Casa Orquidea & Rio Esquinas, Golfito, Costa Rica
Early this morning we woke up docked at the old peer of Golfito, deep inside Golfo Dulce, on the southernmost corner of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. We are in a new country today! Costa Rica is a world-renowned country, famous for its stability, democracy and concern for the protection of its natural resources. Golfo Dulce is a good example of this, completely tranquil waters, surrounded by pristine rainforest. With very little “development” here, we hope that it remains like this!
After quickly going through immigration paperwork, restocking with fresh water and fuel, the full moon setingt calmly over the mountains was replaced by the rising sun. National Geographic Sea Lion disengaged from the peer and carried on towards our activities for the day. We leisurely had a delicious breakfast and started to get ready for our disembarkation at Casa Orquidea’s botanical garden. We always look forward to today! Casa Orquidea is a great place. Ron and Trudy Mac Allister, two American expatriates, have little by little over the last 30 years, created this great exhibit of tropical plants; consequently many species of native birds followed. We had such a great time observing and photographing the plants, flowers and birds that live here. Many varieties of multi colored heliconias, brightly colored scarlet macaws, large billed chesnut-mandibled toucans.
Later in the afternoon we visited the Esquinas River for a Zodiac cruise through the estuary and adjacent mangrove forest. It was great! Beautiful scenery and lots of things to see! White ibises, whimbrels, willets, ospreys, and specials for today where a bird eating snake coiled up, boat-billed herons, the elusive silky anteater, a troop of Central American squirrel monkeys, and when we were heading back to the ship, a pod of bottle nosed dolphins were spotted actively hunting fish.
We waited to go back so we could watch the dolphins for a while. We were very pleased to observe a successful dolphin coming up with a huge fish in its mouth. Indeed a great first day in Costa Rica!
