Costa Rica became a logical choice in a Hat Trick

Pirates, sunken treasure, torrential downpours: Is this New Orleans or Costa Rica?

Pirates, sunken treasure, torrential downpours, over 150 species of wildlife, thriving wetlands…
is this a day at the Audubon in New Orleans, or a few days on the Osa Peninsula in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica?

On a budget and desperate to explore new territory, Costa Rica became a logical choice in a Hat Trick ~ flight is 5 hours or less from either coast, they accept US Dollars, and (with our current environmental issues) it is eco-friendly. Eager to grow my level of understanding about the environment, as well as bring back viable sustainable living ideas that we may be able to put to use here in New Orleans, I set out on my first solo eco-friendly adventure to what the locals call “the Osa.”

Without consulting the Lonely Planet, I scanned the Internet for Eco-friendly Lodges in Costa Rica and found Sabalo Lodge (www.sabalolodge.com), an eco lodge in the mangrove-filled wetlands nestled over 18 acres along the Rio Sierpe between Bahia Drake and Palmar Sur operated by former Southern Californians, Dan & Holly Pesta. The couple left the States three years ago to get away from the chaos of Orange County and enjoy an eco-sustainable life. They searched the Internet and found a lodge owned and operated by a Costa Rican woman. Sabalo lodge boasts an organic garden that includes sweet potato vines, a pineapple patch, and plenty of banana and coconut trees. They are also solar-equipped to handle the energy use of both guest cabins and the main house with its fully-operational kitchen. Water is pumped from the clear mountain stream for sanitation and shower purposes. The grey-water is handled through the use of a “Banana Circle” consisting of a pit where the grey water is directed and surrounded by sweet potatoes, taro and banana plants whose roots act like a filtration system and absorb and purify the water used from sinks and showers. The grey water feeds the plants and the fruits and vegetables are safe for consumption.

All lights at the lodge are low wattage halogen bulbs and the toilets are low-flush to help conserve water. Metal, glass and plastic are transported to the local town of Sierpe where the school has a recycling center. The proceeds from this center benefit the local school. Food and produce scraps are composted reducing the amount of waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Because the lodge is in the middle of the wetlands, several species of wildlife were frequent guests. The morning brought two macaws mating in the trees above my cabin, then parakeets, and white-faced monkeys by afternoon tea.

Holly & Dan provide their guests with delicious California-style cuisine ~ my stay included fresh fruit smoothies for breakfast, grilled cheese with organic greens for lunch, and chicken curry for dinner. Even freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for dessert! A portion of your lodging fee is donated to the local school.Prior to my stay at Sabalo lodge, Holly had me booked in for two nights in Drake Bay at her package lodge, The Pirate Cove (www.piratecovecostarica.com).Eco-adventurers seeking biodiversity can choose from several “eco-lodges” in Drake Bay, although I found only Pirate Cove and Aguila De Osa Inn (www.aguiladeosainn.com ) to be the coolest.Drake Bay is located along the Pacific coast, has virtually no mosquitoes, fabulous sport fishing, diving, snorkeling, and the most diverse natural rainforest in Corcovado National Park. Suzanne, the proprietor of Pirate Cove, coordinated a day trip to Corcovado Park where seven adventurers (a Texan, a Virginian, two French Canadians, and two French provincials plus myself) experienced macaws, white-breasted and black hawks, spider-monkeys, white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, and squirrel monkeys, a 350+ lb tapir sleeping in the grove, an anteater high up in the balsa trees, a red-breasted woodpecker, guans, iguanas, crocodiles, blue-spotted heron, and even puma tracks. It was a good day in the wild.

How to get to Drake Bay/Osa Peninsula ~
I chose DELTA Airlines (www.Delta.com) from MSY to SJO connecting in ATL for under $500 RT; other airlines that operate from the US include American, Continental, United, all of which can be checked on low-price travel site www.kayak.com with regional connection options on eco-friendly Sansa or Nature Air to Drake Bay. WARNING: weather can wreak havoc on your travel plans back to SJO from the Osa Peninsula if your regional plane decides to cancel and leave you at the air strip. Plan B ~ grab five or six fellow travelers and split a cab to drive you back for $250 total. US Dollars are preferred. The entire country will accept US Dollars, although they have ATMs dispensing local currency in most areas. Traveler’s Checks are not as widely accepted, so be sure to ask before you go.

If you find yourself (as I did) in San Jose overnight, I recommend the Adventure Inn as a clean, safe, affordable hotel who will also coordinate area activities with pick-up from their lobby door (www.adventure-inn.com). This hotel is a great base camp to explore the volcanoes, coffee plantations, rainforests, canopy tours, hot springs, or even Tortuga Island tours. It is a good central point to explore in many directions for a day or two and return.

What to pack for Costa Rica ~

• Rain gear & rubber boots as downpours are severe from April to December, a light raincoat or poncho will be soaked through.
• Sunscreen 30+ because you are near the Equator
• Flashlight, batteries, bug repellent, anti-itch lotion, small medical kit
• Plastic garbage bags for wet clothes and to put your bag in when on the boat in rain
• Bathing suit
• Shorts, tanks, t-shirts, pair of sturdy long pants, sturdy sandals or hiking boots
• Whistle, in case you get lost
• Good books to read after dinner
• A flexible attitude, ready for anything