Nature
The
wildlife around the hotel and nearby
is very diverse. You can see
monkeys, sloths, exotic birds and much
more. Here is just a selection of some
of the wildlife you can see.
Reptiles
Turtles
The
leatherback turtle, a relic
from the age of the dinosaurs, can weigh
up to 500 kg and has a shell up to 1.6
meter. They come to the Ostional beach
to lay their eggs. Watching this giant
come lumbering out of the sea is a memorable
experience.
The olive ridley turtle pratices
synchronous nesting and ten of thousands
of females may emerge from the sea.
Another experience you will not
forget.
Tours
to the nesting grounds at Ostional are
provided by the hotel.
Mammals
Monkeys
There are four different monkeys in Costa Rica. The mantled howler monkey,
often seen around the hotel, are often heard before being seen. The load roar
is heard especially at dawn and dusk when they set their territory. Howler monkeys
live in small groups of about a dozen individuals.
Sloths
There
are 2 different species of sloths in
Costa Rica. The three-toed sloth
is often sighted, although they don't
make it easy. Mostly they hang motionless
from branches or slowly progress upside
down along a branch.
Birds
Fregatebirds
This
large, elegant black seabird is often
seen hovering above the hotel. These
birds with a 2 meter long wingspan,
mostly make a living by harassing small
birds into dropping their catch and
then elegant catch their stolen meal
in mid-air.
Orange fronted parakeet
This exotic bird looks, despite
his name, brightly green in flight.
It has a orange forehead, bluish crown
and has some blue flight feathers.
For more information about nature
in Costa Rica and around the hotel see
Links