Corcovado National Park and Caletas Beach, Costa Rica
We waited for Corcovado National Park to open to start our walks. Two different groups left to explore the waterfall or the coastline trails. Widely known among locals as the most unexplored and inaccessible rainforest in Costa Rica, the Corcovado National Park is home to many endemic species, some shared in a few cases with western Panama only.
Upon arrival, those on the coastline trail spotted a three-toed sloth and as we advanced, two Central American agoutis crossed the trail and posed for us as they were eating seeds. We continued under the magnificent trees of Corcovado where other groups spotted mantled howler monkeys, Central American spider monkeys and white-throated capuchin monkeys. All of us had a chance to enjoy the presence of an endangered species: the scarlet macaws. The macaws delighted us with their astonishing colors as they ate the seeds of the beach almond tree and loudly announced their wonderful flight. With the sun almost at the zenith, it was time to come back to the ship.
After repositioning the boat, we disembarked at Caletas for a barbeque lunch ashore. Some of us went on some shorter walks here, and one small group walked to Agujitas, where they found another endangered species: the Central American squirrel monkey. To end our day we had the chance to listen to a great lecture by our naturalist Rafael Robles.
During the Costa Rican buffet dinner, the heavy rain demonstrated what keeps this rainforest lush and green. The heavy sun radiation is the source of energy for the constant growth of plants and is the other ingredient for that lush environment. After the rain we could see the clouds blown away from the rabbit on the moon that lit our cabin windows.
We waited for Corcovado National Park to open to start our walks. Two different groups left to explore the waterfall or the coastline trails. Widely known among locals as the most unexplored and inaccessible rainforest in Costa Rica, the Corcovado National Park is home to many endemic species, some shared in a few cases with western Panama only.
Upon arrival, those on the coastline trail spotted a three-toed sloth and as we advanced, two Central American agoutis crossed the trail and posed for us as they were eating seeds. We continued under the magnificent trees of Corcovado where other groups spotted mantled howler monkeys, Central American spider monkeys and white-throated capuchin monkeys. All of us had a chance to enjoy the presence of an endangered species: the scarlet macaws. The macaws delighted us with their astonishing colors as they ate the seeds of the beach almond tree and loudly announced their wonderful flight. With the sun almost at the zenith, it was time to come back to the ship.
After repositioning the boat, we disembarked at Caletas for a barbeque lunch ashore. Some of us went on some shorter walks here, and one small group walked to Agujitas, where they found another endangered species: the Central American squirrel monkey. To end our day we had the chance to listen to a great lecture by our naturalist Rafael Robles.
During the Costa Rican buffet dinner, the heavy rain demonstrated what keeps this rainforest lush and green. The heavy sun radiation is the source of energy for the constant growth of plants and is the other ingredient for that lush environment. After the rain we could see the clouds blown away from the rabbit on the moon that lit our cabin windows.
