If wild animals are one of the first things you think of when someone mentions Costa Rica, you're not alone. The selection of wildlife found in this country is some of the best in the world, and traveling out into the jungle is a must-have experience for animal lovers.We wanted to make this aspect of Costa Rica one of our priorities when visiting the country, so on our visit to the Osa Peninsula we made sure to get out as much as possible and see some of the local wildlife you cannot find anywhere else.
What animals did we see? In today's post we are sharing our favorite photos of three of the most amazing animals we found.
The Baby Turtles
Costa Rica is home to some of the largest sea turtle hatcheries in the world. If you're lucky enough to come to this country during the right season, you may be able to see mother turtles laying their eggs in the sand or even help release babies into the sea!
During our stay at Blue Osa in the Osa Peninsula, we were fortunate enough to hear about a nest of baby turtles that were born at a nearby hatchery that very same day. To help the turtles' chance of survival, any that are born in the middle of the day are not released until sundown- giving us the perfect opportunity to head over and lend a hand.
As one of the most heart warming experiences we've ever had while traveling, helping release baby turtles into the sea truly makes you appreciate the wonders of life. The odds are tough for these little guys, but we hold out hope that many of them will be returning one day to lay their own eggs in order to repeat the great circle of life.
If you are interested in learning more about helping release baby turtles on your trip to Costa Rica, check out the Osa Conservation for more!
The Scarlet Macaws
Spotting a wild scarlet macaw is a bird watcher's dream. These birds are an endangered species and have limited populations throughout Costa Rica. The largest population of these birds (estimated at 800-1,200) is in the Osa Peninsula where they can be seen quite frequently.
During our stay at Blue Osa, we were lucky enough to see around 40-50 of these beautiful birds flying around and snacking on nuts from the trees. These birds are one of the few species that mate for life, so it is more common to see two flying together than it is one solo. If you see three you are witnessing a special treat, as the smallest one of the flock is likely a baby under one year old!
Be sure to have a good lens to capture these birds on your camera on this trip, as you are unlikely to see them in the wild anywhere else.
The Monkeys
Howler monkeys, spider monkeys, Capuchin white faced monkeys, and more! These are just some of the monkeys you'll see while exploring the Osa Peninsula.
Although the jungle is full of these adorable little monkeys, they are often quite hard to spot. The problem is that unless they are out in an open space, they blend in to their surroundings so well to the untrained eye that you may only see a branch moving for quite some time before you find them!
Nearly all of our monkey sightings in the Osa Peninsula were assisted by a trained guide who knew what to watch out for. Without having this helping hand, it is possible that all we would have experienced was the roar of the Howlers outside of our room every morning (which is not the most pleasant sounds in the world, either). Luckily we had some great guides during our stay that helped us see dozens!
Bonus Animals - The Dogs of Blue Osa!
Okay, fine. Pete, Steve, and Rama (not pictured) from Blue Osa are not wild animals most people visiting the Peninsula would expect to see. They get an honorary spot on our list as they are by far some of the cutest, and are a perk only those staying at Blue Osa get to enjoy.
We absolutely love these dogs, and they are some of the most loyal we've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Although they're a bit dumb and do not come to you when you call them by name, the second you act like you are walking to the beach they'll be at your side and ready to go (see picture above).
The dogs absolutely love playing in the sand and jumping in the water, and many guests had the same experience over and over again where one of the dogs would stay on the beach and sit by their personal belongings while the other would get in and play (or in the case of one guest, act so helpless that they had to be coddled the whole time as they swam back to shore).
The interesting thing about the Osa Peninsula is that these are not the only animals you can encounter. The jungle, beaches, and waters are full of other amazing animals like parrot snakes, colorful frogs, dolphins, whales, and many more that our friends spotted while on different activities during our week exploring the region.
If you are a passionate animal lover who wants to get back to nature and spot some gorgeous creatures in their natural habitat, the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica is calling your name.
We'd like to thank our friends at Blue Osa for inviting us to attend press week. If you are looking for a relaxing retreat to experience Costa Rica at it's finest, check them out! As always, all opinions are our own.
