From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
First morning of my trip, I was up early, coffee in hand, dawn cacophony ringing all around. I just wanted to absorb it all.

I'd had my eye on, and my zoom trained on, a helicona flower. Losing track of time, I waited. When a hummingbird finally flitted into view, I sprang into action. The clatter of the shutter joined the chorus and from it emerged a photo so crisp that even the ant is in focus. It hangs in my hallway, so I see it every day.

From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Out of the goodness of our heart, we left our cook to prepare breakfast in peace and strolled out from our beach house on the Osa Peninsula for a swim.

Over the driveway the trees were alive with cheeky squirrel monkies, the smallest and cutest of Costa Rica's four species, with dozens of little babies dangling from the branches. It took us over an hour to walk the 50 metres onto the deserted beach. Breakfast was in danger of becoming lunch.

From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
I’d never been that fussed by birds, only the really large or really colourful. Then I went to the Osa Peninsula and it wasn't just the Scarlet macaws that had my eyes darting from treetop to treetop. Partly it was the quantity, partly my guide’s obvious delight each time he spotted a different species.

I'll never forget that priviliged morning rummaging around the most biodiverse pocket of our planet, even if I've forgotten most of the names.

From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
"John, have you seen what’s behind you?" "Undoubtedly a massive crocodile, right? Ha ha." "Well, it’s not massive but…"

While it was probably just catching some rays, there seemed to be a hungry glint in its eye. The fact that it was actually slightly above our head height did not help improve things for the more squeamish members of the paddling party. Let’s just say some people found a sudden burst of pace…

From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
OK, we weren't actually racing dolphins. But for several minutes, we could have been, as a pod of dolphins leapt and frolicked all around us. We slowed the boat right down, and sat enthralled. There must have been a dozen or so in all. Absolutely fantastic.

After reluctantly waving them goodbye, the thought occurred to me that a race wouldn't have been much of a contest - those guys could really shift through the water.

From Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Monkeys are the seagulls of Costa Rica, they're everywhere! One looks at me confused by my pale young face and green sun hat. I wave goodbye to my friend and his troop and approach the semi-circle shaped clearing in the leaves, a calm shady tunnel of nature leading onto the jaw-dropping beach.

Coastline stretching out forever, it's as if the soft sand has never seen another human foot. Before I can help it I'm leaping into the warm ocean of Costa Rica