Bahia Aventuras

Uvita boat and nature tour operator

You are here: Home / Archives for osa peninsula

Costa Rica’s Oceans

by Leave a Comment

Costa Rica is a small country that represents only .03% of total world land mass yet contains 5% of the worlds biodiversity.  It is a country that has more than 25% of it’s national territory under some form of protection yet the waters that border the country have been largely neglected with less than one percent being regulated under some form of protective category.
The marine ecosystems of the Osa Peninsula have been effected by this lack of protection and are critically threatened by a number of factors; overfishing, unplanned coastal development, population increase, coastal and marine pollution, severe lack of conservation awareness, viable economic activities, etc.
However, over the last two years the conversation about marine conservation has increased and government and non-government organizations are now talking in the same language.  This conversation is also happening in coastal communities that depend on the ocean for their livelihoods. New programs and small businesses focused on sustainable marine tourism, which in the past were scarce, are now becoming the norm.
Donations from aid agencies to help Costa Rica protect its Pacific waters have been made and Costa Rica Universities are working with government organizations on monitoring studies and marine ecosystem analysis.  Costa Rica pioneered the modern eco-tourism sector by taking smart steps in land conservation and now they have the opportunity to do the same with their oceans.  Once Costa Rica combines the land-sea conservation model they could very well become the world leader in conservation.

Cruise with us!

by Leave a Comment

The Bahia Aventuras I is a 2008 boat design complimented with a 2008 Suzuki 250HP that allows for comfort and style when navigating. It has 14 individual seats and accomadates any of our tours; a 4 person Private Sportfishing Tour to a 14-passenger Bahia Aventuras Combo Tour. The boat is great for whale watching, snorkeling trips to Cano Island, nature tours to Corcovado National Park, sport fishing, bird watching tours through the mangroves, dolphin encounters, and just cruising the beautiful Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita-Bahia Ballena, located in the south pacific near the osa peninsula of Costa Rica.

Baird’s tapir in Corcovado National Park

by Leave a Comment

Baird’s TAPIR
Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is a species of tapir that is native to Central America and northern South America. It is one of three Latin American species of tapir.
It is a large browsing mammal, roughly pig-like in shape, with a short, prehensile snout. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia and in Costa Rica can be found in the tropical rainforest of Corcovado National Park, often times near the river banks and ocean shores.  . There are four species of Tapirs, being the Brazilian tapir, the Malayan tapir, Baird’s tapir and the mountain tapir. All four species of tapir are classified as endangered or vulnerable. Their closest relatives are the other odd-toed ungulates, including horses and rhinoceroses.
The Baird’s Tapir has a distinctive cream-colored marking on its face and throat and a dark spot on each cheek, behind and below the eye. The rest of its hair is dark brown or grayish-brown. The animal is the largest of the three American species and, in fact, the largest land mammal found in the wild from Mexico to South America. Baird’s Tapirs usually grow to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length and 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in height, and adults weigh 240–400 kilograms (530–880 lb). Like the other species of tapir, they have small stubby tails and long, flexible proboscises. They have four toes on each front foot and three toes on each back foot.
The gestation period is approximately 400 days, after which one offspring is born (multiple births are extremely rare). The babies, as with all species of tapir, have reddish-brown hair with white spots and stripes, a camouflage which affords them excellent protection in the dappled light of the forest. This pattern eventually fades into the adult coloration. For the first week of their lives, infant Baird’s Tapirs are hidden in secluded locations while their mothers forage for food and return periodically to nurse them, but after this time, the young follow their mothers on feeding expeditions. At three weeks of age, the young are able to swim. Weaning occurs after one year, and sexual maturity is usually reached six to twelve months later. Baird’s Tapirs can live for over thirty years.

Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is a species of tapir that is native to Central America and northern South America. It is one of three Latin American species of tapir.

It is a large browsing mammal, roughly pig-like in shape, with a short, prehensile snout. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia and in Costa Rica can be found in the tropical rainforest of Corcovado National Park, often times near the river banks and ocean shores.  . There are four species of Tapirs, being the Brazilian tapir, the Malayan tapir, Baird’s tapir and the mountain tapir. All four species of tapir are classified as endangered or vulnerable. Their closest relatives are the other odd-toed ungulates, including horses and rhinoceroses.

The Baird’s Tapir has a distinctive cream-colored marking on its face and throat and a dark spot on each cheek, behind and below the eye. The rest of its hair is dark brown or grayish-brown. The animal is the largest of the three American species and, in fact, the largest land mammal found in the wild from Mexico to South America. Baird’s Tapirs usually grow to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length and 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in height, and adults weigh 240–400 kilograms (530–880 lb). Like the other species of tapir, they have small stubby tails and long, flexible proboscises. They have four toes on each front foot and three toes on each back foot.

