Walking on the beach in Costa Ballena is quite a magical experience for an ex-corporate guy who is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life.

With not much free time to enjoy what little nature is left in the concrete jungle of Southern California, Costa Ballena is beautiful in that raw sort of way.

No perfectly landscaped shrubs or perfectly placed trees and everything is so green and abundant, peaceful and full of life. On my first trip, while I was enjoying this new found peace and quiet, and contemplating the world and how I would single-handedly save it, I was jarred out of my fantasy by obnoxiously loud screeching… I mean, really loud and completely at odds with the soothing sounds of the ocean and the occasional coconut dropping on the sand.

I looked up and saw the most beautiful parrots I had ever seen, or possibly never seen. They were huge. Around 2½ ft long including their super long tail and the most vibrant shade of scarlet with splashes of cobalt blue and yellow.

They were absolutely stunning and we were rooted on the beach until they flew past. We later learned that they were the Lapa Rojas or Scarlet Macaws. They had at one time occupied 82% of the country and by the 1990’s had occupied only 20% and were concentrated in the Osa Peninsula and a small area near/around the central Pacific beach town of Jaco.

The Macaws had almost been eradicated by lax laws, deforestation, hunters and poachers who would sell the exotic birds to pet stores or private parties.

The government has passed laws to protect the endangered bird and preservation groups in the Osa and Nicoya peninsulas have since rehabilitated, bred and successfully released many back into the wild.

Because of this commitment to protecting and improving the country in combination with reforestation efforts, we have noticed in recent years that the Scarlet Macaws are making their way back to certain parts of the country.

The last two years they have been seen (and heard!) in Ojochal. Even more exciting, only because I live in Dominical, is that in recent months they have been observed in Uvita and Playa Hermosa where they are enjoying the seeds from the Terminalia Catappa or Almond Trees.

We have all been waiting for the day when they returned, and that time is NOW! Come to Ojochal and if you listen close enough, while walking a beach or chillin’ in your favorite Hammock, you too can enjoy the splendors of nature and those magnificent Scarlet Macaw!

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.