Day 8 - Arenal to Monteverde

On our second day here we do a guided walk of the reserve,searching for a glimpse of the three-wattled bellbird or the Quetzal, whose feathers were traded as valuable items throughout pre-Columbian America. The reserve covers an area of 10,522 hectares and contains within it a staggering diversity of flora and fauna; 2,000 species of plant, 400 species of birds and 100 different species of mammals. The jungle floor is littered with blossoms that fall from the high canopy providing a carpet of colour amidst the endless green.

humming birds on the veranda

Laurie gets to wear his wellies he bought in Panama

Marek models a bug

A friendly Pizcote

Colinwood

our guide Erik

it's that Pizcote again!

Kairen's jaguar picture
(just like the one on the postcard)

afternoon canopy walk in the the rain  (torrential) at Selvatura Park accompanied by an earth tremor (not up to our normal standards)

am I having fun yet?
(one of 8 high canopy bridges we crossed)

Karen and Ganes dry off

We continue our journey, to Rincon de la Vieja, located close to the Nicaraguan border in the Guanacaste Province. A still active volcano the area is lush and pristine region of lagoons and craters, punctuated with steaming vents and pools of boiling mud. The changing elevation ranges of the park have resulted in a variety of quite different habitats, that house a variety of vegetation and wildlife that beggars belief in such a small area. There are forests full of orchids (the Costa Rican national flower) and
butterflies, tapirs and birds, whilst quiet secluded trails take you to hidden waterfalls.

a beautiful sunny day

we visit a Puma sanctuary

we got very close to a jaguar