Welcome to the jungle

Today we are going to one of the most remote places in Costa Rica. The Osa Peninsula is located at the southernmost tip of the country and is considered one of the most extraordinary regions on earth with one of the greatest biodiversities on the planet.

So from our dream villa in Manuel Antonio we set off into untouched nature, in short we are ready for the jungle.

Before the jungle experience, God put a long journey by car in front of us. We drive through pretty places like Uvita, home of the Ballena Marine Park. From August to October, this area is home to countless humpback whales who give birth to their babies in the warm waters of the Pacific. Funnily enough, there is a beach in Uvita that looks like a whale's fin,

After about 3 hours we arrive in Puerto Jimenez, the springboard for the Osa Peninsula.

Now comes the most difficult part of the journey, a "road" leads to our house, which is covered in potholes that resemble meteorite craters. You ask yourself, is it still a road or is it already a crater. As on our first trip, we wander around pretty lost. In this part of the world, even good old GPS doesn't work.

At some point we've had enough and ask a truck driver coming towards us for directions. We're actually not that far from the goal.

Our bungalow complex in the jungle awaits us. When we get out of the car, everyone seems to be speechless.

I can practically hear the inner scream of our three colleagues.

"What the hell is that? We want a tulemar, not a tree hollow."

Slowly everyone regains their composure and we enter the rustic house. With a beautiful kitchen and open air seating area.

Time to get set up. The looks on their faces as we share coffee tell me that everyone is still in shock. From the luxury villa to the tree house, what a descent, I hear her cursing to herself. I find the house cozy, rustic. When everyone has regained their composure, it's all fire. It's too warm, the beds are too small, things get damp,

Do we have any hot water at all, the house has no window panes, everything is crawling in. Bla bla bla. Guys, we are in the jungle in the middle of nowhere, what did you expect? I feel the urge to apologize, but why? You helped choose the house, so what, I'm just making it clear. The house is actually very cozy. From the living area you have a fantastic view of the sea and you are surrounded by wildlife. Practically Tulemar in Aldiversion. Of course I'm not saying that, but I think my part.

I have the feeling that everyone is afraid to go to bed and one of my fellow participants even makes herself comfortable for the night on a mattress in the upper part of the house.

My colleague who accompanies us gets quite snappy and when I ask her if I should book a hotel for her, she says straight out of the box: Yes.

Okay honey, that's not a problem at all. I'll pick her a lodge here on Osa and tell her the price per night. It's at $800. When I asked if I should book, I only received a meek "no". On Osa there are only either inexpensive, simple accommodations or luxury lodges. If you need luxury in the jungle in one of the most remote places on earth, you have to pay luxury prices.

Well, the night will be short, we will set off for our first hike at 4 a.m. the next day. So it's goodnight.

I sleep wonderfully that night, nature sings a lullaby that couldn't be more beautiful.

Welcome to the jungle