With its dense foliage, colorful wildlife, panoramic beaches and pristine waterfalls, Costa Rica is nothing short of a photographer’s dream. Photographer Barbara Bourne and I just left the Osa Peninsula, accessible only via a rough, rocky road that filters out the faint of heart and welcomes intrepid visitors to a largely unexploited paradise. We feasted all our senses and experienced the area’s vast natural beauty during three nights at Luna Lodge and two nights at Finca Exotica. Here's just a taste of what we've seen. 
We began our journey in Dominical, a funky beach town that made us realize we weren’t in the United States anymore. Photo by Barbara Bourne
A relatively good stretch of the road from Puerto Jiminez. Photo by Barbara Bourne
This journey isn’t for the faint of heart. Photo by Barbara Bourne
We enjoyed fresh, healthy dinners in Luna Lodge’s large covered rancho. Photo by Barbara Bourne
Our new friends Mickey and Joanna take a dip in the waterfall, just a short hike away from Luna Lodge. Photo by Barbara Bourne
After the long drive down to the Osa, Larry relaxes in the cool stream near Luna Lodge. Photo by Barbara Bourne
At Finca Exotica, on the shores of Carate Beach, we stayed in open-air cabinas built from bamboo. Photo by Barbara Bourne
Using permaculture techniques, Finca Exotica’s owners grow tropical fruits, vegetables and herbs. Photo by Barbara Bourne
Finca Exotica owner Gabriela Naranjo gathers spinach from the garden just steps away from the lodge. Photo by Barbara Bourne
Finca Exotica owners Gabriela Naranjo and Markus Wehrmeister use the farm’s bounty to prepare beautiful meals in the main lodge’s open-air kitchen. Photo by Barbara Bourne