Pumas & Jaguars Have Been Seen More Regularly in the Last Couple of Years
A few weeks ago, some guests took a day trip to Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula with our Guide, Jose. They were lucky to witness a truly rare and remarkable sight.
During their hike, a puma crossed their path. They captured the moment on video and shared it with us:
In honor of this incredible experience, we wanted to dedicate a blog post to these wild cats.
The Wild Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica is known for its breathtaking scenery and rich wildlife. But the Osa Peninsula, on the South Pacific Coast, is truly unique.
One of the most biologically intense places on earth
National Geographic recognizes this region as “the most biologically intense place on earth.” It’s home to 2.5 percent of the world’s biodiversity. This includes tapirs, ocelots, anteaters, and howler monkeys, as well as more than 350 bird species and marine animals such as manta rays, sharks, and sailfish.
It is no surprise that the Osa is home to jaguars and pumas, two of the most majestic and elusive predators of the Americas.
Jaguars & Pumas in Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula
The Osa Peninsula’s dense rainforests and remote wilderness make it the perfect home for jaguars and pumas.
These predator cats can freely roam, hunt, and contribute to the ecosystem’s natural balance.
Both cats play an essential role in balancing the ecosystem by regulating the populations of other species, such as deer, which in turn prevents overgrazing.
Corcovado National Park, with its 424 square kilometers, is home to an estimated 50-70 pumas, making it one of the densest populations of pumas in Central America.
The main threats facing these animals are the loss of their natural habitats and conflicts with humans. That’s why, protected areas like Corcovado National Park, initiatives that teach communities how to live in harmony with big cats, and promoting tourism that respects nature, play a crucial role.
These efforts work towards fostering peaceful coexistence while also providing a refuge for jaguars and pumas, allowing them to survive and thrive.
Conservation groups in the Osa, like the Nama Conservation and the sustainable hotels in our portfolio, have taken charge of conserving jaguars and pumas.
Conservation Efforts & Your Guests
We will conserve only what we love;
we will love only what we understand
and will understand only what we are taught.
The conservation efforts in The Osa Peninsula are centered around closely studying these animals in their natural habitat.
For example, scientists, conservationists, and sustainable hotels such as Lapa Rios Lodge and El Remanso Lodge use various technologies, such as camera traps, GPS tracking, and other tools, to monitor jaguars’ and pumas’ movement, behavior, and health.
The information they collect is very important. It helps conservation groups create successful plans to protect the species and ensure its long-term survival.
When your guests stay at these sustainable hotels, they directly support these conservation efforts and also have the unique chance to go on educational tours to learn about these initiatives firsthand.
Your guests can see the actual technologies in use and learn how scientists and conservationists track and study jaguars, pumas, and other species. This direct interaction not only enriches the guests’ knowledge but also deepens their appreciation for the importance of protecting these animals and their habitats.
Through these immersive experiences, witnessing wildlife in its natural setting becomes even more meaningful, fostering a deeper connection between guests and the conservation mission.
Nama Conservation
A Costa Rican non-profit organization focused on conserving the country’s natural ecosystems, its keystone species, and the integrity of communities that live and interact with them.
Their Osa Peninsula Monitoring Program for Felines and their Prey Species focuses on the biological monitoring of more than 20 species of terrestrial mammals that occur in the Osa Peninsula, including the five species of felines and their prey species. In conjunction with local community groups, Nama developed research based on camera trapping and track surveys, including Corcovado National Park, the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, Local Communities Territories, Wildlife Refuges, and Private properties.
To learn more and support Nama Conservation, you can visit their website Here
How Luxury Travel Advisors Can Help
For Luxury Travel Advisors, promoting the Osa Peninsula as a destination presents an opportunity to contribute to conservation while offering your guests an unforgettable experience.
By choosing sustainable accommodations, such as Lapa Rios Lodge and El Remanso, your guests can responsibly witness the beauty of the rainforest and its inhabitants, including the majestic jaguars and pumas. Each sustainable accommodation mentioned above has its own puma and jaguar programs, including trail cameras.
Hotels In Our Portfolio That Offer Adventures to Corcovado National Park
Lapa Rios Lodge
Lapa Rios Lodge is a luxurious, eco-friendly accommodation in the heart of Central America’s tropical lowland rainforest. The lodge spans over 1,000 acres of land, home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.
This is an ideal accommodation for nature lovers who want to be surrounded by the jungle’s raw beauty. Your guests will encounter exotic species of frogs, macaws, monkeys, and over 300 bird species.
Lapa Rios Lodge is committed to Jaguar Conservation Effort in the Corcovado National Park area and its influence regions. In fact, scientists have identified eight jaguars roaming the reserve!
El Remanso Lodge
El Remanso Lodge is an eco-luxury wildlife lodge on the remote southwestern tip of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Your guests will escape to the lush tropical rainforest while still enjoying modern amenities.
This is the perfect base for exploring the nearby Corcovado National Park, especially with the 1-Day Guided Tours offered. Your guests will explore the most biologically intense place on Earth and spot most of Corcovado’s most iconic flora and fauna.
By fostering an understanding and appreciation for these big cats, both you and your guests become key supporters in the effort to preserve one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.
To include these experiences in your guests’ itineraries:
