32 METRO Thursday, May 11, 2017

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Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula rivals the Galápagos for its abundance of flora and fauna, plus chic lodges and ample surfing, says Richard Mellor

creatures in

Two and a half per cent. Doesn’t sound a lot, does it? If we’re talking about the world’s biodiversity, though, it really is.

That’s why Costa Rica’s osa Peninsula – home to 2.5 per cent, or one fortieth, of Earth’s flora and fauna, and nicknamed the ‘Galápagos of Mesoamerica’ (middle America) – is truly extraordinary.

It’s also why Latin America specialist Pura Aventura has launched a devoted itinerary to osa, a remote, foot-shaped headland on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific seaboard that is roughly the size of Greater London.

There’s no doubting which of the two is really greater, however. Not only is osa rich in wildlife – endemic species include poison-dart frogs and sour cane plants – but it also has primitive jungle, tropical beaches, endless sun and premium

ecolodges. oh, and there’s not a Pret A Manger in sight.

Lasting 12 days, osa Uncovered starts in the north of the peninsula for fabulous snorkelling and walking. Spot crab-eating raccoons, sloths and stinky skunks on a night tour, and cross a hanging river bridge by day to visit a turtle rescue project. Between June and November, humpback whales can often be seen too.

Then it’s boat and plane transfers to Corcovado National Park, covered in Amazon-like canopy and once rated the most biologically intense place on earth by National Geographic magazine. Luna Lodge, set high up a bird-rich valley, has a pool, spa and yoga sessions to go with its exceptional surrounds. You might see jaguar and tapir along the many surrounding trails.

Last up is a rustic but chic lodge at Matapalo on osa’s south coast, where the luckiest visitors can tick off Costa Rica’s four monkey and six feline species on their wildlife bingo cards. The nearby beaches also offer superb surf breaks, while within the forest there is guided tree climbing and waterfall rappelling.

‘The wildlife is something else,’ says Tom Power, Pura Aventura’s head honcho. ‘You regularly have to stop your car to let troops of monkeys cross the road and everywhere you go there are colourful birds, crocodiles basking beside rivers and coatis rummaging for coconuts on remote beaches.’

From £3,790 per person for 12 days including all internal

transfers, accommodation, meals, activities and entrance fees,

pura-aventura.com

Offer based On infOrmatiOn prOvided at time Of press. metrO is nOt respOnsible fOr any price changes Or restrictiOns On availability

Meals are seriously scenic at the five-star anantara lawana on Koh samui – its Tree Tops sky Dining restaurant sits atop the canopy, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Other pulls include those famously divine Thai shores, superb savings until the end of June and the hotel’s plum position at the far northern end of long Chaweng beach – far

enough from the brouhaha to be tranquil yet within a sandy stroll of every shop, bar and restaurant.

Save £255 per person on a seven-night stay for couples, bed &

breakfast, including return flights from Gatwick and private transfers.

Valid for departures until June 30, book by June 15. From £1,045 per person, turquoiseholidays.co.uk

K o h b l i m e y !

s r i l a n K a i s s o c h a - m i n g

Hanging around: spot some sloths

This year marks the 150th anniversary of tea production in sri lanka – or, more precisely, of when scottish planter James Taylor first succeeded with a crop in the then colony of British Ceylon. Millions of tea bags later, travel firm srilankainstyle has launched a bespoke itinerary tracing Taylor’s footsteps from capital Colombo into sri lanka’s beautiful Tea Country. You’ll stay on plantations, learn about production, ride on beautiful railways, visit a tea auction and stop in the evocative fort city of Galle.

From £3,083 per person including internal air, car and

train transfers, 11 nights’ B&B, some other meals and

activities, srilankainstyle.com

Hop to it: a poison-dart frog

.Striking: a beach in costa rica’s.

.beautiful corcovado national park.

Thursday, May 11, 2017 METRO 33

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For… RhinosHaving been poached to extinction in Rwanda in 2007, black rhinos have now returned to the country’s akagera national Park thanks to non-profit conservation organisation african Parks (african-parks.org), which relocated 20 from South africa this week.

For… DanielsaccoRding to studies by booking platform Hostelworld (hostelworld.com), people named daniel have done the most global travelling. Sarah, fourth overall, was the most common female name. But in the UK, those named James and Hannah held sway.

For... FloRence’s MeRcato Di san loRenzooncE compared to covent garden, the iconic outdoor Florentine market is to be booted out of the city’s Unesco-protected centre after italy’s top administrative court reacted to its ‘long-standing decline’.

For... pulling sickiesJEt2HolidayS has recruited private detectives to combat touts who ‘coax holidaymakers into making false sickness claims’ in the hope of gaining unmerited compensation. Such a fraudulent ruse is especially common in Spain.

GooD week

BaD week

The Ned a New hotel aND memBeRs’ cluB fRom soho house aND syDell GRoup, iN NumBeRs

our midst

Illegal loggers and gold miners were once the main threats to the Osa Peninsula’s survival. The former were removed when Corcovado became a national park in 1975; miners were mostly evicted a decade later after they began hunting wildlife. a few of both still remain but the biggest modern danger is increased human footfall – hence a spurt in conservation projects.

t r o u b l e i n pa r a d i s e

6the average number of pipes Sir

Edwin ‘ned’ lutyens, the architect behind the 1924 building which

was the former Midland Bank HQ, smoked in a working day.

92The number of green verdite-clad

columns on The Ned’s ground floor, which is also home to

eight restaurants.

3,800the number of original silver

safety deposit boxes in the ned’s bank vault, which is now a glitzy members-only cocktail lounge.

2,200,000The total amount it cost to

build The Ned in pounds sterling. That’s equivalent to around

£100million in today’s money.thened.com