USA Today Logo New York Times Logo Outside Magazine Logo Conde Nast Traveler Logo National Geographic Traveler
Create your Trip Journal [click here]

Family trip - turtles and rainforest, pacuare

view full screen slideshow
by: Laura Lovato
What a memorable trip for the whole family -- my husband and I, with our two children, age 6 and 9. We can't wait to go on another adventure. Read on!

Read my Journal
Costa Rica Family trip - turtles and rainforest, pacuare

Want to go? Turtles & Rainforest

I went to: Costa Rica, San Jose, Hotel Bougainvillea, Tortuguero, Pacuare Nature Reserve, Selva Bananito
Day 1 balcony view at Hotel BougainvilleaDay 1 hedge maze in Hotel Bougainvillea gardenDay 2 garden at Hotel BougainvilleaDay 2: hotel gardensDay 2: cayman by the riverDay 2: on the boatDay 2: on the boatDay 2 monkeys @ sarapiqui riverDay 2 aereal tramDay 3: past Matina; bananas in the blue bags Day 3: boat ride to Pacuare Turtle ReserveThe Pacuare LodgeOther buildings at the Pacuare ReserveNight patrols on this beachDay 3: triangulating the location of a nestDay 3: first next excavation with CarolDay 3: first baby turtle found!Day 3: almost made it to the ocean!Day 3:golden orb spider - her cousin watched us take showersDay 4: at sunrise, lizard on our front porchDay 4: visit from a mica snake (not poisonous)Day 4: the lodge at PacuareDay 4: porch at pacuare lodgeDay 4 poision dart frogDay 4: blue morpho on the jungle hikeDay 4: jungle hikeDay 4: jungle hikeDay 4: nest excavation Day 5: morning at the Pacuare LodgeDay 5: the hard-working group at Pacuare!Day 5: bird nest outside the office at Selva BananitoDay 6: we could livein this tree!Day 6: bright orage frog on the way to waterfallDay 6: Waterfall hikeDay 6: Waterfall HikeDay 6: preparing to rappel down the waterfallDay 6: rappelling down the waterfallDay 6: We did it! At the bottom of the waterfallDay 6: on the way back from the waterfall hikeDay 7: ziplining out to the tree platformDay 7: changing ropes high in the tree platformsDay 7: hanging out on the platform after zip-lining out.Day 7: hooked to the tree, platformDay 7: lowering down the platform into the jungle belowDay 7: horseback riding (at the stables)Day 7: after the ride we're a little wet!Day 8: ziplining out to our taxi across the river!Day 8: rafting with KennethDay 8: goofing off after the rafting tripDay 8: after the rafting trip & lunchDay 8: Goodbye CR: the pool at Hotel Bougainvillea