletas. Owned by a Costa Rican family for over forty years, this beach is a dream-come-true for nature lovers. Huge mango trees shaded our picnic tables while we tackled a phenomenal BBQ lunch. Right afterwards, the horses arrived, and as our Amazon friends headed towards their afternoon venture, others gathered for yet another tropical rainforest trail. But, as usually happens, while most of us invest lots of time and energy in trying to find wildlife, it comes to those who least expect it. After a one and a half hour walk, we arrived to the landing area, where the white-throated capuchin monkeys had been romping boisterously around those who decided to take the “stationary walk.”
After a great day, we were all ready to go rest, waiting for the following day.
Have a Tropical Merry Christmas!
Many of us woke up this morning almost forgetting that it is Christmas Day, warm waters, clear blue skies and palm trees didn’t help our memory. Our trip went on to the best piece of standing tropical rainforest in Central America. The fact that the Osa Peninsula, on the southernmost Pacific side of the country, is literally in the middle of nowhere has preserved it from being altered. Although in the 1980’s the area was popular for gold-panners, they have been gone for a while now and the area became a protected jewel. A series of trails connect the various ranger stations where camping is permitted and offer wonderful scenic, flora and fauna surprises.
We disembarked onto the white sandy beaches of the San Pedrillo ranger’s station, inside the Corcovado National Park, and divided the group into three subgroups. One of the groups went on the longer, tougher walk to a waterfall and waterhole. A second one took the shorter walk to the same waterfall, and the third group went on a flatter trail eager for the possibility of wildlife. All of us got what we wanted! The walks to the waterfall proved to be fantastic, with the final reward of dipping in cool waters coming from the mountains. As for the other groups, howler monkeys galore and scarlet macaws were on the menu!
Back on board, we repositioned the ship a little bit north, on to a place called Playa Caletas. Owned by a Costa Rican family for over forty years, this beach is a dream-come-true for nature lovers. Huge mango trees shaded our picnic tables while we tackled a phenomenal BBQ lunch. Right afterwards, the horses arrived, and as our Amazon friends headed towards their afternoon venture, others gathered for yet another tropical rainforest trail. But, as usually happens, while most of us invest lots of time and energy in trying to find wildlife, it comes to those who least expect it. After a one and a half hour walk, we arrived to the landing area, where the white-throated capuchin monkeys had been romping boisterously around those who decided to take the “stationary walk.”
After a great day, we were all ready to go rest, waiting for the following day.
