National Geographic Sea Lion sailed last night during our sleep from the Island Coiba in Panama, to Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. And we woke up docked at the rusty old pier of the lethargic little town of Golfito, in the southern most region of Costa Rica for our immigration paperwork (all done without our participation, by our very efficient purser Cassidy).

The sunrise was spectacular at Golfito! The lush mountains and the houses of the town slowly emerged from the darkness, as the sun made its way into a blue and orange sky full of clouds.

By the time the sun began to become visible over the hills, and breakfast was served, the National Geographic Sea Lion was again on its way to its next destination for our morning activities at famous Casa Orquideas botanical garden.

Casa Orquideas is a privately owned creation of Ron and Trudy McAllister, two American expatriates who made this very remote place, their home 37 years ago. Their love for plants slowly evolved into a great exhibit within the primary rainforest, of what the tropics have to offer in terms of color, patterns, flavors, and medicine. Also, the easily walkable property has the extra benefit of being regularly visited by the local fauna from the neighboring forest. So we had great views of parrots, tanagers, toucans, flycatchers, hummingbirds, and the spectacular scarlet macaws, that during the whole length of our stay here, kept us entertained with their constant colorful and noisy flyovers.

For lunch we returned to our ship and then repositioned to the inside of the bay for our afternoon activities at the Golfito mangrove, where by expedition landing craft or kayak we explored this important ecosystem that builds and protects the coast. We found here at Golfito, troops of active white-faced capuching monkeys and loud mantled howler monkeys among great egrets, tricolored herons, whimbrels, willets and other shorebirds.

In all a great first day in Costa Rica!