Drake Bay (12/28/10-12/31)



where the real drive begins



bull shark entering river

I received an offer via email on a room for $25/night, or $50 with all meals, so I decided to make the drive out to Drake Bay. I had found all kinds of conflicting information about road conditions on the Osa Peninsula, but I was told in the email that the rivers were down and that it would be slow but possible. And that was true, about 1-1/2 hours to go the last 18 miles of bumpy dirt through a mix of jungle and ranchland. A couple of rivers, one fairly serious, but nothing compared to the Rio Ario. I found the Ojala Lodge straight away, built and run by Fred (from Cincinatti) and his wife, Irmarza. Fred got here 17 years ago - 5 years before there was a road - because he loves to fish and you will be treated to all the fresh yellowfin tuna you can handle, both as sushimi and cooked. Fred is a very soft-spoken, very nice man who also happens to be a great fishing guide and cook, as is his wife. Their hotel is a very clean and comfortable spot...and affordable, for Drake Bay.



Drake Bay



our boat



The Osa is home to the Corcovado National Park, one of the most biologically rich areas in the world. A must -do is to take a walking tour in the park with a guide. So I and another couple meet a boat on the nearby beach at 6am, jump aboard and then it's a one hour ride around the southern edge to get to the Sirena landing and ranger station and a prime wildlife area.  We see 3 bull sharks feeding at the mouth of the river, a tapir, pecaries, spider and squirrel monkeys, 3-toed sloth, caiman, big spiders and a number of birds, but no snakes and no really bright birds. They say because of the heavy rains this year the fruit that the birds love didn't have a chance to ripen in large numbers. Good pictures were almost impossible to come by, but these are a few of the non-blurry ones. 



hummingbird



3-toed sloth...count 'em



tanager



 On the boat ride back we ran into dolphins feeding, but by the time I got my camera out of the plastic bag, etc. they had moved on. Typical. And I see scarlet macaws flying high above me every day, always in pairs. Too high to photo., but they are so majestic with the long tail, a special sight. Several other people I've met told me they got pictures of the macaws, and the toucans, too. Not me. Typical. Anywho, Happy New Years from beautiful Drake Bay.