MONKEYS!
Trip Start
Aug 03, 2010
1
50
152
Trip End
Feb 01, 2012
Where I stayed
Drake Bay, Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Drake bay is beautiful and the surrounding jungle is even better. It is close to Corcovado National Park, the most pristine wilderness that Costa Rica has to offer. We found a room on the edge of town with a shaded patio overlooking a jungle stream (where we spent a lot of time hoping for a breeze to cool us, it is a hot and humid place). The sound of the waves and frogs from the nearby stream lulled us to sleep the first night, and t we slept to the pitter patter of rain on the tin roof the second.
We walked around the small town, along the beach and through the jungle where we saw a few blue morpho butterflies flitting around (amazingly bright blue the size of my outstretched hand) and a pair of scarlet macaws (they are loud critters, squawking to each other as they flew by).
On the way out of the Osa, we wanted to camp as close to Corcovado Park as we could get, hoping it would yield more wildlife, and it did! We sat in our chairs, looking into the trees, enjoying a cold cocktail (so glad Steve decided to bring a fridge!) when Steve spotted what we’ve been calling a monkeycat (two of my favorite critters in one!) It held onto branches with it’s prehensile tail (like a monkey), but walked on the branches (like a cat) rather than swinging from them. It didn’t seem to mind us standing under it’s tree watching it's every move. Eventually it meandered off through the branches. We recently learned it’s called a kinkajou and is nocturnal, our sighting was rare.
A little later we heard a rucous in the trees, a spider monkey was standing on one branch and shaking another, looking at us, screaming as though asking “what are you doing here?!” We took pictures as it swung off through the trees, screeching it’s way into the distance. Also a few occasions when the branches and leaves rustled and shook as though little tornados were making their way through an otherwise still jungle, it must have been monkeys. As it turned to dusk, the cicadas started to sing, we saw fire flies, we ate dinner, then it started to sprinkle and we crawled inside to sleep. A perfect evening.
Comments
We just love the Drake Bay area! It is so lush with so many monkeys. Did you get a chance to hear and see the Howler monkeys? They are so loud and eerie, but I absolutely love them. Their sound is the sound of the jungle. Enjoy your trip! Be safe and keep the pictures and journals coming. We love hearing about your adventures.