Last night during our sleep, the National Geographic Sea Lion sailed into Costa Rica.
This morning the sunrise caught us sailing in Golfo Dulce, in the Southern most tip of the Pacific coast of this well known stable and democratic Latin-American country.
Previously during our sleep, we visited the port of Golfito for a fast customs process, and then after a short sailing distance in the very calm waters of the bay, we arrived to the Rio Tigre estuary.
At Rio Tigre some of us explored the coastline and mangrove forest on our exploration boats and some others, leisurely paddling on kayaks, under their own power.
It was high tide at Rio Tigre and we could observe perched inside of the trees, near the water, many wadding birds, waiting for the tide to recede, and the mud-flats to get exposed for them to feed. Birds such as whimbrels, willets, spotted sandpipers, white ibis, great blue herons, tricolored herons, ruddy turnstones, and many others.
After a fun morning learning about the importance of the mangrove ecosystem, observing and photographing a lot of its wildlife, we returned to the ship for a delicious lunch and to reposition for our afternoon activities at famous Casa Orquideas botanical garden, just across the Golfo Dulce bay.
Casa Orquideas is the home and creation of Ron and Trudy McAllister, two American expatriates that made this remote place their home 37 years ago.
Their love for the tropical plants blossomed into an incredibly beautiful and easily walkable exhibit of some of what the tropics offer. An exhibit of palms, trees, fruits, flowers, spices, and medicinal plants.
On top of this, we had the regular visit of some of the animals of the surrounding primary rainforest, who were also attracted by the nectar of the flowers, and the abundant fruit in the garden.
Animals such as spectacular pairs of scarlet macaws, black-mandibled toucans that looked like birds with a large banana on their bills, and many kinds of tanagers, flycatchers, and hummingbirds.
Casa Orquideas is truly a showcase, with many photographic possibilities.
In all a great first day in Costa Rica.
