Travels to South Pacific
I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to prepare for today’s journey to Cabo Matapalo, located at the southernmost tip of the Osa Peninsula. The group consisted of me, two members of the Marine Corps, and our guide, Manuel. From Puerto Jimenez, the trip normally takes about an hour by car, but because we often pulled over to look at colorful birds and local plant life, it took us about two and a half.
The first stop was at a beautiful man-made lake, where Manuel pointed out two species of tiger heron and a plant with unusually …
Location: Cabo Matapalo, Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez, South Pacific »
Activities: Bird & Wildlife Watching, Hiking, Pacific Beaches, Surfing »
My new friends from the Iguana Lodge and I stepped off the boat and into an entirely different space and time. Just 20 minutes across the Golfo Dulce from Puerto Jimenez, the Osa Wildlife Sanctuary is so lush and remote that it seemed we could have just as easily been observing dinosaurs in place of local wildlife.
Wounded or orphaned animals and illegally-captured pets are brought from all over southern Costa Rica to be rehabilitated in the refuge, which is located on the edge of Piedras Blancas National Park. Owners Earl and Carol Crews walked out …
Location: Golfo Dulce, Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez, South Pacific »
Activities: Bird & Wildlife Watching, Private Parks & Reserves »
Two new friends from the hotel, Meg and Scott, accompanied me on a tour of Finca Kobo. Kobo means ‘dream’ in the language of the Guayami, a group of indigenous people who still reside in small numbers on the Osa Peninsula.The farm is entirely committed to sustainable agriculture and – more importantly – to producing chocolate.
Owner Alex Retana Mena is one of the most bubbly, excitable people I have ever met. His eyes lit up with genuine enthusiasm when he spoke of sustainable farming, and his energy was completely contagious. Initially, I was pretty much …
Location: Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez, South Pacific »
Activities: Botanical Gardens, Chocolate Tours »
