| Rio Nuevo Tent Camp is about a 20 minute ride | | | | read ants can carry leaves up to 20 times their |
| (tractor ride that is) from the town of Puerto | | | | own weight which makes me ponder...how do |
| Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula. Because of the | | | | they do that? |
| numerous river crossings, a heavy duty tractor | | | | Rio Nuevo is owned by Walter Aguirre. He is from |
| towing a heavy duty, comfortable trailer, shuttles | | | | Costa Rica and has poured his heart and soul into |
| guests to a place sure to amaze you. | | | | this magical place. He makes it a point to say he |
| Perched on a point overlooking the confluence of | | | | will never sell and plans to pass it on to his family. |
| two rivers, a sturdy and well designed suspension | | | | I must say I understand. I have been their four |
| bridge welcomes guests to the tent camp. Rio | | | | times and look forward to returning. |
| Nuevo Tent Camp is everything I love about | | | | It's a great place to relax. Numerous hammocks in |
| Costa Rica. Beautiful surroundings, the | | | | the ranchero are great for relaxing, reading or |
| ever-present sound of flowing water and the | | | | napping in. The sounds of the river has a way of |
| genuine comfort of simplicity. | | | | lulling away even the heartiest of resisters. |
| There are 12 large, comfortable, well maintained | | | | Typical Costa Rican meals are served buffet style |
| tents at Rio Nuevo. Many have private bathrooms | | | | and are sure to please. Employees are wonderful |
| and showers. Each has a wonderful porch perfect | | | | and Juan knows some pretty fancy card tricks. |
| for enjoying morning coffee or the sounds of the | | | | Juan also takes care of the horses and is killer |
| evening forest. Tightly woven mesh windows | | | | night hike guide. |
| keep the bugs out. | | | | If you're in fairly good physical condition, you can |
| An extensive trail system offers incredible birding | | | | arrange to walk from the tent camp, across the |
| and wildlife viewing. My favorite is the Golfo Dulce | | | | peninsula, where a taxi will pick you up and take |
| Trail. It goes along a ridge where you can see the | | | | you back to Puerto Jimenez. It's an amazing 14 |
| waters of the Golfo Dulce on one side and the | | | | mile walk through secondary and primary |
| forests of Corcovado on the other. I love to | | | | rainforest. The trail goes by some of the biggest |
| watch the activity and scurrying of leaf-cutter | | | | trees I have ever seen on the Osa and rival |
| ants that seem to be ever-present in the | | | | anything found in Corcovado National Park. The |
| rainforest. The last time I walked The Golfo Dulce | | | | last time we walked it we saw numerous tapir |
| Trail I was filming leaf-cutters when I found one | | | | and jaguar prints. Something our guide saw as a |
| actually cutting the leaf. Something I have often | | | | good sign as it showed positive migration towards |
| looked for but never actually witnessed. I | | | | Piedras Blancas National Park. Something which is |
| watched in amazement as this ant meticulously | | | | necessary to ensure genetically healthy |
| cut through the leaf and carefully positioned it so | | | | populations. Most people choose this hike on their |
| it could be carried back to its nest. Incredible. I've | | | | last day to avoid shuttling back to the tent camp. |