Friday 21/10/2022 Bahía Hermosa – Playa Hermosa
Guanacaste Province
COSTA RICA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
The day before our daughter’s wedding we decided to take a drive to the Pacific coast as this was our only opportunity to see this side of the country. It was about an hour’s drive west of Canas where we were staying at Hacienda La Pacifica so it was an easy day trip.
Monday 17/10/2022 Sendero Cuecha – Quebrada Cuecha – Monteverde Cloud Forest, Biological Preserve
Tronadora, Monteverde
Alajuela Province
COSTA RICA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Beth Davies, Kerrie Stewart, Cal Stewart, Felipe Ureña-Araya, Pablo Ureña Vega
We all headed off to explore the world-renowned cloud forest in Monteverde. Cloud forests are unique ecosystems as they represent less than 1% of the remaining forests on earth. Costa Rica boasts 5% of the world’s biodiversity so for a small country it puts Australia to shame. The conditions were noticeably cooler than in lower altitude areas in Costa Rica, which made a pleasant change from the tropical heat.
Sunday 16/10/2022 Sloth’s Territory
La Fortuna, Alajuela Province
COSTA RICA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
This is a privately owned and run sloth sanctuary. It consists of a relatively narrow corridor of remnant rainforest through which a population of sloths can be found. We were very fortunate to have Reuben as our guide today.
Thursday 27/10/2022 Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero – Tortuguero National Park – Tortuguero Village
Tortuguero National Park
Limón Province, COSTA RICA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
Following on from our guided night walk, canal canoeing and day walk over the previous 36 hours, today we opted to venture out on our own. Already fully aware that previously our guides had been the first to locate and identify 90% of our sightings we were hoping our observational skills may have improved a touch.
Wednesday 26/10/2022 Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero – Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park
Limón Province, COSTA RICA
Participants: Adrian (Guide), Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
For our afternoon we had booked a two-hour guided walk in Tortuguero National Park with our guide, Adrian. We got underway at 2:00pm after Adrian managed to gain us free park entry after Sue had had numerous failed attempts at making and paying for our reservations on the National Parks website, the only method provided for doing so. It turned out their system was down.
Wednesday 26/10/2022 Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero – Tortuguero Village – Rio Tortuguero – Canales del Tortuguero Rogelio Pardo Jochs
Tortuguero National Park
Limón Province, COSTA RICA
Participants: Adrian (Guide) Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
Late yesterday we had been greeted by our English-speaking guide Adrian as we arrived at the carpark at La Pavona. This is the “ferry” terminal for transporting people, goods and everything else to Tortuguero 19km, 90 minute trip to the east on the Caribbean coast along Rio Suerte from La Pavona. There are dozens of these long, shallow draft, fibreglass craft constantly ferrying people back and forth along the narrow, shallow tidal canals. Masterful boatmen navigate these canals negotiating a multitude of sharp turns, shallows, concealed boulders and submerged fallen trees multiple times each day with barely the slightest of scrapes across the shallow bottom at low tide.
Tuesday 25/10/2022 Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero – Tortuguero Village
Tortuguero National Park
Limón Province, COSTA RICA
Participants: Bernardo (Guide), Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart, two others.
Seven of us left Hotel El Icaco in Tortuguero at 6:20pm, walking out through the northern end of town and along the beachside trail on a warm, dark, moonless night. In several places, we headed off onto small barely existent sidetracks. Tonight our two-hour wildlife tour was led by Bernardo, a local professional guide.
Monday 24/10/2022 Popone Farm and Lodge – Rio Molino
Calle Uno from the 32 route, 4 km south, in Calle 1, Guápiles
Limón Province, COSTA RICA
Participants: Jorge (Our host and Guide), Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
Wow, what a surprise package! Sue had selected this small eco-farmstay as a convenient stopover on our way across to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica from Hacienda La Pacifica just to the south of Guápiles.
Thursday 21/10/2022 – 24/10/2022 Hacienda La Pacifica
Liberia Guanacaste
Guanacaste Province, COSTA RICA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
Hacienda La Pacifica was our base in the area for our four-night stay and the site of our daughter, Beth’s Costa Rican wedding to Pablo on Saturday.
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.
Sunday 23/10/2022 Route 926 – Soda Delicias del Pelado – Cerro Pelado – Solanea
Tilaran, Guanacaste Province
COSTA RICA
Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Felipe Ureña-Araya, Pablo Ureña Vega, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart and some Pablo Runners – Alejandra Aguileta, Jorge Araya, María Matamoros, Alberto Morales, Sofía Robles, Eli Urdaneta, Felipe Ureña, Ligia, Bryan
Our morning ridge top walk with a group of Pablo’s running clients required a 30 minute drive from Hacienda La Pacifica (Canas). Again this was a private trail that required payment for the walk and parking. I was surprised by how many cars were already in the car park when we arrived at 6:10am.
Wednesday 19/10/202 Selvatura Park
Monte Verde, Guanacaste Province
COSTA RICA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart
We headed out before 8:00am this morning in an attempt to avoid as many people as we could, as often when we have recently encountered other people they seen more intent on getting their Instagram shots before walking off to the next Instagram-worthy stop. Lots are also engrossed in loud conversations and walking at a pace that would ensure they scared off any wildlife, so they would see very little.