The gestation period is approximately 400 days, after which one offspring is born (multiple births are extremely rare). The babies, as with all species of tapir, have reddish-brown hair with white spots and stripes, a camouflage which affords them excellent protection in the dappled light of the forest. This pattern eventually fades into the adult coloration. For the first week of their lives, infant Baird’s Tapirs are hidden in secluded locations while their mothers forage for food and return periodically to nurse them, but after this time, the young follow their mothers on feeding expeditions. At three weeks of age, the young are able to swim. Weaning occurs after one year, and sexual maturity is usually reached six to twelve months later. Baird’s Tapirs can live for over thirty years.

Green and black poison dart frog in Corcovado National Park

by Leave a Comment

Green and black poison dart frog
The green and black poison dart frog, (Dendrobates auratus) is a brightly-colored member of the order Anura and is a native to Costa Rica.  It is commonly seen in the Osa Peninsula and the Corcovado National park during the Bahia Aventuras Corcovado Tour.  They are usually found on the floor of the rain forest and prefer locations near small streams or pools.
The adults are approximately 4 cm long and have a fused head and trunk with no tail.  Another important physical characteristic is the poison glands located throughout the surface of their body. Their bright colors are believed to encourage predators with color vision to avoid the frogs. The boldly contrasting patterns may be aposematic to predators that lack color vision, although this has not been proven.  They are diurnal, and are seldom still during the day, constantly searching for food and taking care of young.  They also have distinctive hopping motions.

The green and black poison dart frog, (Dendrobates auratus) is a brightly-colored member of the order Anura and is a native to Costa Rica.  It is commonly seen in the Osa Peninsula and the Corcovado National park during the Bahia Aventuras Corcovado Tour.  They are usually found on the floor of the rain forest and prefer locations near small streams or pools.

The adults are approximately 4 cm long and have a fused head and trunk with no tail.  Another important physical characteristic is the poison glands located throughout the surface of their body. Their bright colors are believed to encourage predators with color vision to avoid the frogs. The boldly contrasting patterns may be aposematic to predators that lack color vision, although this has not been proven.  They are diurnal, and are seldom still during the day, constantly searching for food and taking care of young.  They also have distinctive hopping motions.

Ant eater “Oso Hormiguero” in Corcovado National Park

by Leave a Comment

The Ant eater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), often reffered to in spanish as Oso hormiguero, litrally, “anteating bear”, is an animal measuring up to 2.4 meters (8 feet) in length, excluding the tail, and up to 1.2 meter (4 foot) in height at the shoulder. It has a long, thin head with a large bushy tail. Its color is gray, with a broad black band, bordered with white, starting on the chest, and passing over the shoulder.  Giant Anteaters are sometimes mistaken for bears because of their claws and bushy fur. It is also a very solitary animal and very easy to observe during the Corcovado National Park Tour.
Its food mainly consists of termites, which it obtains by opening nests with its powerful sharp claws. As the insects swarm to the damaged part of their dwelling, it draws them into its mouth by means of its long, flexible, rapidly moving tongue covered with sticky saliva. Their tongue can be flicked up to 150-160 times or more per minute. A full-grown giant Anteater eats upwards of 30,000 ants and termites a day.They also have small spikes on their tongue that help keep the ants and other insects on the tongue while they get swept into the anteaters mouth.
The Ant eaters frequent the low swampy savannas, along the banks of rivers, and the depths of the humid forests in the Corcovado National Park.
The two Anteaters of the genus Tamandua, the Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) and the Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana), are much smaller than the Giant Anteater, and differ essentially from it in their habits, being mainly arboreal. They inhabit the dense primeval forests of South and Central America. The usual colour is yellowish-white, with a broad black lateral band, covering nearly the whole of the side of the body.

The Ant eater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), often reffered to in spanish as Oso hormiguero, litrally, “anteating bear”, is an animal measuring up to 2.4 meters (8 feet) in length, excluding the tail, and up to 1.2 meter (4 foot) in height at the shoulder. It has a long, thin head with a large bushy tail. Its color is gray, with a broad black band, bordered with white, starting on the chest, and passing over the shoulder.  Giant Anteaters are sometimes mistaken for bears because of their claws and bushy fur. It is also a very solitary animal and very easy to observe during the Corcovado National Park Tour.

