Osa Peninsula, Corcavado National Park

I am so glad I got the opportunity to visit the Osa Peninsula. Many people, even in Costa Rica, are not familiar with the area. It is one of the farther destinations from San Jose, but it is well worth the drive. The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biodiverse areas in the entire world. Because of its secluded location, you will be able to see a wide variety of animals and will likely be the only person on the beautiful beach.

I probably would not have been able to go to the peninsula without the help of my roommate's parents. Clare’s parents came to Costa Rica, from Colorado, for a week long vacation. Lucky for us they rented a car and invited us along for the adventure. The drive was long, but was so much better in the comforts of an air conditioned Rav4 rather than on a hot public bus. About an hour into our trip we came to a river full of crocodiles. This is one of the few places you can see fresh water crocodiles, in the wild, in Costa Rica. Why they chose to make their home near the bridge of this fairly busy road as opposed to down river, I will never know. After around four hours of driving, we reached the small town of Dominical. This is where we spent our first night.

 Our little Dominical bungalow.

The next morning we got an early start to the Osa Peninsula. After a pit stop in the main town on the peninsula, Puerto Jimenez, for the keys to our lodging and supplies for the next few days, we began our trek to the very small town of Carate (population: 22). Little did we know, the 22km road from Puerto Jimenez was little more than a one lane, washboard, gravel road full of pot holes. Did I mention we had to drive through creeks as well? Had it been the rainy season, this road would have been un-passable. After some four wheeling and only slightly getting high centered, we made it to our beach house. We definitely found out why only 22 people live in probably one of the most secluded places I have ever been. It was quite an adventure to say the least.

 Some lovely water blocking the road.

Pretty views from the road.

Our house

The amazing private beach.

On the third day of our trip, we woke at the crack of dawn for a guided tour around Corcavado National Park. Our tour guide, Eric, showed us a variety of birds, lizards, monkeys, bugs, feline-like animals, and sloths. Without him, we would not have been able to spot half of the things we saw. We drank fresh coconut water and picked bananas right off of the tree. These bananas were the sweetest I have ever tasted; it was unbelievable. We ended our day by hiking up to a waterfall. Eric found this waterfall when he was a boy growing up in the hills of the Osa Peninsula. It still remains one of his favorite spots.

 Parrot

Gross spider

Toucan

Sloth

Howler monkeys

 

 Water fall

 Our tour guide.

 Squirrel monkeys

Eric using his machete.

The amazing banana.

On our way to and from the Osa Peninsula, we stopped at a little coffee shop in the hills. We drank our fresh Costa Rican coffee and enjoyed the view. Drinking delicious coffee, right in the hills where it is grown is an amazing experience.

View from the coffee shop