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This mystery cache was reworked on January 19, 2024 to adapt questions D, E and F to changes that have occurred on the site since its first publication.
Isla del Caño is a small island in the Bahia de Coronado, part of Puntarenas province, in the South of Costa-Rica. It is on the Pacific Ocean, 10 miles west of Punta Llorona, 15 km offshore from Corcovado National Park and the port of San Pedrillo, on Peninsula de Osa. Boat trips are offered from most of the lodges in Drake Bay or from Dominical. It is a popular tourist destination attracting visitors for its beaches, coral beds and sea life. Landing is only authorized on the beach where the ranger station is located.
The island and its environs invite study from several points of view. This 330 hectares piece of land and 2700 ha sea park has been established as a protected national park back in 1996. This reserve is devoted to the preservation of the rain forest on one hand and its rich marine flora and fauna on the other hand. Being a former cemetery of burial ground dating back to the pre-Columbian era, it is also a major archaeological sanctuary.
Geological standpoint :
According to the researchers, the island was believed to have been formed when over 50 million years ago the earth’s tectonic plates moved, causing this island to emerge. It is now rising steeply to a flat top of 123 meters in height.
Biological standpoint :
Isla del Caño is a biologic refuge that contains marine and land wealth’s.
Marine wealth :
This island’s virgin waters are some of the bluest in the country and are home to a spectacular variety of stunning marine flora and fauna as well as gorgeous coral reefs. With fantastic underwater visibility, one can see on any given day : sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, manta rays, moray eels, barracudas, tuna, snapper and grouper swimming alongside a variety sharks and humpback or pilot whales. Two endangered species in the vicinity of the island are the lobster and the giant conch. Scuba diving numbers are regulated and visitors are not allowed to remove any marine life, dead or alive. Calcareous alga mats and balls add to the variety of life found among the Porites and Pocillopora corals of these reefs. Researchers currently use the coral beds to study the factors surrounding coral death, recolonization and regrowth
Land wealth :
The island’s forest and its inhabitants are in stark contrast to those of the mainland less than 11 miles away. The plateau is covered by a very tall evergreen forest with trees reaching up to 50 meters, like the giant ficus. Other species present are the locust and wild avocado. The smaller trees include wild cocoa, rubber tree and some shrubs and bushes. The central plateau is a nearly nonspecific stand of Brosimum utile, the white latex, fruits and seeds of which are readily edible to humans. A miscarried tentative of banana culture failed. The limited diversity of terrestrial fauna is noticeable with the island having less than one percent of the insect diversity and an absence of numerous animals native to the nearby mainland. Besides birds like the osprey, black hawk, cattle egret and phalarope, some common animals and reptiles on the island are : pacas, boa constrictors, possums, tree frogs, wild pigs, moths, beetles, bats, mosquitoes, rats and lezards.
Archaeological sanctuary :
Evidence of pre-Columbian human activity on the island is substantial. Stone spheres evidently carved by early civilizations and Indian graves found all over the island suggest that this was an ancient cemetery. The mystery resides in the fact that these almost perfectly round stone spheres are made from a rock which is not originating from the island. Considering the heavy weight of these artifacts, the high distance to the mainland and the means of transportation that our remote ancestors had at that time, this issue stays as a complete mystery to us. An easily practicable foot-path well beaconed will lead you through the forest to this pre-Colombian cemetery where you will be able to see some of these stone spheres. Another path brings you to a scenic view on the island. Just follow the signs and take care
Mystery cache :
In order to log this mystery cache, you have to choose one of these anwers and its corresponding number and substitute it for ABC and DEF
A. On your arrival to the island, you see in front of a barracks a bleu wooden sign with a yellow inscription that says either: “Bienvenidos, R.B. Reserva Biologica OSA" = anwer 2 ; or : "R.B Area de conservacion OSA" = anwer 3 ; or : "R.B Sistema nacional de areas de conservacion" = anwer 4 ; or : "R.B Ministerio del Ambiente y Energia.” = answer 5 ; or : "R.B ISLA DEL CANO" = answer 6 ; or "R.B Ministerio del Ambiente y tourismo" = answer 7.
B. This barracks, is it : Answer 2 “a snack-bar” ; Answer 3 “a gift-shop” ; Answer 4 “the rangers station”
C. Outside that barracks, things are displayed. Is it : Answer 0 “antics, shells and coral” ; Answer 1 “postal cards”; Answer 2 “local handicrafts”
D. On your visit to the pre-Columbian sanctuary, the Indian graves are : Answer 1 “Stones” ; Answer 2 “Holes”; Answer 3 “Wood totems”
E. Some of the carved stones are put on : Answer 1 “other stones with a dish plate shape”; Answer 2 “other stones with a square shape”; Answer 3 “other stones with a sharp shape”
F. The stone spheres are made of : Answer 7 “calcareous”; Answer 8 “volcanic rock” ; Answer 9 “granite”
Complete and enter into the geochecker below these incomplete coordinates :
N 08° 42. ABC W 083° 53. DEF
If your answer is correct, you will get permission to log this mystery cache. But to finally validate, you must use in your log the secret word which is indicated in the instructions contained in the geochecker. And, optionally, a picture of you or your GPS at Isla del Caño, preferably at the sanctuary or on the beach, is welcome. Here we are !
Enjoy the Isla del Caño site and after the walk, have a good refreshing swim…………
NOTE : Visit to the archaeological pre-Colombian sanctuary is normally permitted accompanied by a local guide (generally from your hotel tour organization). If you are on your own, you may not be able to penetrate inside the island. In this case, you may find an information panel on site that will help you answering questions DEF. If not, a spoiler picture is attached below. Or, if you don't succeed to find the answers to questions D, E and F on internet, just contact me by email and I will provide you with the answers. ABC answers are available on site to everybody.
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