Bosque del Cabo, CR - Pics, videos & trip report
Dec 11th, 2010, 07:36 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bosque del Cabo, CR - Pics, videos & trip report
Okay, well I haven't quite got the trip report going but did whittle down some 800 photos to a more manageable number and posted a couple videos on youtube.
Travel was Dec 2nd - 9th, first night in Cabinas Jimenez in Puerto Jimenez, last night in Alajuela at Orquideas Inn and 5 nights at Bosque del Cabo. Wonderful as always and great weather.
Tight connections in Miami both ways and a lost bag on the way down but all in all couldn't have asked for a better trip. Will post the trip report...soon.
Trip photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/sheva07/...eat=directlink
Videos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKw_cPApcw (howler monkey)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSBxEy_GxSM (howler monkey) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qepcxacbk (capuchins)
Travel was Dec 2nd - 9th, first night in Cabinas Jimenez in Puerto Jimenez, last night in Alajuela at Orquideas Inn and 5 nights at Bosque del Cabo. Wonderful as always and great weather.
Tight connections in Miami both ways and a lost bag on the way down but all in all couldn't have asked for a better trip. Will post the trip report...soon.
Trip photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/sheva07/...eat=directlink
Videos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKw_cPApcw (howler monkey)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSBxEy_GxSM (howler monkey) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qepcxacbk (capuchins)
Dec 11th, 2010, 07:53 AM
#2
Thnaks tully.
Welcome back from your favourite spot in Costa Rica.
Enjoyed the pictures and the video.
Trip report before Christmas !!!
Welcome back from your favourite spot in Costa Rica.
Enjoyed the pictures and the video.
Trip report before Christmas !!!
Dec 12th, 2010, 12:46 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks xyz, hip and Toni. Toni if you do know any of them let me know Other than the roadside hawk and the black mangrove hawk (who I named Elvis and was outside my cabina every day) I have no idea what the others are.
Other than the roadside hawk and the black mangrove hawk (who I named Elvis and was outside my cabina every day) I have no idea what the others are.
Report coming soon, promise.
Dec 12th, 2010, 05:30 PM
#9
Thanks tully. I love you too.
Dec 12th, 2010, 06:23 PM
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 24,839
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Beautiful pics, t. I love the frog in the pool! And the baby sloth is so cute. Lots of great monkey shots too. Looks like they've redecorated Tucan since I was there. Cabinas Jimenez looks nice - anxious to hear what you thought.
Dec 13th, 2010, 03:52 PM
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, I'll start the trip report...
Flew down on AA into SJO. My bag did not. Flew out of Pavas on Nature Air a couple hours later to Puerto Jimenez. Bummed as I was that they lost my bag, I was also impressed that at 4:30pm they called the hotel I was staying at (Cabinas Jimenez) to ask for directions, as they had my bag and were driving it down. Sometime in the middle of the night it arrived and at 6:30am I was happy to see it.
As I mentioned, stayed at Cabinas Jimenez in room #1. This is a great place, right on the water, with fans, mini fridge, comfy beds. Close to everything, though nothing is very far in Puerto Jimenez. The only downside is the Agua Luna disco across the water which thumps thumps thumps til the wee hours of the night, but I was so exhausted sleep won out. Had dinner with a friend while it poured outside.
Woke up to overcast skies and went for breakfast at the little pastry shop beside the police station. They really have the most delish pastries there, you must make a stop. It may hurt your waistline but not your budget.
Headed out to Bosque del Cabo with the driver and a couple of the staff. It'd been raining really hard the week before non-stop so the road, never in great condition, was really the worst I've seen it. Check-in is always a very casual process and I ordered a tuna melt stat! Stayed in Tucan this trip, I really love the patio there and the room, the bathtub is a plus though I never had time to use.
Other than a brief shower the day I arrived we had beautiful sunny weather for the rest of my stay. Due to all the rain I wore my croc's a lot more than my regular hiking shoes. Washing all the mud off them is really handy and you'll see a good majority of staff in them as well.
As usual, Bosque del Cabo is sensory overload. All 4 types of monkeys, agoutis everywhere, toucans, various birds, squirrels, a mama sloth with 1-2 week old baby and peccaries. Only a few macaws this trip, as well as just a couple coatis. Looked desperately for a snake and couldn't find one, even the spiders were very few and far between. A big fuzzy one was in my outdoor shower but he only had 4 legs and watching him try to climb was a pitiful sight, so I let him stay.
