Star Flyer Clipper ShipBalancing the grandeur, adventure and tradition
of sailing with the excellent service, amenities
and accommodation of the finest modern yacht,
Star Flyer offers the ultimate sea-going
experience to explore the tropical paradise
of Costa Rica in style.
The 360 foot Star Flyer is a modern cruise
ship created for luxury-loving passengers
who also love the traditions and romance
of the legendary era of sailing ships. It
carries just 170 guests in pampered comfort
(140 on our cruise). Life aboard is blissfully
relaxed, much like travelling on a private
yacht. The accommodation has limited space
with luxury ‘compact’ marble
bathroom including a Jacuzzi bath. The expansive
teak decks are home to two swimming pools,
the Edwardian style library where a Belle
Époque fireplace glows and the Tropical
Bar. There is also an internal piano bar.
The mahogany décor is reminiscent
of the grand age of sail with many antique
prints and paintings of famous sailing ships
to admire. There is open-seating dining in
an elegant dining room. Meals consist of
buffet breakfast and lunch, cocktail hour
with hors d’hoeures, dinner and midnight
snacks for those wishing to party into the
wee hours.
ItineraryDay one – At seaThe day started with 8am exercises on deck.
Activities included, knot tying tuition,
climbing the mast and lectures on coral and
the Panama Canal
Isla Gamez, PanamaMorning scuba diving was followed by a transfer
to the island for a BBQ lunch and relaxation
on the beach. Watersports included kayaking,
laser sailing, water skiing, windsailing
or snorkelling.
After we had kayaked over to the opposite
island I set off on my first laser sailing
lesson. Many frigates, vultures and black
hawks were in the trees or circling the island.
Golfito, Costa RicaThis was the Central American headquarters
of the United Fruit Company until 1985. Bananas
were the primary produce. The growers and
workers threatened a strike so the United
Fruit Company said they would move to Equador
if there was a strike. The workers called
their bluff and the company moved to Equador,
resulting in the loss of livelihood of 15,000
workers.
Golfito today is a new destination for outdoor
adventurers and nature lovers. Within howling
distance is Piedras Blanca National Park
and just across from the untrod beaches of
the Golfo Dulce lies another natural treasure,
Corcovado National Park.
Activities on offer were a visit to a local
monkey sanctuary, trek in the national park
or a canopy forest tour. We chose the latter
and to my surprise it was zip lining, however,
we embraced the sport and zipped enthusiastically
through the trees in 10 very exhilarating
rides. Our driver gave us a tour of the town
where we saw the old headquarters and factories
of the United Fruit Company, the new palm
oil storage units, the small airstrip and
university. We also saw the land purchased
by developers for a new marina and exclusive
villa complex. They purchased many old homes
which have been demolished and the area is
now derelict as it has still not been developed
after 5 years.
Drake BayDrake Bay, located on the Osa Peninsula,
was named after Sir Francis Drake who visited
here in March 1579. It is one of Costa Rica’s
most isolated destinations, where running
water still means a boy with a bucket. Telephones
and electricity arrived for the millennium.
There are 2 settlements – Drake (a
few houses) and Agujitas (population 300)
and two main rivers that flow into the bay.
The lack of roads mean that locals move about
by boat although there are some tracks accessible
by 4 wheel drive vehicles. On land at Drake
Bay is Corcovado National Park, one of the
wildest, wettest and most wondrous jungle
habitats on earth. It has remained rich in
wildlife due to its isolation and lack of
infrastructure. With eight different habitats,
400 bird species, more than 100 reptiles
and amphibians it’s a tropical Noah’s
Ark. Also near Drake Bay is the smaller Marenco
Biological Station, where you may hike through
moss-festooned rain forest replete with toucans,
monkeys, curassows and tanagers or ride a
horse to the Rio Claro for a swim.
Isla del CanoNobody knows why pre-Columbian Indians chose
Cano Island as a burial ground. Hike up the
trail from the beach and you’ll see
where archeologists have found stone balls
(bolas) mortars, pestles and other ancient
tools scattered in various gravesites in
the rain forest. Unfortunately, you may run
across the occasional harmless boa constrictor! Amongst the wildlife are monkeys and
Tapir. The snorkelling is excellent. Quepos The name, Quepos, comes from the indigenous
word Quepoa, a subgroup of the Boruca’s
who used to live here before the Spanish
conquest. It used to survive from fishing
and palm oil. Now Quepos is a favoured
destination for sport fishers and eco-adventurers
alike. The astonishing beauty of nearby Manual
Antonio National Park enables you to discover
an amazing natural wonderland of colourful
flora and fauna, lush jungle and secluded
beaches. The nearby Rio Naranjo is a magnet
for thrill-seeking river rafters. Despite
the tourism boom, the town has managed to
retain its local charm. We noticed several stores that sold everything
imaginable - pushchairs, alongside computers,
motorbikes, bikes, washing machines and more.
National Reserve of CuruCuru is a privately owned reserve on the
Nicoya Peninsula that is part of a farm which
is trying to combine sustainable agriculture
with forest management for the protection
of wildlife and the natural environment.
It offers visitors a close look at the diverse
marine life of the Curu River mangrove estuary.
At the reserve the white faced Capuchin monkeys
and iguana roam freely, attracted by the
constant supply of bananas.
Isla TortugaTortuga is an exquisite little island off
the Nicoya Peninsula. Off the sandy beach,
accessible by boat, is a large rock around
which the snorkelling is excellent to view
the shoals of many species of fish.
