Wednesday 23/10/2022 Station El Pilon – Rio Celeste – Sendero Misterios del Tenorio – Poza Catarata – La Laguna Azul – Los Teñideros – Catarata Río Celeste
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Guatuso, Alajuela Province
COSTA RICA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
Our afternoon hike required a drive of around an hour from Hacienda La Pacifica (Canas) to get us to Tenorio Volcano National Park. After paying our entry fees of US$13 we headed off through the forest on a paved track. We were advised that the last attraction was closed as the bridge was washed out.
Max elevation: 809 m
Total climbing: 871 m
Total descent: -869 m
Average speed: 4.73 km/h
Total time: 02:46:46
Here we found the forest to be denser than what we had visited to date and it seemed that rain wasn’t too far away. We were to have three good showers during this afternoon walk and so experience a rainforest in the rain.
There were quite a number of other people out along the track today, something we usually prefer not to encounter. Today, however, it worked strongly in our favour as people had spotted and stopped to watch several toucans in the trees overhead. We hung around here for a good length of time during which we observed toucans of two species. Most of the other people moved off as the first shower commenced whilst I lingered and got some great photos.
Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus), along Misterios del Tenorio track just south of Station El Pilon
Next up was the descent of 130 stairs to Catarata Río Celeste along a sidetrack. These stairs are well-formed and have a railing along the steep downhill side. The waterfall itself is a beautiful aqua-blue colour reminiscent of glacially fed streams.
As we reached the track junction someone already there had spotted some white-faced monkeys in the trees overhead. We lingered watching their movements as some of them did with us, until they tired of our company and moved on. We marvelled at their skill and confidence as they leapt from treetop to treetop as they moved away from us.
We barely had time to turn around before someone else pointed out a small snake seemingly frozen in the undergrowth. This pencil-thin snake, Cope’s Vine Snake, had the rear two-thirds of its body supported whilst its front third remained rigid and still throughout our observation period, apparently effortlessly.
Cope’s Vine Snake (Oxybelis brevirostris), near Rio Celeste Los Teñideros
Next, we continued further along the track to the bubbling thermal pool which Cal had already walked past. It was really productive of bubbles and exuded a strong sulphur odour.
As the track not far ahead was closed we turned around at this point and returned to the carpark making further observations along the way. This was an excellent afternoon walk with jungle views, a stunning waterfall and plentiful wildlife.
Whilst we were there we saw:
Reptiles: Cope’s Vine Snake
Birds: Collared Aracari, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
Mammals: Central American White-faced Capuchin
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