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This page is a summary overview of our trip experience. Some members of the group knew each other from previous trips, while most of us had not met before. Some of us travelled on the same flight from the UK to Costa Rica. Meanwhile, others in the group did not start from the UK at all or return straight away at the end of the trip. Consequently we inevitably started our journeys from different places and at different times. By the end of the trip, we were very much one group of people with a very enjoyable set of shared experiences.
Throughout, one member of the group (Peter) carried a GPS tracker and has kindly reproduced our overall route through Costa Rica in the image below.
After a short, early breakfast we embark on a coach and begin our journey to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast. We wind our way through the mountain pass, stopping for a welcome lunch at a restaurant in the town of Guapeles where there just happens to be an apiary. Our coach journey continues to Rancho La Pavona, which is our point of embarkation for the final leg which takes us along the river (in a boat similar to the one in the page header) to the small village of Tortuguero and our hotel for the next two-nights. After checking into the hotel, and exploring the grounds, there was an opportunity to go out in to the National Park and then walk back along the beach to the hotel. After our evening meal, we took the opportunity to go out into the grounds to look for tree-frogs. Even though it rained heavily all night onto the tin-roofs of our lodges; after such a full day, I don't think anyone struggled for sleep.
Day 2 - Tortoguero National Park
Day 2 - Tortoguero National Park
We are all up early for a quick pre-breakfast coffee, and then clamber aboard a motor-boat for our first excursion of the day into the national park. On returning to the hotel, we get some opportunities either side of lunch to explore the grounds. Here we find more outstanding wildlife and... a very nice swimming pool. Given the midday temperature is about 30degC, the refreshing dip was a must.
Our second trip into the national park extends into the evening, where we see Three-toed Sloth, Turtles, Caiman and other wildlife. A very pleasant evening meal and a couple of beers follow that. More heavy rain follows that, serenading us to sleep, again.
We awake to see standing water in the grounds, with several Great-tailed Grackle paddling about looking for a morning meal. With no early trip planned, the day starts in a slightly more relaxed fashion, though having to leave soon after breakfast brings its own 'pressure'. So on to breakfast, a quick coffee and a final look around before once again boarding a motor-boat that takes us back to Rancho La Pavona. Here we transfer to the coach that will be with us for the remainder of our trip, meeting for the first time our driver, Juan Carlos.
On the highway again, we return to the restaurant in Guapeles for lunch, before pressing on to La Fortuna. Along the way we stop at a local sports hall, where groups of young people are gathered outside in the sun playing musical instruments. This is where we find a group of Boat-billed Heron roosting in the trees above our heads.
Day 4 - La Fortuna Arenal
Day 4 - La Fortuna Arenal
With an early morning bird walk near the hotel followed by breakfast, our next stop is a visit to the La Fortuna Waterfall where nearly all of us go for a refreshing swim. This is where we see the Eyelash Pit Viper, a small but very dangerous snake.
After lunch, we visted the Arenal National park for a walk though the forest trails. About halfway along one of the main trails, we climbed an observation tower for a wider view of our surroundings. Low cloud on the mountains meant that we could not see the iconic Arenal Volcano itself.
Another early morning bird walk near the hotel give us the opportunity to see the Blue-Jeans Poison Dart Frog and a Two-toed Sloth. We then have breakfast before packing up and leaving the area to transition to Monteverede.
On the way we stop off to take in some quite stunning scenery and also see the only duck of our trip. We also take a break at a family run restaurant that opened especially for us, where we enjoy a rather splendid lunch.
We also take the opportunity to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, walking through the canopy via an network of cable suspended bridges. It's quite windy in Monteverde, usually is apparently. And it's raining.
Day 6 - Monteverde
Day 6 - Monteverde
The local Howler Monkeys and Coyotes decide at dawn that we have slept enough and that it's time to consider breakfast. By the time we are up and dressed, they have gone...
The hotel grounds/gardens here are amazing, busy with hummingbirds and other wildlife. With views across to the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica is well known for zipwire experiences, here there are zipwires above us heading towards the sunset, it is a remarkable setting.
We leave Monteverde after breakfast and head down towards the Pacific coast. We made a pit-stop at Restaurant Monteverde San Marcos, where we saw Black Iguana and Hoffman's Woodpecker, before continuing. Scenery is again spectacular, the Scarlet Macaw below was a noteable sighting.
Arriving in Manuel Antonio, we get our first proper view of a Pacific sunset...
