Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
This morning we woke to a beautiful day with little cloud cover and light breezes. We were moored in the lovely Golfo Dulce and overlooking Casa Orquideas, the home of Ron and Trudy MacAllister and their well-crafted botanical gardens. It was the picture of a tropical paradise.
Many of us chose to begin this day with a relaxing and invigorating stretching and yoga class on the top deck before we shuttled ashore to meet the MacAllisters and take a walk through the gardens. There were many different topics to explore in the garden. One group focused on bird life, another on plant life and still another worked with National Geographic photographer Steve Winter on learning how to photograph the foliage like a professional. What a treat! We saw many bird species including several of the delightful and colorful chestnut-mandibled toucan, a pair of white hawks, black vultures as well as woodpeckers, and hummingbirds. The variety of plants was overwhelming with so many tropical species both indigenous and exotic. There were Cacao trees, many kinds of ginger, and a most exciting plant, Annatto or Achiote, commonly called the “Lipstick Plant”. It has been used by indigenous tribes for costume and cosmetics. Several of the women in our group just had to give it a try. They were done up like they were off for a night at the opera!
After lunch we took up anchor and headed further up the gulf to Rio Rincon where nearly half the group indulged in kayaking from the ship up the scenic river. There were others who preferred to head to land for a bird and wildlife watching expedition. The exciting find today was a 2-toed sloth sitting quite visibly in a tree giving the group a fantastic photo opportunity. The other highlight of the day was 3 roseatte spoonbills roosting on the river shore.
Tonight we head further south into Panamanian waters.
This morning we woke to a beautiful day with little cloud cover and light breezes. We were moored in the lovely Golfo Dulce and overlooking Casa Orquideas, the home of Ron and Trudy MacAllister and their well-crafted botanical gardens. It was the picture of a tropical paradise.
Many of us chose to begin this day with a relaxing and invigorating stretching and yoga class on the top deck before we shuttled ashore to meet the MacAllisters and take a walk through the gardens. There were many different topics to explore in the garden. One group focused on bird life, another on plant life and still another worked with National Geographic photographer Steve Winter on learning how to photograph the foliage like a professional. What a treat! We saw many bird species including several of the delightful and colorful chestnut-mandibled toucan, a pair of white hawks, black vultures as well as woodpeckers, and hummingbirds. The variety of plants was overwhelming with so many tropical species both indigenous and exotic. There were Cacao trees, many kinds of ginger, and a most exciting plant, Annatto or Achiote, commonly called the “Lipstick Plant”. It has been used by indigenous tribes for costume and cosmetics. Several of the women in our group just had to give it a try. They were done up like they were off for a night at the opera!
After lunch we took up anchor and headed further up the gulf to Rio Rincon where nearly half the group indulged in kayaking from the ship up the scenic river. There were others who preferred to head to land for a bird and wildlife watching expedition. The exciting find today was a 2-toed sloth sitting quite visibly in a tree giving the group a fantastic photo opportunity. The other highlight of the day was 3 roseatte spoonbills roosting on the river shore.
Tonight we head further south into Panamanian waters.
