Carara Biological Reserve — 1/3 – 3/3 As the lodge Heatherlea normally use was full, we stayed at Punta Leona, a rather touristy resort on the Pacific coast. In the late afternoon we went on a boat trip along the Tarcoles River and then watched the sun set over the Pacific and looked for owls. The following day, we went walking in the Carara forest where the first thing we saw was a Ghost Bat hanging by one foot from…
Guanacaste area on the Pasific — 28/2 – 1/3 This is an area of tropical dry forests, marshlands, estuaries, and mangroves which are characteristic of the northern Pacific region. It was a hot and dry environment and very different from what we had seen so far. We spent one night at La Ensenada Lodge which had a splendid view over Gulf of Nicoya. After lunch at the lodge, we visited Solimar, a huge cattle ranch where we were taken round…
Arenal Observatory — 26/2 – 28/2 We stayed at Arenal Observatory Lodge which had breathtaking views of the Arenal Volcano from our rooms as well as from the restaurant. The volcano is no longer active but still smokes. Next destination — Guanacaste area on the Pasific — Days 8 to 9 (28/2 – 1/3)
Sarapiqui and La Selva — 23/2 – 26/2 We stayed at Selva Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve, a lovely place on the banks of the river. The tropical lowlands of Sarapiqui, are a wildlife-rich riparian zone along the banks of the Sarapiqui River. We had great views over the river from the restaurant. La Selva Biological Station is run by the Organisation for Tropical Studies (OTS) and was a highlight of the tour. The station is one of the four…
Tortuguero — 21/2 – 23/2 Our first destination was Tortuguero on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean Zone. Tortuguero, which means ‘region of turtles’ in Spanish, is a very wet forested area with a network of lakes, rivers and canals. We had to travel everywhere by boat. We stayed at Laguna Lodge, an eco-touristic hotel, which is located on a narrow strip of land just 650 feet wide on the edge of the park and between Tortuguero’s main lagoon and the Caribbean…