10/06/2019
Costa Rica Adventure
Wildlife of Costa Rica was always on our list to discover, but we never expected to visit this exotic country and enjoy this country's wildlife under the circumstances that we did. It was a fluke that my husband and I ended up in Costa Rica, instead of the Canary Islands, in March of last year.Making a long story short, we were supposed to fly to the Canary Islands via Dublin. When we got to the airport in Toronto, we found out that due to a major snowstorm, Dublin airport was shut down. We were advised that we would not be able to reach our destination for an unknown period of time. Under those circumstances we were forced to cancel our trip to the Canary Islands and figure out an alternative vacation destination. Since we were already at the airport, excited and ready to go, we decided to go for the last minute vacation package options....and that's how we ended up in Costa Rica! Crazy, right?Not knowing what to expect, we happily boarded the Sunwing airplane and headed to Liberia in Costa Rica. Once there, we found out that this was the best time to visit this beautiful, and for us, exotic country...no mosquitoes, beautiful weather, warm sea...what more to ask for!Since we are active travelers, even when going to "All Inclusive" resorts, we are always trying to discover the country we are visiting. Getting familiar with the history, culture, local cuisine, flora and fauna of the country was one of our goals during our Costa Rica adventure.From the variety of the day trips offered by our resort Riu Guanacaste (province Guanacaste) we chose the trips that would allow us to get closer to the country's spectacular wildlife. We definitely achieved our goal by visiting the Palo Verde National Park and the volcano Miravalles. The catamaran snorkeling trip left us with memories of a spectacular sunset.We enjoyed each of those tours to the fullest, the things we saw, the things we did and the things we learned were the highlights of our trip.Visiting the Palo Verde National Park is a must for those of you who want to discover the unique beauty of the Tempisque River and its inhabitants. The National Park spreads over a huge area, 45,492 acres in Guanacaste Province. This region of the country lies within the Tropical Dry Forest.The bus trip from our resort took approximately 90 minutes and was one of the most informative tours that we have been on during our travels. Our tour guide - Gustavo - was extremely knowledgeable and well prepared. He offered the participants interesting facts in a range of subjects, which included Costa Rica history, economy, agriculture, geography, customs, food, and of course country's spectacular wildlife.Once we got to the Park, we boarded a boat which for some reason reminded me of the boat from the "African Queen" with Katharine Hepburn. Right from the start I was amazed at the sight of the sunbathing and swimming crocodiles in a big range of sizes, from the small hatchlings to the few meter adults. Since the river is very murky and we noticed a lot of crocks activity, it was probably a good idea to keep our hands inside the boat (which we certainly did).We moved slowly along the river on the lookout for the Howler Monkeys and Capuchin Monkeys. We were lucky to spot both. Howler Monkeys making an incredibly loud noise and Capuchin Monkeys playfully jumping from tree to a tree. We also spotted numerous species of birds including colorful parrots. Another good find for us was a boa constrictor, enjoying the warmth of the sun. We spotted him wrapped around a branch, way up at the top a mature tree. The trip to the active secondary crater of the Maravalles volcano was a unique experience. Spectacular view, the smell of the volcanic gases in the air, volcanic mud bath, horseback riding, a hike through the cloud forest, beautiful waterfalls, hanging bridges, and tame peacocks walking around the tourist rest area, made this day an unforgettable one.The abundance of wildlife was easily noticeable also around our resort. Howler Monkeys howling at the top of their lungs, Capuchin Monkeys gently accepting bananas from the tourists and playing with each other, a female turtle laying eggs on the beach, an anteater showing its claws... just in case, iguanas feasting on the pieces of bananas, owls watching your every move, ....White-throated Magpie Jays waiting for you to share your food. Those are just some examples of how spectacular the wildlife is in this beautiful and exotic country.If you love nature, birds and wild animals, Costa Rica is the place to visit, and if you decide to go, I wish you an amazing experience as enjoyable as it was for us.GraceSafety
Travel Tips:Don't hang your wet clothes to dry outside. Most of the fatal deaths in Costa Rica are due to the poisonous snake bites while collecting dry laundry.
If you have a fear of heights, rainforest hanging bridges might not be for you.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Watch out for snakes. Wear appropriate footwear when hiking in a grassy area.
Don't forget to use lots of sunscreen, wear a hat, drink a lot of bottled water.
Exhibit caution when approaching wild animals.
Don't forget to use bug protection especially in the rainy season (mosquito season).
Safe and happy travels!!!
