Costa Rica Uvita

We moved down the Pacific coast from Monteverde to Uvita, located near the Marino Ballena National Park famous for its "Whale's Tail" sandbar best seen from the air at low tide. We captured this on our flight out of the area. On a separate note, I confess to originally expecting the NP to be noted for it's whale population, It's a good thing I realized in advance that isn't the case or I might have been sorely disappointed,

Along the way we stopped for a Mangrove swamp tour. and saw a plethora of birds and reptiles. From top left clockwise:

• Royal Tern
• Spoonbill
• Magnificent Frigate bird
• Brown Pelicans inhabiting a tree
• Crocodile
• Brown or Plumed B
  asilisk

Our accommodations at Oxygen were a little off the highway, requiring driving on a gravel road for 10 minutes. The lodge was quite well done, buried in the jungle with views of the ocean. 

The weather was pleasant with nice days complete with the occasional late afternoon rain that thoughtfully paused for our walk to dinner. 

We had a boat tour of the harbor and spotted (from top left clockwise):

• Dolphins
• Frigate birds
• A tractor pulling our boat back to storage (the farmers in Pat's family may appreciate that it is a John Deere.)
• An archway among the many sea caves in the park

After the boat tour we lunched at a local spot that had an unusual set of  accompaniments, including scissors for opening the packets of mayo & ketchup. 

The restaurant at Oxygen featured fine food and wine.  Among others we enjoyed the the kabobs, pecan tart, and chocolate volcano.

We explored the grounds and got a foot massage at the jungle spa with its background "music" of a real babbling brook. 

Interesting sightings included (starting from top right) Cigar Calathea or Cuban Cigar plant (the "cigars: are bracts, not flowers)., copper mottled coleus, some impressive white birds (made of napkins), an Ixora coccinea (commonly known as jungle geranium or flame of the woods), and a empty cicada cocoon.

There are lots more flowers that thrive in the local climate.many of which are featured on the Oxygen grounds (clockwise from top left):

• Mussaenda (also known as Nusa Indah), known for its showy bracts (white, pink, or red) surrounding tiny yellow flowers
• Torch Ginger
• Croton plants, popular tropical shrubs (known for their vibrant foliage)
• Yellow Alder or White Buttercup 
• Yellow-flowered Turnera subulata (white alder or sulphur alder)
• Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum pictum)
• Orange Ixora flowers
• Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Pride of Barbados or Peacock Flower

Overall it was quite a peaceful, relaxing experience. And as we flew back to San Jose we caught a view of the namesake "Whale's Tale".