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My boys were born seven years apart. While in DC a few years back, one was enjoying
the museums and monuments while the other didn’t make it much farther than the zoo.
And while one was having the time of his life at Disney, the other was simply putting up
with it. Now with our boys at ages 17 and 10, we were all at a stage where we wanted
something authentic, adventurous and off the beaten path. We found it in Drake Bay,
Costa Rica.

A Journey to the Remote

From the San Jose airport in Alajuela, we boarded our 16-seat plane to the far
southwest corner of Costa Rica, not far from the border with Panama. This is the last
time we would see paved roads until returning to central Costa Rica five days later.
With the diesel smell and jarring passage, the flight on Nature Air was not for the weak
of stomach, but its 30-minute route beat the eight-hour alternative car ride. The views
of verdant mountains quickly gave way to the runway carved out of the jungle, a wee bit
wider than the plane itself. At its base stood a gray horse nonchalantly grazing as our
metal bird glided over its head before coming to a tipsy rest.

We were transported by jeep to a village named Drake Bay on winding roads and at
times through flowing streams of water. Upon arrival, our driver pulled over at the side
of the road next to a beach, and pointing across the bay, told us in Spanish that our
hotel was over yonder. Fortunately, two hotel employees appeared to sling our bags
over their shoulders as we started our hike.

Jinetes de Osa was charming. Our cabana was in the treetops surrounded by tropical
birds and overlooking the bay ringed in by a line of mountains. (This did require
climbing 150 steps every time we wanted to reach it.) Each morning, we ate from a
complimentary breakfast buffet in the open air restaurant with scarlet macaws crooning
in a tree beside us. Two local women cooked omelets or eggs made to order on
burners next to us. The buffet also included fresh, local mangoes, papayas and
watermelon and homemade bread or muffins. I was willing to trade the daily climbs for
the quaint and cozy surroundings and the delicious fresh food.

A Jungle Hike

We began our planned hiking excursion with a guided boat ride to La Sirena Ranger
and Biological Station, one of two beach landings in the 100,000 acre Corcovado
National Park. This lush, biologically diverse chunk of land is a remote piece of what is
known as the Osa Peninsula . (The peninsula also includes Drake Bay.) In 1974 the
Costa Rican government reclaimed the land which was at the time being used for
agriculture and turned it into a natural preserve. What a difference 40 years can make –
the dense tropical jungle is now home to 2% of the world’s biodiversity.
This care for the natural environment is evident in the Costa Rican national slogan,
“Pura Vida” or pure life. And our trip to Corcovado, was just that – a trip into the jungle
to see more creatures than I ever could have imagined, living the pura vida.

Our guide, Manuel, led us along the winding trails with a high resolution magnifying lense on a
tripod slung over his shoulder. Manuel would stand aside the trail with his ear to the
tree canopy. When something unknown to the rest of us would capture his attention, he
would stealthily study the canopy, quickly drop his tripod in place, and jump out of the
way so that we hikers could share the sighting. Unbelievably, a two-toed sloth would
come into perfect view. And a three-toed sloth. Spider, capuchin and titi monkeys. Two
tapirs. A large group of wild pigs.

Memorably, it was my son, Ryan, not Manuel, who spotted the elusive toucan on this
animal kingdom scavenger hunt. At one point, three hiking groups converged on the
trail as Manuel caught a glimpse of the yellow and black wonder before the bird
surreptitiously escaped to the dense canopy. Silently scanning the treetops for several
minutes, Ryan, jumped up, pointing to a distant branch. The guides looked doubtful as
they followed his pointer with their eyes. Then, springing into action, one of them
whisper-yelled, “Mira! Mira!” Tripods suddenly hit the ground, hikers rushed towards
their guides and lenses brought the lovely bird into view. My ten-year-old gleefully
learned that day that though he knows but a little bird call and even less Spanish, the
fist pump is universal.

It was the coconuts that captured Will’s fancy. Taking a rest on the beach, Will and
Ryan poked around among the detritus. Finding an unblemished coconut, Will next
searched for a sharp rock and then went to work. Miraculously, he did not break fingers
or draw blood, but efficiently broke open the coconut husk and next the shell. My
husband, John, our Guatemalan group buddy, and I all laughed in wonder. After Will
drank the milk straight from the shell, we sat on a piece of driftwood and feasted on the
fresh meat.

After hiking for four hours, we finished our adventure by boat and were surprised by a
visit from a pod of young dolphins. In synchronicity, they dove and played beside our
boat, seeming to perform for us. Manuel pointed out the spots on their backs, signs that
they were juveniles. Social, intelligent creatures, they frolicked alongside the boat.
Twenty-two marine mammals live in the waters aside Costa Rica. The dolphins alone
were worth the trip.

Snorkeling at Cano Island

It was a 45-minute boat ride to Cano Island, known for its crystalline waters. As we
swam near the coral, there was much to see, and our skilled snorkeling guide knew
exactly where to take us. Clownfish, pufferfish, parrot fish, angelfish, needlefish, and
anemones were among the many varieties of life in these turquoise blue waters.
At one point, a giant school of silver fish swam beneath me. I felt their undulation
though it was the fish who were undulating and me who was still. I had become a wave
for a few brief moments.

At one point, Giovanni urgently waved us over and pointed. Feeling his excitement we huddled
around him, our eyes searching for his find. Out of the coral swam a white-tipped reef
shark, about three feet in length. The biggest find, though, was yet to come. Giovanni
led us to a spot where he knew a female sea turtle to sleep. Sure enough, we watched
her swim to the surface before slowly descending back down to her resting spot.
Beautiful.

Farewell, Osa Peninsula

Over five days we had discovered iguanas, tapirs and dolphins. It was the scarlet
macaws that I loved the most. From our hotel room balcony, we spotted them soaring
from treetop to treetop. Their magnificent primary colors, large size and loud,
screeching calls enraptured me.

The morning of our departure, as we crossed the beach, barefoot and sun ripened, and
headed out of town, a group of six scarlet macaws fittingly guided us, soaring above
and cawing in unison, their vibrancy streaked across the bright blue sky.