Beasties and Birdies of Costa Rica Costa Rica is a wonderful country, mainly for its variety and volume of wildlife.
Of course Costa Rica is well know for its bird life. While many will have seen humming birds, (as I have) it was a superb sight to be close to these magnificent birds as they weaved their way around us lumbering giants. I never grow weary of watching these creatures.
Howler, Spider and Capuchin monkeys using their prehensile tail moving from branch to branch provided an often amusing spectacle. Other animals featured were the Tent Maker Bats and White Lined Bats, Agouti, Coati, Caiman and Green Iguana.
Although not an ornithologist, brightly coloured birds such as Toucans, Curassaw, Acorn Woodpecker, Scarlet Macaw, Flame Coloured Tanagen and Emerald Toucanet, I find a delight to watch, particularly watching them feeding. It seemed as though even when driving along the roads animals almost posed for us to record them.
One would expect to be roughing it, but it was the last thing I would use describe our accommodation, while the food was always good and often outstanding.
The places visited represent the full variety of environments, from high altitude cloud forest (at Savegre) , to transitional forest (Manuel Antonio Reserve), to tropical wet forest (Tortuguero) to rainforest (Esquinas).
I cannot leave my summary without mentioning the inspirational Michael Schnitzler who as a conservationist has obtained over $4 Million from his Austrian sources to purchase land and develop Esquinas Lodge. Amazingly he has done this in between travelling to between Costa Rica and Austria, where he is an internationally admired violinist and concertmaster the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra. A truly remarkable person developing a remarkable environmental project.
Friends who have seen the videos from the trip have been enthralled. Others to whom I have described it have suggested that it be added to their "bucket list".
Our 2nd visit to Costa Rica, and it surpassed our expectations in all areas. The itinerary is very well planned to give an experience of the great biodiversity of Costa Rica from both coastal areas, Caribbean and Pacific, up to the high regions of the beautiful Savegre. The lodges were excellent, Drakes Bay Wilderness Resort is particularly amazing - including the 'interesting' boat ride out to it. If you enjoy wildlife.....it's definitely the place to go.
Loved this tour, great tour leader, everything was great! Love Costa Rica and want to come back sometime! Thank you, it was great experience in great country! I celebrated my birthday there and Alonso made that day unforgettable! Thank you again! Olga