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Flying south

Costa Rica, day two


View Costa Rica 2022 on ToonSarah's travel map.

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View from our room at the Hotel Bougainvillea

We both woke a few times in the night but managed to sleep until just after 6.00 AM - not bad given the six hour time difference. We got up to find sunshine just touching the tops of the trees in the garden, so we grabbed our cameras and hurried out for a walk before breakfast. The gardens of the Hotel Bougainvillea are extensive for one so close to the city, and beautifully planted and maintained. The birds proved elusive although I could certainly hear plenty and there was a group out on a guided birdwatching walk. We would have plenty of chances for similar activities later in the trip so for today I focused on the lovely flowers.

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In the garden of the Hotel Bougainvillea

There were also some attractive and strategically placed sculptures; the one of a man sitting enjoying the sun, his feet bare, particularly appealed to me (see previous post).

Breakfast was unexciting but pleasant, and we then had a couple of hours to kill before being picked up for our flight down to the Osa Peninsula. We were picked up at ten for the drive to the airport which took rather longer than last night thanks to heavy traffic and a container truck that almost shed its load!

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At San Jose airport

The domestic terminal was small, modern and well organised. We had time for a coffee while waiting for our flight. There were just nine passengers on the twelve-seater plane so we almost all got window seats, including both Chris and me. Seated on the right I had the better views on take-off but his were better later on as we followed the coast south to Drake Bay airstrip.

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Just after take off from San Jose airport

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Over the mountains

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And out to the Pacific

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Off the coast of Costa Rica, patterns in the Pacific

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Coming in to land

We were met by Natalya who drove us along a very rough road, fording a river at one point, to the town of Drake Bay. There we were picked up in one of the hotel's small boats, wading out to board it, for the few minutes' ride to the Aguila de Osa jetty.

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Drake Bay airstrip

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Unloading the luggage

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Airport transfer, Drake Bay style

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Airport transfer, Drake Bay style

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Airport transfer, Drake Bay style
~ that's my suitcase and you can see the small boat moored just off the beach!

We had a warm welcome, with a lovely fruity and alcoholic cocktail, before being shown to our room up a lot of steps. It was large and airy, with screened windows on two sides to let in the air (no A/C here) and a terrace with views of the garden and Pacific below.

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Our room

There was just time to change into cooler clothes before lunch, where we met some of the other guests.

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View from the Aguila de Osa Inn at lunch

We spent a quiet afternoon relaxing on our terrace and in my case trying to photograph the many small birds, hummingbirds and others, visiting the nearby bushes. At one point a couple of scarlet macaws flew past, beautifully lit in the late afternoon sun, but impossible to photograph of course! I had more luck with the black vultures who were coming in to roost.

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In the garden

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Great Kiskadee

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Hummingbird silhouette

We went across to the main building at six, as had been suggested, and enjoyed drinks on the terrace (I loved my papaya daiquiri) and corn chips before dinner. All meals are included here and we'd pre-ordered at lunch time. We both started with a salad with rather vinegary dressing; then I had a tuna steak with teriyaki sauce and Chris a steak. The food was OK although nothing special, and a couple of local beers washed it down nicely. Everyone is seated at large tables and we had a nice chat to a young couple from Canada (Winnepeg) over the meal. But we said our good nights soon after the meal and headed back to our room for an early night. What a great start to our Costa Rica adventures!

Posted by ToonSarah 18:23 Archived in Costa Rica Tagged birds flowers hotel flight airport garden pacific

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Comments

Beautiful flowers and an interesting and unusual journey to your hotel.

by irenevt

Thanks Irene - yes, rather unusual, I was glad I read reviews that mentioned the need to wade out to the boat and had worn trousers I could easily roll up!

by ToonSarah

Wonderful pictures bird and flowers. -- I Like the room.

by alectrevor

Thank you Alec - yes, we loved staying here!

by ToonSarah

Your experience was similar to ours - 25 years ago. Except our digs were a bit more primitive and we were only one time zone away. No humming birds - but we had the black vultures on the beach.

by greatgrandmaR

such beautiful pictures, I am eager to read how the adventure progresses!

by Ils1976

Thanks Ils and Rosalie. More to follow over the next week or so as I try to get up to date here!

by ToonSarah

Unusual transportation, or maybe not the transportation but the terrain :)
Beautiful flowers!

by hennaonthetrek

We, too, stayed at the Bougainvillea Hotel in San José when we went, but I expect it has changed somewhat since we were there 22 years ago! Your blog so makes me want to go back to Costa Rica! I absolutely loved it, but have no decent photos as my camera was stolen in Madrid Airport on the way there!

by Grete Howard

Brilliant photography as always Sarah, it is already shaping up to be a very photogenic place already.

by planxty

Thanks Fergy, it certainly was!

by ToonSarah

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