Its food mainly consists of termites, which it obtains by opening nests with its powerful sharp claws. As the insects swarm to the damaged part of their dwelling, it draws them into its mouth by means of its long, flexible, rapidly moving tongue covered with sticky saliva. Their tongue can be flicked up to 150-160 times or more per minute. A full-grown giant Anteater eats upwards of 30,000 ants and termites a day.They also have small spikes on their tongue that help keep the ants and other insects on the tongue while they get swept into the anteaters mouth.

The Ant eaters frequent the low swampy savannas, along the banks of rivers, and the depths of the humid forests in the Corcovado National Park.

The two Anteaters of the genus Tamandua, the Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) and the Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana), are much smaller than the Giant Anteater, and differ essentially from it in their habits, being mainly arboreal. They inhabit the dense primeval forests of South and Central America. The usual colour is yellowish-white, with a broad black lateral band, covering nearly the whole of the side of the body.

White-nosed Coati in Corcovado National Park

by Leave a Comment

PIZOTE
The White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica), also known as the Pizote, is a species of coati and a member of the Procyonidae (raccoon family) and is commonly seen in Costa Rica.  With Bahia Aventuras you can see the White-nosed Coati during your Corcovado National Park full day tour.
White-nosed Coatis inhabit wooded areas (dry and moist forests) of the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado Park.  They are found at any altitude from sea level to 3,500 m (11,000 ft).  They are omnivores, preferring small vertebrates, fruits, carrion, insects, and eggs. They can climb trees easily, where the tail is used for balance, but they are most often on the ground foraging. Their predators include boas, raptors and  hunting cats like the jaguar and puma that inhabit the Corcovado National. They readily adapt to human presence; like Raccoons, they will raid campsites and trash receptacles. They can be domesticated easily, and have been verified to be quite intelligent.
White-nosed Coatis are primarily diurnal, retiring during the night to a specific tree and descending at dawn to begin their daily search for food.  Adult males are solitary, but females and sexually immature males form social groups. They use many vocal signals to communicate with one another, and on our tours you might hear them.  They also spend time grooming themselves and each other with their teeth and claws.The White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica), also known as the Pizote, is a species of coati and a member of the Procyonidae (raccoon family) and is commonly seen in Costa Rica.  With Bahia Aventuras you can see the White-nosed Coati during your Corcovado National Park full day tour.

The White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica), also known as the Pizote, is a species of coati and a member of the Procyonidae (raccoon family) and is commonly seen in Costa Rica.  With Bahia Aventuras you can see the White-nosed Coati during your Corcovado National Park full day tour.

White-nosed Coatis inhabit wooded areas (dry and moist forests) of the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado Park.  They are found at any altitude from sea level to 3,500 m (11,000 ft).  They are omnivores, preferring small vertebrates, fruits, carrion, insects, and eggs. They can climb trees easily, where the tail is used for balance, but they are most often on the ground foraging. Their predators include boas, raptors and  hunting cats like the jaguar and puma that inhabit the Corcovado National. They readily adapt to human presence; like Raccoons, they will raid campsites and trash receptacles. They can be domesticated easily, and have been verified to be quite intelligent.

White-nosed Coatis are primarily diurnal, retiring during the night to a specific tree and descending at dawn to begin their daily search for food.  Adult males are solitary, but females and sexually immature males form social groups. They use many vocal signals to communicate with one another, and on our tours you might hear them.  They also spend time grooming themselves and each other with their teeth and claws.

Humpback whale watching near Uvita-Bahia Ballena

by Leave a Comment

Scientists believe that early whales actually walked the earth. The theory, supported by recent fossil finds in the foothills of the Himalayas, is that about 53.5 million years ago, whales were amphibious. They originated as land mammals, and gradually ventured into the water in search of food. They fed on fresh and saltwater fish. Eventually, they lost their legs and nostrils, and became the creatures we know today.
Marine mammals such as whales spend their entire lives at sea. So how can they sleep and not drown? Scientists have observed two basic methods of sleeping: They either rest quietly in the water, vertically or horizontally, or sleep while swimming slowly next to another animal. Young whales rest, eat, and sleep while their mother swims, towing them along in her slipstream. This is called “echelon swimming.” At these times, the mother will also sleep on the move. In fact, she cannot stop swimming for the first several weeks of a newborn’s life. If she does for any length of time, the calf will begin to sink; it is not born with enough body fat or blubber to float easily.
Killer whales are the largest dolphins. They get their name because they sometimes eat other, larger whales.
The voice of the blue whale is one of the deepest voices on the planet. It is so powerful that it can travel for perhaps a hundred miles underwater.
The blue whale is the largest whale. They may grow up to 100 feet and weight as much as several elephants.
Some whales do not have teeth. They have baleen instead. Baleen whales do not have teeth. They have baleen. Baleen is made of the same material as our fingernails or hair. Each baleen plate overlaps the next. Baleen plates hang from the upper jaw of the whale, sort of like vertical blinds (It feels like thick plastic  hair!)
Baleen whales eat plankton such as krill and small fish. Depending on the kind of toothed whale, it may eat may eat fish, squid, crabs, shrimp, seastars, sharks, seals, sea lions, penguins, even other whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Whales do not have gills, so they cannot breathe under water. They must come up to the surface of the water to get air. The air is breathed in and out through their “blowhole,” which is on their back.
Whales “migrate” further than any other animal.  In the warm summer months, whales feast to build up their blubber and other fat reserves. Then, as the weather and water begin to cool when winter approaches, the whales begin their migration to warmer places. They do not stop to eat, but swim almost constantly, stopping only to rest for short periods of time.

