Rainforest Infographics
We are passionate about our surrounding rainforest and ocean habitats. And we are even more passionate about sharing it with our family, friends and guests. In collaboration with our Resident Biologists from the University of Cambridge and other institutions as well as our wonderful graphic designer Dario, we have put together a series of infographics aimed at telling you more about Golfo Dulce, its wildlife and its different ecosystems.
Golfo Dulce’s Bioluminescence
Watching the sun set over Golfo Dulce is the most spectacular moment of the day. But even after the sun has set, Golfo Dulce hosts another amazing light show, this from a very different, and much smaller, light source: tiny micro-organisms in the upper layers of the sea glow when water is disturbed. A passing dolphin, our boat’s wake or a hand running through the water create a trek of light, betraying the presence of dinoflagellates, microscopic unicellular algae. This bioluminescent is a common occurrence in Golfo Dulce and it is one of the most special ➤
Golfo Dulce’s Mangroves
One of the highlights of your stay at Golfo Dulce Retreat will be a visit to the spectacular mangroves of the Esquinas river. Located at the frontier between fresh and salt water, this is a harsh habitat where only a handful of tree species have adapted to deal with both salt and flooding. However, these mangroves support a wide variety of wildlife, both above and below their root systems ➤
The Tale of the Golfo Dulce Whales
Golfo Dulce is one of the very few places on Earth where you can meet migrating humpback whales from both hemispheres. Both populations use the tranquil waters of the gulf as mating grounds. The following year, the females return to give birth to a single calf - mother and baby will stay for a few weeks until the baby is strong enough for the long journey back to cold-water feeding grounds ➤
Golfo Dulce’s Needlefish
The needlefish encountered in Golfo Dulce remain elusive as they actually spend the majority of their lives offshore. However, a few days after the full moon, large schools of them gather at particular beaches around our gulf to spawn. As this occurs at a specific time during the lunar cycle - and only at a few locations - it is easy to predict when and where to find them. For generations, local families have taken advantage of this opportunity to fish, a tradition that is now limited to preserve local needlefish populations ➤
Leaf-Cutter Ants
As you walk along our forest trails, you may find a line of leaves winding their way through the undergrowth and right across the path you are walking on. Look closer and you will see that these leaves are being carried by thousands of ants. Leaf-cutter ants live in complex colonies of millions of individuals. What makes them even more fascinating is that despite being able to strip a mature tree of its leaves overnight, they don’t eat the leaves; instead they use them to farm ➤
Keeping it Sustainable
Costa Rica’s commitment to protection the environment resulted in it topping the Happy Planet Index. Approximately 98% of the energy used in Costa Rica is produced sustainably, with the aim to reach 100% in the next few years. Golfo Dulce is one of a dwindling number of locations on Earth to have untouched primary rainforest with an unparalleled level of biodiversity. Being surrounded by such biodiversity, it is essential that we take every step we can to minimise our impact on our environment. Our aim will always be to ensure that Golfo Dulce Retreat does not harm the wildlife you come here to see, ensuring its beauty is preserved for all futures generations ➤