El Golfo Dulce and the Osa Peninsula are some of the most diverse areas in the world. Osa Peninsula’s northwest border is Drake’s Bay. The Pacific Ocean is to the west, and Golfo Dulce is to the east. At only 670 square miles, the Osa Peninsula offers breathtaking and untouched scenery, remote beaches, and abundant wildlife encompassing lush primary rainforest and an intricate system of freshwater and marine resources.

Today we explored the inner part of the peninsula, the eastern side of the “Sweet Gulf.” We checked in at the Port of Golfito to explore the area on a Zodiac cruise. We were greeted by lush vegetation draped over the dark waters of the gulf as we tried to uncover its secrets.  Three species of monkeys, eight species of herons and egrets, various other birds, and a few reptiles welcomed us into the territory. While some of us enjoyed Zodiac excursions, others decided to explore the gulf via kayak. 

After lunch, we disembarked at the privately owned Dolphin Quest in Playa San Josecito. This 700-acre family project inside the Golfo Dulce offers raw, unfiltered, organic jungle adventures with forests, the ocean, and dolphins. Owned by the Klotchko family, the jungle-lodge is built with the heart, fueled by stories, and run by the soul. Today we saw all four species of this country’s monkeys in one day, our first day in Costa Rica. Sometimes this cannot be accomplished in a whole week! What a lovely way to start our Costa Rican excursion.