Whales “migrate” further than any other animal.  In the warm summer months, whales feast to build up their blubber and other fat reserves. Then, as the weather and water begin to cool when winter approaches, the whales begin their migration to warmer places. They do not stop to eat, but swim almost constantly, stopping only to rest for short periods of time.  Just off the coast of Uvita-Bahia Ballena near the Osa Peninsula the humpback whales demonstrate their acrobatic ability!  Come join us for whale watching and dolphin encounters during our boat tours!

White-lipped Peccary in Corcovado National Park

by Leave a Comment

White-lipped Peccary
The White-lipped Peccary, Tayassu pecari, is a peccary species found living in the  rainforest of  the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.
The white-lipped peccary is diurnal and lives in large herds of 50 to 300+ individuals, though there have been reported sightings of up to 2,000 individuals. It is an omnivorous animal, feeding on fruits, roots, tubers, palm nuts, grasses and invertebrates.  During hikes in the Corcovado Park visitors may come across these heards. but use cuation.  The white-lipped peccary is widely considered the most dangerous peccary; unlike the rather shy collared peccary, the white-lipped species will charge at any enemy if cornered, and when one of them is injured, the entire herd returns to defend it.  First-hand encounters are unforgettable experiences!
The white-lipped peccary is also found in Central America and South America. It ranges from southeast Mexico, throughout eastern Central America, to northern Argentina.

The White-lipped Peccary, Tayassu pecari, is a peccary species found living in the  rainforest of  the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.

The white-lipped peccary is diurnal and lives in large herds of 50 to 300+ individuals, though there have been reported sightings of up to 2,000 individuals. It is an omnivorous animal, feeding on fruits, roots, tubers, palm nuts, grasses and invertebrates.  During hikes in the Corcovado Park visitors may come across these heards. but use cuation.  The white-lipped peccary is widely considered the most dangerous peccary; unlike the rather shy collared peccary, the white-lipped species will charge at any enemy if cornered, and when one of them is injured, the entire herd returns to defend it.  First-hand encounters are unforgettable experiences!

The white-lipped peccary is also found in Central America and South America. It ranges from southeast Mexico, throughout eastern Central America, to northern Argentina.

Puma in Corcovado National Park

by Leave a Comment

PUMA
A native to the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park, the puma (Puma concolor), also known as cougar, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the family Felidae. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar. Although large, the puma is most closely related to smaller felines. The puma has dozens of names and various references in the mythology of the indigenous Americans and in contemporary culture. Pumas are territorial animals and maintain home ranges of up to 100 miles.  It is amazingly fast, and can maneuver quite easily and skillfully.  The Puma concolor is an endangered subspecies of the feline and protected in the Corcovado Park.

A native to the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park, the puma (Puma concolor), also known as cougar, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the family Felidae.

This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar. Although large, the puma is most closely related to smaller felines. The puma has dozens of names and various references in the mythology of the indigenous Americans and in contemporary culture. Pumas are territorial animals and maintain home ranges of up to 100 miles.  It is amazingly fast, and can maneuver quite easily and skillfully.  The Puma concolor is an endangered subspecies of the feline and protected in the Corcovado Park.

Popular Tours

Our Tour Destinations

Sea Star System
CST Certification
 

Book & Pay Online

Book Your Tour!
Regional Seller

Rated On TripAdvisor

Recent Posts

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Contact Us

Bahia Aventuras S.A.
Uvita, Bahia Ballena,
Peninsula de Osa, Costa Rica
info@bahiaaventuras.com
Office: +506 2743-8362
Mobile: +506 8846-6576
Mobile: +506 8706-9637 (24 hours )