As an aside, let me mention that squirrel monkey, in addition to being very small and relatively quiet, is also extremely jittery. You rarely will find them by listening to branch creaks, more likely by their calls, which is often an almost bird sounding whistle. If you do find them, try your best to not move much or make your presence known. Turning on my camera, I'd forgotten about the chime it made and that was enough to scare them off.
We had a lovely bunch of guests from all over and I ended up staying up really late up at the bar with them talking, most nights til 10pm! Glad I brought a fleece as the wind was blowing most nights and would cool down nicely to about 74. I really enjoyed the British family that thought everything was always 'delightful'.
Another side note...Pizote cabina is finally completed and wow is it amazing. It is now a deluxe cabina with 2 double beds downstairs plus add'l beds in the loft. New style of bathroom as well, with a sink and toilet in one separate room and a sink and the outdoor shower in another room. The deck is the main focal point, as it now is very large and looks out over a prime monkey spot plus the West for the sunset. It's simply beautiful and all the workers did a beautiful job readying it for it's first guests.
Food as always is great, filling and plentiful. All the staff are mostly unchanged from last visit and it's always so nice to "come back home" and see so many old friends. For all the hiking I did I somehow managed to gain a couple pounds! Happy hour at 6pm was always fun and interesting to meet new arrivals; Julian, Berni and Harry always with great service.
The elusive puma remains...elusive. Though not for lack of trying, I think I became a running joke with my 'off to the Titi trail again' refrains. I did have a little scare when walking the trail one day a little too quietly and startled a lone peccary about 5 feet away, who snorted and burst thru the undergrowth at me before veering off.
If you love wildlife and nature, I simply can't recommend Bosque enough. There is an abundance of everything there that I have yet to find anywhere else.
Flight back on Nature Air was smooth and we could see the whale's tail near Uvita on our way back to Pavas. Stayed my last night at Orquideas Inn, up in one the rooms on the hill. Little nippy in the valley at night! The restaurant wasn't open but they served lunch and dinner downstairs in the Marilyn bar. Due to a departure time change I had a somewhat tight time in Miami but luckily made it and my bags, now loaded with coffee, did as well.
I had a great time and am looking forward to my return trip with mr & mrs shillmac & hipvirgochick to Bosque to stay in Casa Miramar again. If you're there July 2-9 come by for a drink at sunset!
Any questions please let me know. Thanks for reading
Flew down on AA into SJO. My bag did not. Flew out of Pavas on Nature Air a couple hours later to Puerto Jimenez. Bummed as I was that they lost my bag, I was also impressed that at 4:30pm they called the hotel I was staying at (Cabinas Jimenez) to ask for directions, as they had my bag and were driving it down. Sometime in the middle of the night it arrived and at 6:30am I was happy to see it.
As I mentioned, stayed at Cabinas Jimenez in room #1. This is a great place, right on the water, with fans, mini fridge, comfy beds. Close to everything, though nothing is very far in Puerto Jimenez. The only downside is the Agua Luna disco across the water which thumps thumps thumps til the wee hours of the night, but I was so exhausted sleep won out. Had dinner with a friend while it poured outside.
Woke up to overcast skies and went for breakfast at the little pastry shop beside the police station. They really have the most delish pastries there, you must make a stop. It may hurt your waistline but not your budget.
Headed out to Bosque del Cabo with the driver and a couple of the staff. It'd been raining really hard the week before non-stop so the road, never in great condition, was really the worst I've seen it. Check-in is always a very casual process and I ordered a tuna melt stat! Stayed in Tucan this trip, I really love the patio there and the room, the bathtub is a plus though I never had time to use.
Other than a brief shower the day I arrived we had beautiful sunny weather for the rest of my stay. Due to all the rain I wore my croc's a lot more than my regular hiking shoes. Washing all the mud off them is really handy and you'll see a good majority of staff in them as well.
As usual, Bosque del Cabo is sensory overload. All 4 types of monkeys, agoutis everywhere, toucans, various birds, squirrels, a mama sloth with 1-2 week old baby and peccaries. Only a few macaws this trip, as well as just a couple coatis. Looked desperately for a snake and couldn't find one, even the spiders were very few and far between. A big fuzzy one was in my outdoor shower but he only had 4 legs and watching him try to climb was a pitiful sight, so I let him stay.
As an aside, let me mention that squirrel monkey, in addition to being very small and relatively quiet, is also extremely jittery. You rarely will find them by listening to branch creaks, more likely by their calls, which is often an almost bird sounding whistle. If you do find them, try your best to not move much or make your presence known. Turning on my camera, I'd forgotten about the chime it made and that was enough to scare them off.
