The Extended Ancient Water Trail Trek
A Condensed Exploration of the Osa Peninsula.
We Recently reopened to the navigation, one Water Trails that was, for centuries, the only Route for the People that were living in a beautiful valley that had been totally ignored by the mass Tourism, for to reach the main town of the basin, were to sell their harvest and livestock and buy the necessaries stuff for the everyday life.
We talked with some young component of the community of the small Village that lay in the middle of the Valley, and manage in a way to get their help in finding interesting location and activities in the area, and a huge help in the reopening of the River, clearing it from a lot of barrages made by fallen trees and debris, that were impeding the navigation.
Some family of the Village is offering their houses for to host our Trekkers, some Farmer is offering their land for to accede to a beautiful Waterfall, some Woman of the community is available for to prepare old traditional Farm recipes, cooked on wood fire stove and oven….we are seeing a lot of interest in this project, that, without producing any pollution or damage to the environment, will bring some wealth to the Community.
Now this Water body is ready to be descended by Our Trekkers for the First year in decades, enjoying the beautiful of this secluded valley, his small farms, the wetland forests, the waterfall of the close rain forest, the incredible quantity of Birds and other Wildlife.
This Route is perfect for a 3 days Trek that include Night Hiking in the forest, Waterfall Hiking, Tent camping along the river banks, Horseback riding, Bird watching, a lot of river Kayaking, old style Farm Life and Traditional Food sharing and for the passionate of fly fishing , the possibility to catch some selective River Snook.
Day 1
Starting from Puerto Jimenez, the group of Trekkers, will reach the entrance of the secondary Road that , and, after one hour of easy hiking across forest and farmland, they reach the Small Village in the bottom of the valley.
After rigging the tents in the Camp site, the Group will hike to a close Waterfall where take a refreshing and distressing bath in the several natural ponds in the middle of the forest.
In the evening, in one of the Farm houses of the Village, will be served a simple but nutrient Dinner, based on typical Country side recipes, fresh fruit juices, traditional dessert and the classic Costa Rican Coffe.
After Dinner, the Group will hike for a couple of hours in a close Forest and have the opportunity of observe the Night Wildlife in action, with Owl, Snakes, Frogs and Bats all in search of food….or trying not became the food of somebody else…..
At the return to the Camp Site, short briefing about the next day and rest in the tents.
Day 2
Early Camp breakfast, tents and stuff packing up and launch of the Kayaks in the river.
The river runs at a moderate speed snaking among Farm land and Forested Bank, offering the opportunity to see many species of birds that live and feed along its banks. Kingfishers of all the sizes, Herons, Hummingbirds, Toucans, Aracari, Hawks, Woodpeckers, and many other are common sights here.
It is possible to stop at any time, for to take a rest or to take a great shot of some Animal or Sight, and, after two – three hours of easy paddling, the Group reach a Property where the Farmer prepared a brunch in his house, based on the typical Recipes of the area, and strictly cooked on the wood fire stove.
After having recovered energies, the Group moves, using the Work Horses of the Finca, to a location in the forest, where a nice Waterfall create a particular environment, special for Dart frogs an other small amphibious. There will be time for to take a relaxing bath in the fresh water of the ponds, observe the Surrounding forest and rest.
During the way back to the farm, the Owner will show some moment of the Farm life, as moving cattle or harvest some crop of fruit or vegetables.
Once back to the Farm House it will be time to rig the tents , having a Dinner with the same characteristics of the Lunch, and then take a Night tour along the river, for to search for Caimans and small Crocodiles ( the river here is too small for the large ones) during their night hunt.
At the end of this Tour, the Group will go to sleep in the Tents.
Day 3
Early, again, breakfast at the Farm House with some fragrant, fresh Coffe and the Every morning Pinto with Eggs ( a kind of Rice and Beans with scrambled eggs), then packing up the tents and stuff on the kayaks and starting paddling down the river.
This second part of the river runs more in the Wetland Forests of Raphia taedigera a variety of palm of the Raphia, that is known as the plant with the biggest leaves, that are used for several purposes as thatch roof and fish traps or fiber for fabrics, while from the seeds is possible to extract an oil with therapeutic properties. In this Emerald Wetland Forest, many animal species find their perfect habitat and are present the whole year, while migrant birds populate this Eco-System seasonally, offering great Bird watching opportunities.
Along this part of the Trail, due to the dense vegetation and the nature of the soil, there are few spots where it is possible to land and walk around, but our Guide always find a way for to reach that spectacular bunch of Raphia fruits, that flowering Orchid, or the Nest of that Bird, for to take a close shot, without disturbing the Animals.
Depending by the speed the g Group will maintain, sometime is possible just seat on the Kayak and leave the stream drift you down the river, the main River of the Basin will be reached. From the Rivers Junction, the landscape change dramatically, being the Main river much wider, and along the banks several small Farm house offer interesting pictures of a different rural life, where the river is still the only communication route, often utilized with some basic wooden Pirogue, carved from a huge, sing, solid log of hardwood tree, know here around as “ Canalete”, using the word “ canalete” that means wooden oar, as identification of the boat, that are normally propelled by Human power.
During the Dry Season the whole river is covered, for most of its surface, by Water hyacinth with their blue flowers, that create floating island of vegetation where often water birds rest and feed on the shrimps that live in the root system of these plants, offering to the Bird Photographer unusual points of view and particular combinations and compositions.
Due to the Tide, running in opposite directions every tide changing, the time necessary to reach the Main Village, can vary from one hour and an half, if the tide is already lowering, up to 2.5-3 hours if the tide is still rising.
At the Arrival in Town, some cold beers and a Whole Fried Pargo, will restore the energy balance, and after a recovering time, the Group will travel back to Puerto Jimenez, or, depending by the following Days trips, continue with the Mangrove Trek, the Diving Tour to Cano Island, or the remaining 7-8 days of the whole Corcovado Ring adventure Kayak Trek.
We offer too, the same route, in a short version of one day tour, without, obviously, the overnight camping, the Waterfall treks, the Night Forest Tour and the Horseback Riding, but there is still a lot of time and possibilities for to catch great shoots of Birds and other animals, and enjoying the Wetland Forests of Raphia taedigera where the Peccaries, Raccons, Coati, and many Reptiles live undisturbed.
We consider this One Day Kayak Tour as an appetizer of the Corcovado Ring Adventure Trek....and it is a way for to try in a 1 to 1o scale what could be the Full Game...
Don't waste your time and money in cheap " Mickey Mouse " tours..... try some Adventure....let's start Exploring the Real Osa Peninsula!!!