The Osa Region: An Extraordinary Biological Treasure...

Everyday at Nicuesa we are grateful for being living in such a wonderful paradise. Just by being in the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce, you can tell that you are in a very special place. The breathtaking scenery of the Osa Region is more than enough to feel Mother Earth's power. 

But... What is it about this place that makes it so extraordinary? 

Rio Esquinas Mangrove

The Osa region of Costa Rica is a true biological treasure. It is the healthiest primary rainforest on the whole pacific coast in Central America. In this entire region it is the forest that contains the tallest trees and supports some of the biggest populations of endangered fauna. There is an exceptionally high number of endemic species, meaning that they occur only in this place in the world.    

Within ACOSA, or the Osa Conservation Area, there is a cluster of protected areas, 17 in total, including the Corcovado National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park. This patch of protected area represents only 3% of the country’s territory, but is home to half of the Costarican plant and animal species. That is an extremely high level of density of species, considering that Costa Rica contains 4% of the world’s biodiversity.

 Its uniqueness lies in the junction of several factors. A very wide variety of ecosystems can be found here, due to variability in conditions of elevation, rainfall, temperature and morphology of territory. There is abundant rain (5-6 meters per year) and sunlight, and like the rest of the country, it is the very bridge between North America and South America, thus it harbors flora and fauna from both land masses.

Playa Nicuesa's view to Golfo Dulce

The “Golfo Dulce” (literally, “Sweet Gulf”) is the marine equivalent of the lush, pristine jungles in the area. Commonly called a gulf, it is actually a fjord, one of the only four tropical fjords in the world. With a maximum depth of 700 feet, it contains very different habitats that range from warm, shallow marine coral formations where little fish abound, to the cold depths that only cetaceans can explore.  

The order Cetacea comprises whales, dolphins and porpoises. Surprisingly, their closest terrestrial relatives are ungulate mammals, which include horses, cows, tapirs and deer among others. It was a long evolutionary way to adjust a terrestrial mammal for life in the ocean. Some of the most obvious adaptations are the transformation of hind limbs into a flattened tail, the fusing of cervical vertebrae that allows no neck movement whatsoever, and the shift from front nostrils to blowholes at the upper part of the head.

Of all marine mammals, cetaceans and manatees are the only ones that spend their whole life in the ocean. These are truly amazing animals, it is a very remarkable fact that terrestrial mammals evolved to go back into the ocean, from which their ancestors had emerged many millions of years ago.

Bottle nose dolphins

There are two suborders within the Cetacea order, Mysticeti and Odontoceti. Mysticeti, or baleen whales (also called toothless whales) have mouth plates instead of teeth and have two blowholes. All members of the Odontoceti suborder (which includes all dolphins and toothed whales) have teeth and only one blowhole. 

In the waters that surround the Osa region, biologists have reported as much as 23 species of cetaceans, including the Sperm Whale, Orcas, Bryde’s whale, and several species of dolphins. Among the more commonly seen cetaceans around the Golfo Dulce, are the spinner dolphins, spotted dolphins, bottle nose dolphins. All these are resident and can be seen year round. Humpback whales on the other hand, seasonally come to breed and nurse the calves. Populations from the south arrive from August through November, and populations from the north arrive from November through June. This overlap in breeding seasons makes the Golfo Dulce an extremely rare spot where different populations meet, promoting genetic variety of this species. 

Being so close to all of these biodiversity is a reason to celebrate. Therefore, next 13th of May 2012, Playa Nicuesa is going to be part of the Golfo Dulce Festival, that is taking place on Puerto Jiménez. Keep connected for the news of this event on this blog soon!!!   

Earth Day Celebration!

April 23rd is a day to honor Earth for giving us life. Even though Earth Day should be everyday, it is a good opportunity to remind people that Earth is everybody's only home, therefore is our duty to take care of her.

In Puerto Jiménez, the town across the gulf from Playa Nicuesa, a big event dedicated to our Mother Earth took place. With the help of different lodges around the area –such as Playa Nicuesa-, local volunteers and schools, 'ASCONA' (an NGO dedicated to promote environmental awareness and ensuring sustainable development for future generations) organized a big celebration for this year Earth Day.

The idea of the event was to create understanding of the environmental problems that threaten the Osa Peninsula-GolfoDulce Region, while bringing together the community through dancing, food, games and more.

