I’m back from Costa Rica
Summary:
Day 1 - Arrive in San Jose and travel to Monteverde.
Day 2 - Ziplining and hanging bridge canopy tour.
Day 3 - Hiking in an ecological sanctuary.
Day 4 - Coffee and sugar cane plantation tour, more ziplining, and butterfly gallery.
Day 5 - Bat museum, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, night tour, and the frog ponds.
Day 6 - Orchid garden and local festival.
Day 7 - Travel to La Fortuna, Arenal volcano hike, and Baldi hot springs.
Day 8 - Cano Negro wildlife refuge and hot springs again.
Day 9 - Travel to Manuel Antonio and surfing lessons.
Day 10 - Snorkelling and beach bumming.
Day 11 - Mangrove kayaking, surfing, and beach bumming.
Day 12 - Hiking in Manuel Antonio National Park, surfing, and beach bumming.
Day 13 - Travel to San Jose and return to Toronto.
Highlights:
Discovering that anti motion sickness pills actually work.
Speeding down a 1 kilometre long zipline.
Taking Kyle’s ‘Bimbo’ lost-bet tank top picture and a local joins the fun.
When Rafael described the act of self-pleasure as ‘tasty’ for lack of a better word.
The one complimentary cup of amazing coffee at the end of the coffee plantation tour.
Seeing my first two-toed sloth sleeping in a lone tree at the plantation.
Eating freshly cooled sugar cane caramel.
Having butterflies land all over me in at the butterfly gallery.
Every metre of the hiking trail at the Monteverde reserve.
Humming birds skimming my ear.
Crazy wildlife sightings during the night tour.
First sight of a red eyed tree frog at the frog pond.
Learning how to swing and salsa at the local festival and, 15 beers later, shuffling when the DJ unleashed Party Rock Anthem.
Meeting Canadian friends immediately when I travelled alone.
The ferry ride across Arenal Lake and first views of the volcano.
The guy to gal ratio at the hot springs.
Having two people notice the Iron Ring!
Getting up on my first try at surfing.
First sight of howler monkeys, then a spider monkey, then capuchins!
Witnessing a basilisk run across water.
Getting my face destroyed by the water slides at the hot springs.
Coincidentally meeting my La Fortuna friends at Manuel Antonio.
Feeding fish by the reefs with pineapple slices in snorkel gear.
Chillin’ on the top deck of the snorkel tour boat with the noon sun at the ocean.
An hour’s run along the beach and collapsing into the cool ocean waves.
Meeting the most awesome beach waiter named Butch. Double shot extra large mojitos at a discount!
Getting to the mangroves at super high tide and navigating through and under roots.
Passing a coconut floating in the water with my kayak paddle to a nearby capuchin waiting by the trees!
Watching a three-toed sloth actually move during the day time.
Climbing to the top of a huge rock only accessible during low tidesat the beach and enjoying the views.
Eating lots of seafood.
Being mistaken for being Costa Rican three times during the trip.
Final Remarks:
I’m sure I can continue sitting here thinking of highlights all night long. I loved learning the culture, the daily outdoor activities, and loved meeting so many new friends. Pura vida!
Monkeys galore!
At the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge. Out of the four monkey species existing in Costa Rica, our tour spotted three!
We saw howler monkeys, a rare spider monkey swinging from branch to branch, and several tiny white-faced capuchins (including a baby capuchin riding on the mother’s back).
We also witnessed the Jesus Christ basilisk run on water.
