Category Archives: Costa Rica

Children’s Eternal Rain Forest – Bajo del Tigre

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Tuesday 18/10/2022 pm Children’s Eternal Rain Forest –  Salida del Mirador – Quebrada Cuecha

                                             Bajo del Tigre, Monte Verde

                                             Puntarenas and Alajuela Provines, COSTA RICA  

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

We were determined to get in some more sightseeing today after a short walk through Curi-Cancha Reserve this morning, Children’s Eternal Rain Forest being our choice. This claims to be the largest private reserve in Costa Rica and is so named because it was initially founded by donations from children in 44 countries around the world. 

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Curi-Cancha Reserve – Quebrada Maquina

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Tuesday 18/10/2022   Curi-Cancha Reserve – Quebrada Maquina

                                         Monte Verde

                                         COSTA RICA

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Felipe Ureña-Araya, Pablo Ureña Vega, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

After Sue, Beth, Pablo and Felipe had returned from their morning 8km run we headed out for a short local walk in the nearby Curi-Cancha Reserve. The rest of us had remained at our Airbnb on the edge of Monte Verde doing a spot of bird watching from our second-storey outdoor balcony. From here there were views across some open grassland and forest as far as the Pacific Ocean. I had the good fortune to observe two toucans fly across the grassland and land near the high point of a tree 100 and something metres away. Needless to say, I snapped off a number of photos at the 500mm end of my zoom lens and was very happy with the results. We also saw about half a dozen other species in close proximity. With the sun behind us and a thin cloud cover, there was plenty of bright, soft light to get great shots.

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Mistico Park – Arenal Hanging Bridges

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Saturday 15/10/2022   Mistico Park – Arenal Hanging Bridges

                                          Tabacon, Provincia de Alajuela

                                          COSTA RICA

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

This is a much more developed rainforest walk than El Silencio, which we completed yesterday. Here every step is on the fenced concrete path. There are about 16 bridges to cross which provide views through and above the forest canopy as well as passage across the creek gullies. We were to learn later that the fences were constructed using a steel skeleton over which chicken wire mesh was modelled to shape before several layers of concrete were moulded to form a continuous structure with no obvious joints. This must have taken a very long time to create! The end result was impressive and blended into the surrounding environment.

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El Silencio – Mirador El Silencia – Rio Desague – Arenal

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Friday 14/10/2022   El Silencio – Mirador El Silencia trail around the base of Arenal (less touristy) – Rio Desague

                                      La Fortuna, Alajuela 

                                      Tabacon, Provincia de Alajuela

                                      COSTA RICA

                                                                          

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

El Silencio Nature Preserve is found about 15 minutes drive out of La Fortuna west of Arenal by the Rio Desague. It consists of a series of trails through the heavy rainforest, views of Arenal Volcano and a side trail that takes you over a lava flow. The research Sue had done suggested this was a less touristy type of experience which we concurred with. The earthen trails were supported by wooden board-supported steps on the steeper sections, there were basic signs at track junctions to get your bearings and a couple of steel footbridges across the creek. This was a big contrast to our next experience at Mistico Park – Arenal Hanging Bridges.

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Rio del Toro – Blue Falls – Catarata del Toro

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Thursday 13/10/2022   Rio del Toro – Blue Falls – Catarata del Toro

                                           Toro Amarillo

                                           COSTA RICA                                                                          

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

Our last waterfall visit to this area around Bajos del Toro in central Costa Rica was part of a package deal that included yesterday’s Cataratas Las Gemelas – Pozo Azul – Catarata la Celestial – Blue Falls walk. It involves a short walk through the lush rainforest to one of Costa Rica’s largest waterfalls. The walk to the plunge pool involves a very worthwhile 80m descent where there are great views of the waterfall towering overhead, its aqua plunge pool and the deep canyon falling away below along the Rio del Toro.

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Chilamate Rainforest Eco Resort – COSTA RICA

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29/10/2022 – 31/10/2023  Chilamate Rainforest Eco Resort                                    

                                               COSTA RICA                                                                 

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

Nestled amongst trees at the edge of the forest we found ourselves at our final Costa Rican destination for this trip, Chilamate Rainforest Eco Resort. This family-run sustainable eco-lodge is located just off the highway in Sarapiqui about two hours north of San Jose. It is a private reserve consisting of 20 hectares of rainforest with monkeys, many species each of frogs, birds and insects.

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Tepezquintle – Las Gemelas – Poza Azul – La Celestial – La Turquesa – La Pintada – Cataratas Las Gemelas – Catarata la Celestial – Blue Falls of Costa Rica

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Wednesday 12/10/2022   Tepezquintle – Las Gemelas – Poza Azul – La Celestial – La Turquesa – La Pintada – Cataratas Las Gemelas – Catarata la Celestial – Blue Falls of Costa Rica 

                                               Toro Amarillo

                                               COSTA RICA

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

Our second day of waterfall viewing got off to an ordinary start as we overshot our target and needed to backtrack. It still wasn’t obvious where to start so we ended at the Blue Falls entrance only to discover they owned both and our target was a short walk down the road. We were keen to do both at the discounted price and organised to do that package if we returned tomorrow.

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Tesoro Escondido Waterfall – Rio Desague – Rio Segundo

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Wednesday 12/10/2022   Tesoro Escondido Waterfall  –  Rio Desague –   Rio Segundo

                                               Toro Amarillo

                                              Alajuela Province, COSTA RICA

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

Our first waterfall was on private land as is the case with many of Costa Rica’s natural heritage wonders. A fenced and gated entrance with a small well-worn sign marked the entrance. Yesterday when we initially hoped to see them we were greeted by the owner’s dogs and then informed that we had arrived too late to start. We did, however, organise an earlier than normal 7:30am start the next morning.

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Bajos del Toro – Farm – Forest – Rio Toro

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Tuesday 11/10/2022   Bajos del Toro (Airbnb) – Farm – Forest – Rio Toro

                                         Cabana Armonia, Provincia de Alajuela                                        

                                         Costa Rica

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

Our first hike for the trip was straight out of the door from our remote Airbnb, Bajos del Toro. This was an afternoon stroll through the adjacent farmland following the farmland out towards the property boundary which adjoins a forest. 

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