Playa Lapa

BIENVENIDOS

Playa Lapa
Carate, Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica

ALL GALLERY PAGES BELOW

Once the home base of "Osa Sea Turtle Foundation", Playa Lapa's beach is a prime turtle nesting area.  The property has been landscaped with dozens of species of exotic plants, including several varieties of heliconia.  Many fruit trees flourish and bear fruit in their season, including mangos, limes, lemons, almonds, coconut palms, avocados, pineapples, and three types of bananas.  While turtle conservation groups continue to be active in the area, all that remains of the original enterprise is the concrete foundation of the old building and the wealth of beautiful botanicals. 

Prepare yourself to experience an abundance of wildlife sounds and sightings, both down on the quiet, deserted beach, as well as from the comfort and seclusion of the decks of Playa Lapa.  As darkness gathers in the jungle, plan to have your evening meal on the front deck and experience a "Dinner Theater" of unprecedented wonder as the monkeys make their way through the canopy before you to their nighttime sleeping quarters and the macaws and amazon parrots return to feed in the almond trees.  After dark, the animals of the night can be experienced first-hand on a guided tour of the beach and lagoon; or you may prefer to relax on one of the covered decks, and enjoy the chorus of frogs and geckos on the rhythmical backdrop of the perpetual surf.     

The raucous scarlet macaw inhabits the Osa Peninsula in larger numbers than anywhere else in its range; we are privileged to have a large flock feed in our beach-front almond trees daily--in fact these magnificent parrots are the source of the name "Playa Lapa" which means "Beach of the Scarlet Macaw."   On a recent visit (8/08), we observed two newly fledged baby macaws begging and being fed by their parents.  This family group often remained near the almond trees for the entire day, for we could hear the babies begging and often saw them from the house.  They were as large as their parents but brighter in color, and exhibited the characteristic begging posture and "wing flipping."

Another frequently sighted species, the red lored Amazon parrot, is seen in the early morning from the master bedroom's private balcony.  Flocks of these noisy parrots, as well as the smaller Brotogeris parrots will pass through Playa Lapa in the early morning and again at dusk, feeding on almonds, mangos and palm nuts.    

Two species of cara cara, the turkey vulture and the black vulture inhabit the lowland palms in the center of the property; down in the slough a variety of egrets, ibises and herons feed on lizards and small frogs in the tall grass at the edge of the water.  At night one can see large olive ridley sea turtles and halloween crabs on the beach, as well as crocodiles and caimans in the lagoon. 

Less common sightings include the king vulture, the roseate spoonbill, the collard anteater, the jaguarondi, scorpions, large geckos, and several varieties of snakes. 

If you are observant and use all your senses, these animals can be seen, for they are often nearby, but will not announce themselves.  Always be alert and move quietly, or just stand still and listen carefully.  Rising at dawn for a trip to the lagoon will usually reward you with a brilliant sunrise, a crocodile or two, and many of the shore birds.  A variety of evidence traced in the sand become a history of the night's activities: turtles that have come up from the ocean, laid their eggs, and returned; crocodiles, large and small, some moving slowly, others running, and scuffling in the sand; crabs, lizards, and four legged creatures that have robbed the turtles nests--all await your speculation about their activities.   Witnessing the early feeding migration of the macaws and amazons from the beach is often breathtaking, as they travel in groups of 20 or more.