We had a lovely bunch of guests from all over and I ended up staying up really late up at the bar with them talking, most nights til 10pm!
Glad I brought a fleece as the wind was blowing most nights and would cool down nicely to about 74. I really enjoyed the British family that thought everything was always 'delightful'. Another side note...Pizote cabina is finally completed and wow is it amazing. It is now a deluxe cabina with 2 double beds downstairs plus add'l beds in the loft. New style of bathroom as well, with a sink and toilet in one separate room and a sink and the outdoor shower in another room. The deck is the main focal point, as it now is very large and looks out over a prime monkey spot plus the West for the sunset. It's simply beautiful and all the workers did a beautiful job readying it for it's first guests.
Food as always is great, filling and plentiful. All the staff are mostly unchanged from last visit and it's always so nice to "come back home" and see so many old friends. For all the hiking I did I somehow managed to gain a couple pounds! Happy hour at 6pm was always fun and interesting to meet new arrivals; Julian, Berni and Harry always with great service.
The elusive puma remains...elusive. Though not for lack of trying, I think I became a running joke with my 'off to the Titi trail again' refrains. I did have a little scare when walking the trail one day a little too quietly and startled a lone peccary about 5 feet away, who snorted and burst thru the undergrowth at me before veering off.
If you love wildlife and nature, I simply can't recommend Bosque enough. There is an abundance of everything there that I have yet to find anywhere else.
Flight back on Nature Air was smooth and we could see the whale's tail near Uvita on our way back to Pavas. Stayed my last night at Orquideas Inn, up in one the rooms on the hill. Little nippy in the valley at night! The restaurant wasn't open but they served lunch and dinner downstairs in the Marilyn bar. Due to a departure time change I had a somewhat tight time in Miami but luckily made it and my bags, now loaded with coffee, did as well.
I had a great time and am looking forward to my return trip with mr & mrs shillmac & hipvirgochick to Bosque to stay in Casa Miramar again. If you're there July 2-9 come by for a drink at sunset!
Any questions please let me know. Thanks for reading
Dec 13th, 2010, 05:36 PM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah Tully--what a great report as usual! Pizote sounds wonderful! Can't wait to see it. Wow--you stayed up until 10:00? Now that's impressive! 'Cause I know you were up at the crack of dawn, pacing! Elvis--that's cute.
You did have some really amazing encounters--peccary story is awesome! Loved the photos.
Hi Percy! hip, I spent a couple of minutes thinking "bids, bids. . .what the hell"? LOL! I was thinking you were trying to say "birds"!
You did have some really amazing encounters--peccary story is awesome! Loved the photos.
Hi Percy! hip, I spent a couple of minutes thinking "bids, bids. . .what the hell"? LOL! I was thinking you were trying to say "birds"!
Dec 13th, 2010, 06:25 PM
#16
Hi shillmac, my buddy , how are you doing.
Thank you again for all those pictures at Halloween !!
Didn't tully write a great report. ! She just snuck away again to the Osa !!
Thank you again for all those pictures at Halloween !!
Didn't tully write a great report. ! She just snuck away again to the Osa !!
Dec 14th, 2010, 07:23 AM
#17
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great compact yet informative trip report -- it's inspiring to see it can be done quickly without my usual procrastination. I'm sure five days was entirely too short for you, but you'll be back! That peccary story is great -- you must've freaked for a moment.
Jan 2nd, 2011, 10:57 AM
#19
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BDC seems fantastic as usual. Thanks for the report and the great pictures! The mother and baby sloth are a really great find. Was the sloth hanging around the lodge or off one of the trails?
The good news about the puma is that as long as it remains elusive, you will have to keep going back. That's not the worst thing in the world is it...
The good news about the puma is that as long as it remains elusive, you will have to keep going back. That's not the worst thing in the world is it...
Feb 14th, 2011, 11:56 AM
#20
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tully, I just read your post and looked at your photos (great shots). I've never been to BDC, and I leave TOMORROW night for a 5 night visit and I am getting so excited!
I'm scheduled for Tucan, but am wondering if I should ask for Pizote if it is available (but I'm sure they are all booked). I like the idea of the outdoor tub at Tucan, but would you choose Pizote over Tucan if you booked again? I like the idea of hanging out doing some nature photography from my cabina after a day of hiking. Any thoughts?
I'm scheduled for Tucan, but am wondering if I should ask for Pizote if it is available (but I'm sure they are all booked). I like the idea of the outdoor tub at Tucan, but would you choose Pizote over Tucan if you booked again? I like the idea of hanging out doing some nature photography from my cabina after a day of hiking. Any thoughts?
