Caletas Reserve & Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula
Many elements participate to create a successful integration of conservation initiatives. Historically, Costa Rica has been able to provide honorable opportunities to families living in remote areas. Education and health facilities, nondiscriminatory land distribution and money incentives for land protection, all together provided a foundation with the purpose of encouraging locals to live in harmony with their natural environment.
Las Caletas reserve is owned by a local family, whose philosophy is the participation in the process to recuperate the ecosystem damage caused by their ancestors. They are not to blame though. In the past, the most valued land was the one devoid of any forest growth. Buffer zones like Caletas are imperative to support, hence our morning visit included this project.
Our guests joined us in nature walks to be familiarized with one of the few tracts of lowland moist forest on the Pacific of Central America. Leaf cutter ants, a fer–de- lance snake, a three toed sloth and scarlet macaws reassured with their existence that their efforts are significant.
After a gratifying and well deserved BBQ lunch on Caletas, the National Geographic Sea Lion positioned us strategically in front of the ranger station at Corcovado National park.
The grandeur of towering trees merged with the pristine ocean introduced many of our guests with the dynamic that is created in the lowland rain forest. For instance, in my walk through Pargo trail we started with persistent monotonous notes from sundown cicadas. As we were getting use to their loud calls, a white-nosed coatimundi made its presence by climbing a 25 meter high tree. Their achievement was gracious and effortless and it provided a quick glimpse to their pointy snout and ringed tail. Later on, another coati showed itself, this time more in the open and to our surprise a pair of the elusive great curassow followed us elegantly as we returned back to the ranger station.
Another sunset painted the sky with orange hues, with the hope that future generations will have the chance to enjoy this sophisticated ecosystem like we did today.
