Osa Peninsula

An early departure from Monteverde saw us driving down the mountain on dirt roads, eventually to join the Pan American highway for the drive south to San Jose.

We took a flight in a small plane to Puerto Jiminez on the Osa Peninsula, one of Costa Rica's most unique and remote areas tucked away in the South West.  An interesting airstrip.  The narrow piece of tarmac was lined on each side by houses, with clothes hung out to dry on the perimeter fence.  As we taxied past a small boy was being bathed in a tin tub.  A dog lay on the end of the runway and casually watched us turn around.  We came to a stop with the wing overhanging the boundary wall to the town's cemetery. The "arrivals hall" was the shade provided by a Balsa Tree and you removed your own baggage from the hold.

We were driven 40 minutes in a land rover along bumpy roads to our retreat for our last 3 nights in Costa Rica, deep in the forests of the Osa Peninsula. El Remanso lodge consists of 12 cabins built on a steep hill (about 300 metres above sea level) that runs down to the coast, accessible via a steep 800 metre trail. The property is set in its own private 150 acre reserve, a wonderful location offering brilliant wildlife viewing opportunities.  After the damp of the cloud forests and rain forests this was the perfect place to unwind, enjoy the warmth and sunshine, swim in the pool, and feel pampered by the high standard of service consistently provided.  We awoke every morning to the sound of howler monkeys calling to each other across the treetops,a sort of primeval roar in surroundings straight out of Jurassic Park. 

 

We took advantage of the activities offered by the lodge.  One day we took an early morning bird watching trip and spotted many of the species endemic only to Costa Rica as well as toucans, parakeets, and beautiful macaws. Another morning we enjoyed our first zip wire experience, "flying" between high-rise platforms set in the trees and breakfasting on fresh pineapple whilst watching the forest come to life.  We abseiled down from the last platform to reach the forest floor.  Finally, another first, and an exhilarating experience, we rappelled down a series of waterfalls hidden deep in the forest. The last of these had a vertical drop of more than 70 feet. We rewarded ourselves by bathing in the rock pools whilst listening to the Pacific Ocean crashing onto the beach.

 

This was the perfect end to an amazing holiday, and it was only with great reluctance that we packed our bags and prepared for the return journey to San Jose, and then two more international flights via Miami back to London.