Corcovado national park, Puntarenas; Costa Rica
A majestic forest: Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula retains one of the most pristine, lowland tropical forests and it was our fortune today to explore it. The tumultuous ocean swells made the Zodiac beach landing feel as if we had descended upon uncharted territory. At the head of our trail, we observed a satiny parrot snake and a little later a slender anole; the former is a predator of the latter, and I wonder if the two shall sometime meet in the future.
The tallest trees in this forest may be hundreds of years old. They struggle with the burden of clinging vines and epiphytes, a tremendous weight bearing down on their sturdy branches. Their fruits and flowers feed the creatures of this forest, and we witness this first hand as a red-capped manakin holds a grape-sized fruit in its miniature beak. In the distance, a boat-billed heron roosts on a branch above a running stream. The dinner for this nocturnal bird will come later, in the darkness of night.
Our trek leads us to a magnificent waterfall. It is powerful, yet it brings a sense of tranquility. We have witnessed first hand the influence of water in the rainforest – in the rain falling from the sky to the swift current of a fresh water stream on its way to the ocean. Today, we get to revel in it with a relaxing swim.
We end the afternoon on a beautiful, sandy beach. A rainbow in the distance rides on a mist lifting off the ocean’s surface. Our attention on the beach is captured by a band of capuchin monkeys. They sit atop the coconut trees feeding from one of the coconuts that is partly open. The monkeys slip their slender hand into the opening and lap up the tasty milk. Another monkey captures an iguana and has to fend off his lucky meal from the others. We are now experiencing time as are our primate relatives do, living in the moment and enjoying the many wonderful things that nature has to offer.
A majestic forest: Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula retains one of the most pristine, lowland tropical forests and it was our fortune today to explore it. The tumultuous ocean swells made the Zodiac beach landing feel as if we had descended upon uncharted territory. At the head of our trail, we observed a satiny parrot snake and a little later a slender anole; the former is a predator of the latter, and I wonder if the two shall sometime meet in the future.
The tallest trees in this forest may be hundreds of years old. They struggle with the burden of clinging vines and epiphytes, a tremendous weight bearing down on their sturdy branches. Their fruits and flowers feed the creatures of this forest, and we witness this first hand as a red-capped manakin holds a grape-sized fruit in its miniature beak. In the distance, a boat-billed heron roosts on a branch above a running stream. The dinner for this nocturnal bird will come later, in the darkness of night.
Our trek leads us to a magnificent waterfall. It is powerful, yet it brings a sense of tranquility. We have witnessed first hand the influence of water in the rainforest – in the rain falling from the sky to the swift current of a fresh water stream on its way to the ocean. Today, we get to revel in it with a relaxing swim.
We end the afternoon on a beautiful, sandy beach. A rainbow in the distance rides on a mist lifting off the ocean’s surface. Our attention on the beach is captured by a band of capuchin monkeys. They sit atop the coconut trees feeding from one of the coconuts that is partly open. The monkeys slip their slender hand into the opening and lap up the tasty milk. Another monkey captures an iguana and has to fend off his lucky meal from the others. We are now experiencing time as are our primate relatives do, living in the moment and enjoying the many wonderful things that nature has to offer.