Day 8 - Manuel Antonio
Day 8 - Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is a small town on the Pacific Coast with excellent beaches and a number of restaurants, bars and cafes along the sea front. Nearby it has one of the smallest, but still very important national parks in Costa Rica. This panoramic shot was taken during an early morning walk to the beach.
After travelling south for a while along Route 34 following the Pacific coast, we crossed over the Terraba River at Palma Sur de Osa and took a break at the Park of Spheres. Here there were a number of large stone spheres that were apparently carved many hundreds of years ago by peoples indigenous to Costa Rica. These are quite remarkable and mysterious sculptures. Quite how or why they were made is is unclear (Maybe it was aliens! We will soon be offering a range of tin-foil hats for anyone interested...). Nearby was an old steam locomotive which never fail to impresss and just across the road was the local airstrip, which seemed quite busy.
After photographing some of the local wildlife, which included Scarlet Macaws, Flycatchers, Tanagers and so on, we againset off to our destination, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge.
Day 10 - Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
Day 10 - Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
This is an extraordinary location, right in the heart of the rainforest. An early morning walk as the sun was rising, was a quite amazing experience. The sounds of the rainforest were all around us and included the call of the Scaley-breasted Wren. This is a very shy bird that in the main spends its time on the forest floor. Fortunately for us it did show itself for a moment or two.
We went on several walks during our time here and made good use of the pool (and the bar...).
The lodge had a resident juvenile Caiman in the pond next to reception. Though it remained hidden during daylight hours, as we retired for the evening from the bar; there it was, about 2 metres from the footpath!
This journey in the space of a few hours, took us from a warm (28'C) humid rainforest region at near sea level, to a much cooler and overcast (4'C) high altitude (3100m) region. Fleece jackets were very much the order of the day here.
We stopped for lunch at Restaurant La Georgina where even at this altitude hummingbirds were on view just outside the windows. One species being the beautiful Talamanca Hummingbird.
Our hotel at Sevegre at 2700m was a little lower and warmer but still rather overcast, though the sun made an effort as the evening drew in.
Day 12 - Savegre
Day 12 - Savegre
One of the main reasons people travel to this area is the likelihood of observing the Resplendent Quetzel. It is a remarkable bird and one that we had to get up very early in the morning to go out to a viewing point. Overall the hotel is like the others we have stayed in, comfortable, friendly and well located for exploring the nearby forest areas. The gardens were quite spectacular, with many flowers attracting numerous hummingbirds that zipped about with amazing energy.
Sadly, though we were to see more wildlife on our way back to San Jose, Savegre was the last wildlife centre of our trip.
After an easy start, we did a final wander around the grounds and loaded our gear onto the bus for the last time. As we were waiting to go, someone in the group noticed a Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a post across the valley.
Pretty soon we were on our way. A couple of hours later we clambered out of the coach and walked along the road in Reserva Forestal Los Santos.
The downhill walk had trees on both sides and several small birds were seen in the next 2km or so. Soon we were at a farmhouse where the lady of the house had very kindly prepared for us a splendid lunch of traditional local fare. It was interesting to see that locally the Nativity was still celebrated and displayed in mid January, several weeks after the celebrations back in the UK had come to an end. The scene captured below was in the farmhouse living room.
Once back in San Jose, we checked into our hotel and went for a walk around some of the points of interest before retiring to the bar/restaurant for a beer or two and something to eat.
Day 14 - San Jose
Day 14 - San Jose
This was our final full day in Costa Rica and gave us the chance to have a look around, woth everyone going off and doing their own thing. Being the Chinese New Year, there was a sizeable parade of young people (schools and colleges) that started in the centre of town and moved off to somewhere else. Some photos from the day can be found on the main San Jose page.
The day and the holiday closed out over a few drinks and a nice meal in the hotel restaurant.
Day 15 - San Jose to UK
Day 15 - San Jose to UK
With an afternoon transfer to the airport, we had a very easy start to the day ahead of our long journey back to the UK. This was a time for reflection on the extraordinary two-weeks that we had just experienced.
Overall, this was a most enjoyable holiday made more so by the people in our group who demonstrated warmth and friendliness towards each other throughout. The wildlife experiences were exceptional, with many many different species and habitats to observe and enjoy along the way. The people of Costa Rica were without exception, friendly, welcoming and helpful. Our tour guide Johnny Villalobos, is an exceptional man. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the wildlife that we encountered, was so friendly and totally organised and professional. It was our privilege to have his presence for our trip to this wonderful place.
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