Regarding biodiversity, Costa Rica is one of the richest countries in Central America. The small country hosts four percent of worldwide biodiversity. Costa Rica protects important areas and helps develop sustainability for surrounding communities.
Onboard National Geographic Quest, we explored the area by going to one of the most important national parks and a buffer zone, Corcovado National Park. Corcovado has over 41,000 hectares of primary rainforest without fragmentation by human activities. Costa Rica created the national park in 1975 to protect the rich soil and the large patch of primary forest in Central America.
Our day began by landing on an uninhabited beach in a beautiful little bay. In San Josecito, we had opportunities to explore the shoreline and enjoy the beautiful landscape, including the very interesting rocky formations of the area. On the walk, our guests saw scarlet macaws flying everywhere. They also observed different types of birds like brown pelicans and hummingbirds. Some guests spotted white-nosed coatis.
After the walk, some of our guests decided to refresh themselves with a swim in the warm water. We returned to National Geographic Quest and repositioned our vessel toward Corcovado National Park. We offered two nature walks—the pargo trail and the waterfall hike for guests who are more adventurous. The waterfall hike is not easy, but our guests have the spirit of exploration and sometimes want to push themselves. We enjoyed a beautiful time swimming in the middle of the tropical rainforest.
After we returned to National Geographic Quest, our evening began with recaps, cocktails and a wonderful dinner prepared by the galley.
