Kelly spent her childhood and adolescence in Maryland, exploring the wonders of the natural world wherever she could. This innate curiosity about the environment around her led Kelly to question why people and animals were driven to live their lives ...
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.
After exploring Costa Rica for three days, we landed at one of the most beautiful national parks of Panama, Coiba. Since 1919, Coiba Island was a work prison where the prisoners were tasked with its care. After the prison was relocated, the scientific community and the Smithsonian became interested in this unique place. Today Coiba is one of the most important national parks in the country, many people drawn to its vast biodiversity. We spent the day exploring. Some of our guests enjoyed snorkeling around Cocos Island where they had the opportunity to see whitetip reef sharks, hawksbill sea turtles, and different varieties of fish. At the same time, we offered kayaking and stand up paddleboarding for those looking for something more adventurous. Other guests opted to relax and read a book on the beach at Coiba Island.
Today, we embarked on an unforgettable journey, beginning with a visit to the private reserve of Dolphin Quest at Río Seco, followed by an afternoon adventure in Golfito. Both locations are nestled in the breathtaking Golfo Dulce, which offered remarkable wildlife encounters and natural beauty. Our morning expedition took us along the lush trails of Dolphin Quest where guests immersed themselves in the vibrant tropical rainforest. We were fortunate to spot lively white-faced capuchin monkeys, not only during the morning walk but also later in the day. Adding to the spectacle, several pairs of scarlet macaws put on a dazzling display of color and sound. Guests were captivated by the distinctive calls of the three-wattled bellbirds, and a few lucky observers caught a glimpse of the elusive tamandua, a fascinating anteater. In the afternoon, after repositioning National Geographic Quest to Golfito, guests chose between two exciting activities- kayaking through serene mangroves or joining a Zodiac cruise. Both experiences provided up-close encounters with diverse coastal bird species. A highlight of the Zodiac cruise was encountering a mixed troop of howler monkeys and white-faced capuchins, creating an unforgettable wildlife experience.
After a long night of navigation, we dropped anchor in front of a pristine beach at Playa Blanca. Today was all about the local people. We had the great opportunity to visit four amazing Costa Rican families that have worked through hard times to maintain sustainable tourism businesses, surrounded by protected national parks. Each activity stole our hearts, including artisanal gold panning from Don Juan, visiting Johnny’s sugar mill, enjoying chocolate fondue with Alex at his chocolate farm, and tasting fresh palmitos with Dona Eida and her family running a heart of palm plantation. After our morning activities, we came back to a surprise from the hotel team: a delicious picnic lunch, and for dessert not just great cookies but also beautiful Costa Rican dances, performed by the schoolkids of the neighborhood. To end our afternoon, we learned about green sea turtles from the Sea Turtle Conservation NGO. They showed us a huge green sea turtle that had been caught in the night, which would then be released in the waters of Golfo Dulce, a place unique for its geology but its people too.