As a nature and wildlife aficionado, I love to travel for inspiration for my animalistic designs. Read on discover some of the wonders I experienced on a trip to Costa Rica, inspiration for my upcoming Bosque Dreams design.
Costa Rica is known as a haven for wildlife, and had long been on my list to explore. Having researched into different regions, I settled on the Osa Peninsula, an area known for its unspoilt beauty and incredible biodiversity. Despite covering less than a thousandth of a percent of the Earth's surface, it is home to an estimated 2.5% of all species worldwide. This extraordinary variety of life is supported by the peninsula's diverse habitats, which range from lowland rainforests and mangroves to coastal beaches and coral reefs.
I flew to the Osa Peninsula from San José, taking off in a small propeller plane, flying low over stunning jungle and coastline. A short drive brought me to Bosque del Cabo, an eco-lodge renowned for its wildlife, perched high on the cliffs where the rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean. As I arrived, the lodge revealed itself as a sanctuary within the wilderness, as I saw monkeys, birds and coatis before even putting my bags down!
My lodge, perched on the edge of the forest, offered panoramic views of the Pacific ocean and the lush greenery below. That first night, the sounds of the jungle, cicadas, and distant waves—lulled me into a deep sleep. Not so tranquil was the wake up call in the morning - deep, booming roars (that sounded to me like I imagined werewolves to sound), coming from a troop of howler monkeys, making themselves known in the early hours!
Each morning I ventured out early to catch the dawn wildlife activity, and was never disappointed. The whole area was full of animals, with species such as coatis, peccaries, agoutis and spider monkeys seeming particularly active in the mornings. I also loved seeing some of the many incredible species of bird, such as scarlet macaws, toucans and the fiery-billed aracari. The trails surrounding the lodge wind through primary and secondary forests, offering glimpses of the rich biodiversity that makes this region so unique. Every turn of the trail brought a new discovery, from striking trogon and tanager birds, to blue morpho butterflies and the intricate patterns of leafcutter ant highways.
While staying at the lodge I saw all four species of monkey found in Costa Rica (howler, spider, capuchin and squirrel monkeys), scarlet macaws, toucans, owls, poison dart frogs, bats and many more incredible species. I took my camera to document as much as I could while I was there, capturing moments of inspiration. While I sadly didn’t catch a glimpse of any of the wild cats during my trip, I would like to think that they probably saw me… Both pumas and ocelots were spotted in the area while I was there, and it’s magical to be in a place where you know these creatures and roaming wild and thriving.
The spirit of the Osa Peninsula would stay with me long after I’d returned home, as I gathered my research and photography, and put all of the magic of the jungle into my new design. I hope the design will capture some of the wonder I experienced in this very special place.
I flew from London to San Jose, Costa Rica, direct with British Airways, then took the small plane with Sansa to Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula. I stayed at the beautiful Bosque del Cabo rainforest lodge.
