For the next morning Alvaro took us on a nature walk. Now, this is deep in the Costa Rican jungle at the Caribbean coast, so calling this a "nature walk" doesn't do it justice. Helliconias grew in outlandish variety, each more extravagant than all the others, with other plants even more exotic.
[Photo 8: Helliconia in the forest]
Big Howler Monkeys and Spider Monkeys, both endangered species, filled the trees. The Howler got their name from their call, deep, loud, like a bass drum in a primate; it can be heard for miles.
[Photo 9: Howler monkey]
We found tiny frogs with wild colors. One, the "blue jean" frog with blue hindquarters and bright red front, was poisonous, used by indigenous folk for their arrows.
[Photo 10: Poisonous Blue Jean Frog]
Deep inside was a pond covered in vegetation, filled with beautiful birds. It was like encountering another planet--and we're from subtropical southern Florida!
[Photo 11: A Heron in the Pond]
That afternoon, Alvaro took us up river in the Center's boat, and the scenery was again gorgeous. We saw no crocodiles, and that was probably just as well. He somehow located a bar in the forest where we enjoyed a local beer and chatted with the bartender. The Costa Rican accent is about as pure as one can find among Spanish-speaking countries, and I had little problem following him.
That evening, we again joined the researchers in a beach hunt for Leatherback Turtles laying their eggs--this time we found three, after walking for several miles. We slept soundly that night.
Adventure Life took care of everything! All we had to do was show up when we were supposed to, which made our first trip to Costa Rica largely stress-free and incredibly fun. Our trip reps, Hannah and Mariethony, were helpful and responsive, getting back to us by email usually within a few hours. Our accommodations were all great, and we got incredibly blessed with some absolutely stellar guides and drivers.
Our Jungle & Beach trip was an excellent balance of adventure and rest. We got to try out a lot of different activities, including snorkeling, hiking, white water rafting and kayaking, while also partaking of some rest around the pool or by the ocean. We enjoyed seeing and exploring the beautiful Caribbean side of the country.
Joy Knowles
1 week ago
The company made our adventure trip hassle-free, and a lot of fun! I will definitely be using them again
Carolena F
1 month ago
For our first trip to Costa Rica, Adventure Life designed a tour that meets the interests, ecological and adventure, of our party; but also takes into account our physical limitations sine we are all septuagenarian. We are looking forward to the trip.
John Zent
1 month ago
COSTA RICA a trip of a life time travelling round this beautiful country. All went like clockwork even when the weather was against us and all transfers seemed to be part of the holiday not a chore. Would definitely use Adventure Life again having previously used them 20 years ago!!
Cynthia Calton
1 month ago
Our Costa Rica trip was amazing! Kassandra planned everything and the excursions, hotels, overall organization were outstanding. Everything worked out smoothly, the excursions guides were knowledgeable allowing us to see so much of the fauna and flora of the country. The hotels were great as well, all in fantastic locations and with beautiful views.