Costa Rica: Golfo Dulce And Osa Peninsula

By Kristy McCaffrey

I just returned from the mystical rainforest of southern Costa Rica. Instead of boring you with insights from my trip, such as: bring a headband because in 95% humidity you will have no hairstyle...ever, or bring U.S. Dollars (in small bills) because for some reason the local population want nothing to do with their own currency (colones), or pack light but bring as much underwear as you can because even after a sink rinsing, they still won't smell fresh (did I mention that you sweat constantly?).

Instead, I'll let my photos transport you to the magic of one of the most bio-diverse places on earth.

Our room at Playa Nicuesa Lodge, located on the
Golfo Dulce.

The rainforest of Costa Rica.

Spotted Dolphin

Sea snake--a rare sight and very poisonous.

Sign on beach at Playa Nicuesa.

And here's the reason for the sign. The locals call
him Fernando.

Gecko.

Bat in an abandoned barn.

A local frog hanging out near our room.

Pit viper--very poisonous.

Our mode of transportation.

Near the Drake Bay airport (and I use the term 'airport'
loosely), we found several of the mysterious stone
spheres known to exist in Costa Rica. Usually made of a type
of basalt, limestone, or sandstone, they can weigh up to
15 tons and are thought to be anywhere between 1000 to
2000 years old. Their purpose isn't known. An interesting side
note: similar spheres have been found in Mexico, Peru,
Bosnia, New Zealand, and one on Easter Island.

Brahman cattle.

Mica snake ~ non-poisonous.

Our accommodation at Copa de Arbol
in Drake Bay.

The lodge staff would greet us at the end of the day
with a fresh coconut. Very refreshing!

Brown boobys wait on a log for dolphins to herd fish
to the surface.

A scarlet macaw, so beautiful and so noisy. Our guide used
my phone camera to photograph this one high in the rainforest
canopy by placing it up to his high-powered scope.

Spider monkey in Corcovado National Park.

Spider monkey.

Howler monkey showing his testes and urinating.
We got the hint--he's in charge.

Howler monkey. Only the alpha males howl, a very eerie sound
that echoes throughout the rainforest.

Coati, similar to a raccoon.

Sleeping tapir, a large herbivorous mammal.

Toucan.

Capuchin, or white-faced, monkey.

Capuchin monkey.

Capuchin monkey.

Iguana.

Vulture.

Squirrel monkeys.

Squirrel monkey.

Coffee beans. The harvest is in the fall.

Leafcutter ant. They're everywhere and haul leaves back to the
nest to feed a fungus, which they dine upon. 

On our last night in San Jose, we found this nest just outside
our lodging door. Two baby birds had just hatched, with
a third on the way.

After long days in the jungle, a mango margarita hit
the spot...

...along with a traditional Costa
Rican meal, the casado.

When in Rome...sturdy rubber hiking
boots make trekking through
the rainforest much more enjoyable.
Pura Vida!