Playa Caletas and Corcovado National Park
This morning we had a stretching lesson with Darcy Vanderbush, our wellness specialist, up on the deck, while anchored in front of Drake Bay, before breakfast. Afterward, we had a short reposition to Playa Caletas National Park, a private reserve that serves as a buffer zone in Osa Peninsula, on the Southern Pacific side of Costa Rica.
As we were wet-landing on the shore, we realized there was a group of white-faced capuchin monkeys welcoming us. This was a great photo opportunity, since many of these monkeys were actively foraging and coming close to the ground, the diffused light was on our side, just perfect for avoiding strong contrasts and shadows. Soon a chestnut-mandibled toucan flew by and got our attention. Our photo expert Michael Melford was there with our guests, offering photo tips as well.
Later, after such a great welcome, we divided the groups into hikers, photographers and also horseback riders. We all took different trails and explored the area for a couple of hours. Photographers experimented with the light, taking pictures of landscapes and utilizing great macro photography. Another highlight later in the morning was the arrival of a group of scarlet macaws, which came close to shore, to eat beach almond fruits off the trees. By then, the horseback riders were coming back from their expedition and we all had an opportunity to enjoy and photograph these magnificent birds.
Meanwhile, the crew prepared and served a great lunch at the beach, taking advantage of the perfect weather.
Later, we started our navigation to Corcovado National Park at San Pedrillo station. This is one of the natural jewels of Costa Rica, amazing for its biodiversity, huge trees and pristine ambiance. Hikers were divided between the pargo and the waterfall trails. With the sound of the tropical birds, we walked through, learning and experiencing what a tropical rain forest is. Along the hike, one of the characteristic plants were the long vines that seemed to come from the sky, we got a mother spider monkey and her baby eating some leaves, while hanging from these vines. We felt very lucky, since this primate is one of the primary forest indicators and a rare animal species elsewhere. We continued to the waterfall, to get some photos and return to swim in a pond, right in the middle of the forest. The feeling was refreshing and unique, since we were the only ones in the forest.
We returned to the National Geographic Sea Lion, and later we had recaps during cocktail hours.
