We just got back from a fabulous two week trip to Costa Rica! Right on the heels of London/Prague (which was a spur of the moment decision due to a friend's wedding!), we set off on a wonderful trip to Costa Rica in the middle of winter - which we planned nearly a year ago. We all decided to do an adventure travel tip - but heavens, we did not expect so MUCH adventure! It's hard to list every awesome thing that we did - but I'll try!
First, we went to Monte Verde (Green Mountain, aptly named!) - in the Cloud Forest! None of us had really ever been to a true Cloud Forest before - such a crazy experience, with mist swirling at all times! I've never seen scenery so lush and green! There were epiphytes covering every square inch of every single tree & bush. We enjoyed a Night Walk - checking out every critter including snakes, spiders, bats, and sleeping birds. We did TWO days of zip-lining - including a one KILOMETER ride. Mama got STUCK superman style (head down) about 200 meters from the end - and it was rather hilarious to watch the guides travel out to "rescue" her and pull her to the platform! We enjoyed a Sloth sanctuary and reptile house showing all the amazing critters we could see in Costa Rica - one of the most diverse countries on the planet. A second zipline tour happened at our hotel, as well as a second night walk! We ended Monte Verde with a spectacular 2 hour horseback ride to the coast. Keevah showed us all up with her impressive equestrian skills - we enjoyed cantering & galloping a bit too!
Ready for ziplining!
Ziplining through the clouds was amazing!
Monkey bridges!
Wheee!
Tarzan swing!
Visit to a sloth sanctuary
We felt like we could see forever!
A skick bug crawling on me & a scorpion under black light on our Night Walk
After Monte Verde - we traveled via curvy roads for three hours to La Fortuna - also in a Rain Forest (more rain, more humidity, warmer), yet no longer in a Cloud Forest - where we stayed for 4 days. The thermal river & baths were incredible! We bathed THREE times in an amazing hot (98 degree) river with many waterfalls...a definite favorite of the trip. We also spent a day white water rafting - a highlight of the trip for sure. We also spent a day hiking around the base of the Arenal Volcano and through hanging bridges. Sloths, toucans and endless other birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians were everywhere on our walks. We learned so much about the climate and the geology that is responsible for the amazing biodiversity that we saw daily. How many times in your life will you ever be able to see sloths in the wild, along with toucans, hold stick bugs, find bioluminescent scorpions, camouflaged snakes, endless leaf-cutter ants, and every hole occupied by an orange-kneed tarantula?
Picutres from the Arenal Volcano
One of the many amazing hanging bridges we had the pleasure to walk on
White water rafting is not for the faint of heart!
A sloth & a toucan in the wild!
The thermal river & waterfalls in La Fortuna
playing rock, paper, scissors in the thermal waterfall
Pressing sugar cane during a coffee & chocolate plantation tour
After La Fortuna, we spent the last half of our trip at the beach in Flamingo - an up & coming surfing town. Our hotel was right on the beach, and we spent half of our time body surfing, splashing in the waves, and making sand animals. We also spent a morning on ATVs, up to a point where we felt like we were on top of the world. I even got to drive more than half of the time, including on real roads! Watch out - I'm only a few years from really driving cars! We visited an animal rehab facility where we got to see some big cats, more reptiles & amphibians. We also spent a morning jet skiing, a first for all of us! I got to drive my own jet ski, so I'm even more stoked to get my real license soon! We spent a day SCUBA diving (Keevah snorkeled) - and saw endless huge schools of fish, including many puffer fish, huge crabs & lobsters, starfish & endless life on the coral reefs. Our final day was spent boogie boarding & surfing. I managed to stand up on the board a few times, but Keevah absolutely rocked this sport - I was so excited to cheer her on as she shredded the waves surfing!
Beach time in Flamingo
Keevah rocked surfing!
I had more fun boogie boarding!
Jet skiing is amazing!
Running on the beach with Dada
A variety of sand creatures - a squid, turtle & some dolphins!
A leopard & toucan in a sanctuary
ATVing to the top of the world!
One of a few boat trips!
A bit of under water sightseeing
Dolphins everywhere!
A bit of a karate chop to the waves
Beautiful sunsets every night
We just got home yesterday, and now it's finally time to reenter school after an entire month off! Though we LOVED our travels, it's good to be home in my own bed, with my own pillow, weighted blanket and dogs! I even went to my first dance tonight at school - it was a bit "silly" but I really enjoyed re-connecting with my friends that I haven't seen since before Christmas.
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