Osa Peninsula
We started our early morning expedition with a visit to a beautiful private reserve known as Caletas. What used to be farmland is now part of the buffer zone for one of Costa Rica’s most wild and diverse National Parks, located in Peninsula de Osa. Nice and smooth surf greeted us at the landing site, and horses were already waiting for those who chose to do the horseback riding. For those who chose to hike instead, melodious songbirds guided our way throughout the trails. As we walked into the lush forest, ants show us why they have ruled the earth for millions of years.
Aztec ants, leaf cutter ants, and army ants displayed the incredible behaviors of their highly organized colonies. Meanwhile, howler monkeys and agoutis distracted our attention as they fed from a fruiting tree. Towards the end we made our way back to the beach while scarlet macaws said goodbye. They ate from some sea almond trees right onshore, giving us some good photo opportunities to try to capture their distinctive scarlet color.
After a quick reposition in the afternoon, we landed on Corcovado National Park. Once named one of the most biodiverse places on earth by National Geographic, this park is home to a vast and diverse amount of wildlife that we were eager to explore. As we walked the muddy trails, we carried in mind our goal for the day, a refreshing waterfall that would help us escape the humid weather. We all enjoyed a dip in these waters before turning around. Back on shore we encountered a high tide with heavy surf that made a few people wonder if we were going to make it back dry and clean.
But thanks to the expertise of our Zodiac drivers we were all back on board just in time to enjoy a sweet surprise. Our hotel manager, Erasmo Estripeaut, the galley and the crew had prepared for us a typical Costa Rican dinner. Rice and black beans known as “Casado”, shredded beef known as “Carne Mechada” and sweet plantains known as “Platano en Tentacion”, they all were part of a delicious selection of Latin American gastronomy and an excellent way to end our second day in Costa Rica.