Recycled art!

Different activities took place in Puerto Jimenez. A soccer tournament in the local field kept the athletic ones busy. Meanwhile, dancing, games for kids, painting and different workshops on how tomake arts and crafts with recyclable materials were attracting people to the local library.

Guests from Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge (PNRL) had the chance to visit Puerto Jimenez during this event. They enjoyed the typical food and dance and even had the opportunity to buy presents for their families and friends from the local artisans.

Veronica: Nicuesa's
Sustainability Coordinator

As Playa Nicuesa’s Sustainability Coordinator, I was in charge of organizing a contest between the eco-lodges: “El concurso hotelero al mejor letrero” (The hotel contest for the best for the best sign-design). The idea was to create a sign with an environmental message made out of only wastes, so that people can understand that waste doesn’t have to mean garbage if you have a creative mind.

Anderson family helping with our Sign-Design!

With the help of my sustainability assistant, Sandra, we managed to create a message using the letters to spell EARTH in Spanish ‘TIERRA’. After thinking and re-thinking the message, and asking our staff about their opinions on the message, the final result was:

Feel the Earth because it is part of you

Take care of Earth because it is your home

Feed the Earth because it is your nourishment

Share the Earth because it is for all

Love the Earth because we have only one

Discovering the message behind the code...!

In the lodge everybody engaged with the contest. Employees and guest helped in the creation of the sign. The Anderson family helped us create code with recyclable material to represent letters, so our sign was not only a sign, but it was also a puzzle.During the Earth day celebration lots of people had fun trying to discover the message behind the code.

Playa Nicuesa was one of 6 lodges that submitted signs.  And, after 121 votes from the community were cast and counted, PNRL WON first place!

Nicuesa Sign in the way to Puerto Jiménez!

 During the afternoon the people enjoyed capoeira: a Brazilian marcial art. For the intellectual ones, we also had a debate on “Sustainable Development of the Osa Peninsula”, as well as a very informative presentation on the “Conservation of Wildcats” in the area done by the NGO Yaguará. One of the main goals of Yaguará is to protect the Jaguar (3^rd biggest wildcat in the world!), which is one of the most endangered species of Osa.

The Earth Day Celebration was not only an educational event to create consciousness in people about environmental problems; it was also an opportunity to bring the community together. A big “Thank You!” to ASCONA who organized the event and to all the people that collaborated and helped making this event a success as it was. Playa Nicuesa looks forward to supporting and participating in next year’s event!

Look in our Facebook page for more pictures of this day!

Whale Sharks Sighting at Nicuesa Lodge!

Everyday we have to keep our eyes open to find pleasant surprises in the waters of the 'Sweet Gulf' (Golfo Dulce), where Playa Nicuesa is located. During this past month, our guests and guides spotted something usually big coming from our tours in the Golfo Dulce...  Whale Sharks swimming very close to their boats!

Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus

Even though they are called whale sharks, this animal is completely unrelated to marine mammals such as whales. The reason for its name lies in the fact that it is as large as some species of whales, and also lacks teeth and instead is a filter feeder (like many whale species).  It gets to be as large as 12 meters in length, making it actually the biggest fish that exists on the planet! It takes a long while for a 50-centimeter newborn to reach the maximum size.  But the whale shark has time, as it is estimated to live some 70-100 years. 

These gentle giants are capable of diving to great depths, but they also stroll slowly on the ocean surface, mouth wide open, collecting plankton and small fish.

Some have been reported to synchronize their migrations to coincide with massive spawning of fish, which provide a good opportunity to feast on eggs and sperm. On these feeding occasions they gather in groups that may range from just a few near the coastline, to (rarely) several hundred in offshore waters.

Since they feed only on microscopic, or very small creatures, they do not represent any danger to humans. Also, the fact that they almost don't have any natural predators, makes them a very mellow animal, attractive to people that while diving or snorkeling might want to take a close look or even get a ride holding from the dorsal fin. Although, this common practice is highly discouraged by shark specialists and conservationists.

In April of 2012 this amazing  synchronized migratory gathering was observed right here in the Golfo Dulce!  Right before the my very startled eyes a group of 8-10 whale sharks calmly wandered near the coast by the town of Cañaza.

Words cannot really express the feeling of such an experience, which is for many, only once in a lifetime. WHAT A HUMBLING AND AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!