in Costa Rica and it was declared “one of the most biologically intense places on earth” by National Geographic magazine. Coming at the end of the rainy season, our voy-
age was subject to the vagaries of the weather, and those who wanted to snorkel and dive at the superb site of Isla El Caño Biological Reserve – formerly a burial ground dating back to pre-Columbian times – were disappointed to find the late rain had created high waves and murky water conditions. Normally, the island’s virgin waters are some of the bluest in the country, and it’s home to a spectacular variety of coral reefs and marine life, including whales and sharks. We dropped anchor early in Drake Bay, named
after Sir Frances Drake who had visited in 1579 on his circumnavigation of the globe. It’s the gateway to Corcovado National Park, made up of lagoons, mangrove swamps, rivers and rainforest, all ringed by pristine coastline where you can walk along muddy jungle trails in search of wildlife.
emerald vegetation – home to nesting frigates, terns, egrets and rare brown boobies – we glided slowly along narrow mangrove channels, past a giant mo- tionless caiman sunbathing on the bank, as a white ibis stalked through the shallows and a green heron scanned the water for lunch. Later, we watched entranced as a three-toed sloth, a baby clinging to its furry back, clambered lazily up a tree.
W
e hopped from Star Flyer into a motor- boat and, after an exhilarating 40-min- ute ride to a rocky outcrop dripping in
Throughout the sailing, Randall, the ship’s resident naturalist guide, gave entertaining talks on local history and the staggering diversity of Costa Rica’s wildlife – the reason the Spanish conquer- ors christened it the Rich Coast. With a land mass around two-thirds the size of Scotland, the country boasts an estimated six percent of the world’s plant and animal species, with around 160 na- tional parks and protected areas. Diminutive Manuel Antonio National
Park is one of the country’s most popular, with stunning beaches backed by lush rain- forest, a network of trails and wildlife galore. As we walked along, our sharp-eyed guide spotted leaf-cutter ants marching
WILDLIFE WONDERLAND Costa Rica is Central America’s
number one eco-tourism destination. With more than 160 national parks, biospheres and marine reserves, the sheer diversity of the country’s exotic flora and fauna is staggering. It is home to around 850 species of birds, 600 of butterflies and 237 of mammals, including humpback whales, dolphins and howler monkeys, and all in a compact area. Misty cloud forests, coastal jungles, beautiful beaches and volcanic peaks abound; and mountain biking, climbing, zip-lining, white water rafting, snorkelling, diving, big-game fishing, kayaking and surfing are all on offer.
Known as the Switzerland of Central America, it has a long democratic tradition and doesn’t even have an army – no wonder it came first in the 2010 Happy Planet Index. The down side: with more than 1½ half million visitors a year, it can be that bit harder to find a secluded spot.
Summer 2011 I WORLD OF CRUISING 63
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