Pacheca and Pachequita Island, Pearl Islands, Gulf of Panama, 12/11/2017, National Geographic Quest
Aboard the
National Geographic Quest
Costa Rica, Panama & Colombia
Today we had a great opportunity to explore the waters of the Gulf of Panama, which experiences an upwelling of nutrient-rich cold water – and a related explosion of marine life -- at this time of the year. The upwelling is created when northern trade winds blow all the way across the isthmus and into the gulf, replacing warm sterile water with cold water from the bottom leading to an explosion of life.
Federico Chacón, or “Fico” as he is better known by his friends, started guiding one-day nature tours on weekends and holidays at the age of 18 right at the time he started studies at the University of Costa Rica. It was just a part-time job, that wa...
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Raaaaaaghck (the cry of the scarlet macaw) and kiiiissskadeeee (the call of the kiskadee) greeted guests upon their arrival at Playa Blanca this morning. It was a fascinating way to start a very busy day ashore. Many people enjoyed rainforest hikes in the morning, with fantastic sightings of two and three-toed sloths, and entertainment by local folk dancers enhanced our picnic lunch. We spent the afternoon visiting local farms where we learned about heart of palm and cacao production. The day culminated with a presentation by a local turtle preservation group and the release of a hawksbill turtle. The calls of the macaws and kiskadees bid us farewell as they returned to their roosts and we to ours. Raaaaaaaaghck.
Today onboard National Geographic Quest, we arrived in one of the most remote areas of Costa Rica which has a rich biodiversity, Drake Bay. On the first outing, we offered different walks on private property owned by Costa Ricans, and they had trails in the primary rainforest for our guests to enjoy. For those who wanted to walk a little bit more, we offered a coastal walk and finished in the town of Drake. During the coastal hike, we saw the Central American spider-monkey, white-throated capuchin monkey, and different species of birds. The landscape along the coast was outstanding as the waves broke on the rocks and the sounds relaxed our guests. After the walk, we returned to the ship for lunch and then went for another outing on a Zodiac excursion up the Agujitas River where we saw a yellow-crowned night heron, a solo male capuchin monkey, and a show in the rainforest canopy.
After six days of amazing exploration in Central America, we explored the buffer zone of one of the most important national parks in Costa Rica, Corcovado. The morning began with a Zodiac cruise on Agujitas River. On this amazing tour, we had the opportunity to observe different species of animals, including iguanas, long-nosed bats, boat-billed herons, and yellow-crowned night herons. Traveling deep into the river, we spotted spider monkeys. These monkeys are indicators of a healthy rainforest. As fruit eaters, they need a large and healthy rainforest. We enjoyed two rounds of Zodiac cruises before returning to the ship. In the afternoon, we explored another area, Caletas Private Reserve. Guests enjoyed various hikes, including a long hike around the property and a medium walk around the gardens. For a big surprise that thrilled our guests, we spotted spider monkeys eating fruit in the canopy of the water apple tree. Exploring the rainforest was the best way to finish a great day.
