This was our second day in Costa Rica, and we went all out to make good use of our time here! Today included hikes through the forest of the lush Osa Peninsula and a demonstration in gold panning. Such activities are often hosted by locals, who are generous with their time and are eager to share their culture with us. This all takes place in the gorgeous and tropical Costa Rican atmosphere of the Osa Penisula and Golfo Dulce. Being 80 percent natural reserve, these areas are testament to the preservation of Costa Rican ecology and culture—a fact not lost on our guests.
3/20/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Caletas Private Reserve and Corcovado National Park
Over five days ago, we began our journey in Panama and now we’re on our last day in Costa Rica. We decided to explore one of the most important areas in terms of biodiversity, the Osa Peninsula. The Osa Peninsula is home to approximately 4% of the biodiversity in the world. For many years, people tried to mine the area because it is very rich in minerals, specifically gold. Over thirty years ago the government of Costa Rica decided to promote the country as a tourist destination and today it is a pioneer of sustainability in Central America. We began our morning activities offering different options for our guests. The first activity was a coastal walk, and some had the opportunity to see a boa, a white-throated capuchin monkey, and a mantled howler monkey. In the afternoon, part of our group chose to go for a waterfall hike led by our naturalists, and they finished at a swimming hole where they took time to relax and enjoy themselves. Other guests took the long Pargo trail where they saw a Central American spider monkey, and a tapir, one of the most difficult animals to see in the tropics. We finished our day with an amazing sunset from the bow of the National Geographic Quest , a great end to a great day.
