At leisure to relax at your lodge situated on the Golfo Dulce ('Sweet Gulf') and surrounded by the rainforests of Piedras Blancas National Park and magificent unspoiled beaches.
Covering over 14,000 hectares and connecting with Corcovado National Park and Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, this pristine lowland tropical rainforest forms part of an important wildlife corridor around the gulf. The biodiversity is tremendously high with over 140 tree species per hectare, around 2,500 plant species and over 400 colourful birds. Due to its humid and hot climate it gets plenty of rain, keeping the rainforest lush all year round. You can see heliconias, ferns and other light-sensitive plants, walking palms, buttress roots, giant trees with epiphytic orchids and bromeliads, passion flowers and endless liana vines.
These rainforests are also home to thousands of small mammals, birds, insects, butterflies, snakes, frogs and other reptiles - including endangered species such as the scarlet macaw and squirrel monkey. Keep an eye out for the iconic sloth, howler monkeys, ocelot (a small wild cat), white-faced capuchin, coati, peccary, agouti and paca. Jaguars and pumas (also known as mountain lions or cougars) also live here but are rarely seen. Birdlife is also abundant - including magnificent neo-tropical birds such as toucans, parrots, tanagers, manakins and so much more.
Although not often seen, four species of sea turtle nest on the Osa Peninsula - the small Olive Ridley turtle that you will see most often (year round, but best seen July to November at new moon), the endangered Green turtle (July/August), vulnerable Leatherback (September to March) and the critically endangered Hawksbill (September to October).
Optional activities vary by lodge but usually include guided nature walks, birding, night hikes, village visits and kayaking amongst the mangroves. Horse riding and dolphin watching boat trips in the Golfo Dulce are also available, with a 90% chance of seeing bottlenose dolphins frolicking and swimming by the boat (pay locally for all optional activities).
In the warm ocean you can also hope to see whales during the two whale watching seasons (August to November for whales migrating from Antarctica; and December to March for Arctic whales, but these tend to pass further offshore).