Costa Rica: The wettest place on land I have ever been.

The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica's southwest corner is one of the most remote areas of the country. This is the home of great beasts like jaguar and tapir. Although we were never fortunate enough to see these creatures, we did get a chance to meet our share of rain forest residents. Scarlet macaw, toucans, monkeys, sloths, even highly venomous snakes and spiders were around every corner of the dark and muddy footpaths.

Our temporary home was a beautiful mahogany cottage perched on a jungled hillside. Our hosts were both biologists, willing and able to answer all of our thousands of questions. They were instrumental in shedding light on the ecology of many of the animals we discuss in our programs. Miles from civilization, our jungle home was truly immersed in the rain forest. Mountainous footpaths lead to the ocean or a rickety, one-person suspension bridge; the only ways out of this secluded forest.