Casa Orquideas and Ricon River, Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Today was a splendid introduction to Costa Rica. Early in the morning the Costa Rican authorities came onboard before breakfast and cleared the ship. Then we sailed towards our first stop: Casa Orquideas, a magnificent tropical botanical garden which was planted by a couple of American expatriates who moved to Costa Rica some twenty three years ago. After purchasing an abandoned cocoa plantation and a surrounding forest, they started planting this garden with plants taken from the forest and some exotic plants which were introduced in the 1930’s by the banana fruit company which was once king in the area. The intense tropical heat did not deter us from wandering along the trails on our own or guided by our team of naturalists. Orchids, bromeliads and heliconias in blossom were a real treat and it was also fascinating to see a lot of the trees which produce some of the fruits we’ve been tasting for the first time during the Sea Voyager’s breakfasts: caimitos, pitayas, soursop as well as some which we’d known for a long time but had never seen on the tree: papayas, pineapples, plantains and cocoa. The herb and medicinal gardens were interesting too. But birding was not off the list and we even had the chance to see some “tent bats.” These little mammals actually build their communal home by chewing on the veins of palm leaves and turning them literally into a tent.
At noon we sailed off to the other side of the gulf. The heat and the humidity persuaded us to go and indulge in an afternoon siesta. Then, as the day cooled down, we came out for a new expedition, this time to Rincon River. Some of us went through the mangroves and the river by Zodiac, others preferred the silence of kayaks and some simply walked down the road. In the end everyone was pleased with the great number of birds they saw: Roseate spoonbills, green backed herons, chestnut mandible toucans, great white egrets, royal terns among many others. Back onboard, recap time, dinner and the chance to dance some salsa.
Today was a splendid introduction to Costa Rica. Early in the morning the Costa Rican authorities came onboard before breakfast and cleared the ship. Then we sailed towards our first stop: Casa Orquideas, a magnificent tropical botanical garden which was planted by a couple of American expatriates who moved to Costa Rica some twenty three years ago. After purchasing an abandoned cocoa plantation and a surrounding forest, they started planting this garden with plants taken from the forest and some exotic plants which were introduced in the 1930’s by the banana fruit company which was once king in the area. The intense tropical heat did not deter us from wandering along the trails on our own or guided by our team of naturalists. Orchids, bromeliads and heliconias in blossom were a real treat and it was also fascinating to see a lot of the trees which produce some of the fruits we’ve been tasting for the first time during the Sea Voyager’s breakfasts: caimitos, pitayas, soursop as well as some which we’d known for a long time but had never seen on the tree: papayas, pineapples, plantains and cocoa. The herb and medicinal gardens were interesting too. But birding was not off the list and we even had the chance to see some “tent bats.” These little mammals actually build their communal home by chewing on the veins of palm leaves and turning them literally into a tent.
At noon we sailed off to the other side of the gulf. The heat and the humidity persuaded us to go and indulge in an afternoon siesta. Then, as the day cooled down, we came out for a new expedition, this time to Rincon River. Some of us went through the mangroves and the river by Zodiac, others preferred the silence of kayaks and some simply walked down the road. In the end everyone was pleased with the great number of birds they saw: Roseate spoonbills, green backed herons, chestnut mandible toucans, great white egrets, royal terns among many others. Back onboard, recap time, dinner and the chance to dance some salsa.
