We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the Osa Peninsula is spectacular.

 

It’s one of the last remaining pieces of untouched paradise in Costa Rica. A region where a secluded beach or backwater settlement is still the norm. Where pristine rainforest, muddy mangroves, and expansive blue sea are a haven for biodiversity – 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, to be exact.

A third of the Osa Peninsula is protected by Corcovado National Park. One of the most important parks in the Americas, Corcovado is home to jaguars, tapirs, over 500 species of trees, and more than 367 species of birds, just to name a few. The moment we arrived in the Osa Peninsula, the vibrant and dense array of wildlife was obvious. Macaws dotted almond trees in pairs. Toucans appeared left and right. Spotting a White Capuchin Monkey became standard. And though we didn’t see any wildcats firsthand, we did find their tracks left behind in the mud, evidence of their existence amongst the shadows of the park.

We were searching for the wild side of Costa Rica. The Osa Peninsula was the answer.

This is the final post in our ‘Wildlife in Costa Rica‘ series. While we were grateful for our animal encounters in the other parts of Costa Rica, we can easily say it was child’s play when compared to the Osa Peninsula. Again, we couldn’t photograph all the birds or even animals we saw, many of them too far away in the dense jungle for the zoom on my camera, but here are some of our favorites:

North American Crocodile

North American Crocodile

Cayman

Cayman

Albino Tree Frog

Albino Tree Frog

Poison Tree Frog

Poison Tree Frog

Blue Heron

Blue Heron

White Capuchin Monkey

White Capuchin Monkey

Toucan

Toucan

Flying Toucan

Sloth

Sloth

Who Can Find The Bird

Who Can Find The Bird?

Jesus Lizard

Jesus Lizard

Scarlet Macaws

Scarlet Macaws

Scarlet Macaw

Dolphin

Dolphin!!

Agouti

Agouti. Kinda like a big rat :-p

Blue Osa Dog

Our faithful companion at Blue Osa. Not technically wild but still one of our favorite animals on the Osa.

 

We knew Corcovado National Park would be a must-see before we arrived in Costa Rica. However, we couldn’t have imagined that our timing would coincide with that of our friends and mentors at Green Global Travel! We were waiting for two companions to join us on the boat that would lead us to Casa Corcovado, our lovely accommodation and base for exploring the National Park, when of course none other than Bret and Mary joined us. Talk about a sweet surprise!

GreenGlobalTravel

On Monday, we’ll be sharing more details about Corcovado National Park, the amazing eco-resort we stayed at, and a complete DIY guide for visiting the park. If you’re ever hoping to visit Costa Rica in the future, this will be one post you’ll want to read!

Which animal above is your favorite? Have you visited Corcovado National Park? Have you ever traveled to a hard-to-reach destination that was so worth it in the end?