Zip Zip Zipping Away

The drive to Arenal is a little longer but very pretty until we turn off the main road and onto a bumpy dirt track that is rutted and pot holed.  We spend the next 15 kilometers trying to avoid craters or the steep drops and tackling steep climbs and hairpin bends.  As we drive along we are counting the number of times we will need to travel this road during our stay!

The Arenal Observatory Lodge is amazing.  Our room has a massive picture window, which it is claimed overlooks the volcano although due to the rain and mist we can see nothing and will have to take their word for it.

The grounds are lovely and there are some gentle walks in the surrounding countryside.  Despite the rain, we but on our boots and head off to trek to  a waterfall.

more stairs

We are up bright and early for a trip to the hanging bridges,  on our way we stop to take some shots of the passing wild life

Grey Hawk enjoys terrapin for lunch

Coati - Cute but not traffic aware

Small but far away - far away

Hanging Bridge

We arrive early and before our trek we grab some breakfast before heading off into the rainforest.  The trek is a short loop on a well-maintained forest path.  On the way we have to negotiate 16 hanging bridges, the longest of which is 300 foot long and 150 feet high.  The amount of rocking and swaying is alarming to say the least.  We walk across like drunken sailors.

It’s drizzly but not too wet and one of the first things we spot is another viper

The walking palms are abundant and sit astride a ‘teepee’ of thick roots and yes, the palms do move slowly in search of nutrients.  Our guide tells us this is also known as the ‘sexy’ plant – the reason becomes apparent when we observe the formation of new roots!

Steady on - This is a family blog

That evening we head for the spa pools which are a series of natural hot springs.  The hottest pool is 104F and John enjoys going onto the ice-cold waterfall before entering the hot springs for maximum effect.   Small waterfalls link the pools and clouds of steam bellow up in the night air. We enjoy a meal after this indulgence and then have our first experience of driving back in the dark.  John is driving and we are pleasantly surprised with the well lit roads.

The following day comes our intense trek followed by a lot of zip lining.  This is our first dry trek and we pass waterfalls, walk over hanging bridges and almost pass out on the upward lung busting marches.  We stop and John disappears into a tree

We also spot a very rare example of a body snatching fungus.  A moth infected by the spores has been used as host to grow the fungus that then erupts from the moth.  The dead moth is clearly discernible amongst the growing fungus and the cycle of infection begins again.

At the very end of the walk we get to capture a shot of a Bronzy Hermit hummingbird.

After the walk we make it to the zip wires.  We’re kitted out in safety harness and helmet, given a quick safety briefing then its into a cable car which takes us up through the forest to about 2,500 feet.  The views on the way are  amazing but we are very high and there is only one way down.

The first zip is a quick test of our ability to follow our briefing.  I’m first up!  I’m clipped on via my harness and an additional safety line.  I hold onto the brake gear that sits on the cable, sit back, draw my knees up to my chest and cross my legs – on the way down the wire its is important to remember to open your legs as you approach the landing – it’s a bit off putting having a chap other you’re your husband yelling at you to ‘Open your legs’!

Me Tarzan

OMG what I hadn’t realized is that there are 7 separate lines linked by high steel platforms.  The longest run is about 2,500 feet long and is 650 feet above the ground – still at 60 mph you don’t have too much time to worry. The scariest line takes you low above the ground and amongst the trees that gives a real feeling of speed.  We are not allowed cameras or bags for obvious reasons so we don’t have many pictures although John wore a GOPRO that has some amazing footage.

It’s an amazing experience and at the end we’re alive to tell the tale and grinning from ear to ear.

And we finally got to see the volcano in most of its glory to round off our trip to Arenal

In the Big Sarapiqui Teepee

On the way back to the main land we are lucky enough to spot a pair of Southern Lapwings, a rare bird in these parts.

Southern Lapwing 

After getting back on dry land we collected our hire car and have our first experience of the Costa Rican roads. Our biggest problem is driving on the right although we soon master the controls that are on the wrong side!

A short drive of about an hour to Sarapiqui in the lowland rain forest is achieved with no scares.  We’re staying in a rainforest lodge or teepee, a lovely quiet place that boasts its own 600 year old burial ground which is under excavations.  It's worth a wander around with some handsome bits of stone masonery and piles of rocks. The gardens are pretty and encourage the parrots and humming birds sadly it is still raining……

burial ground

Hidden pool in the grounds

 Teepee style accommodation

Ancient stone carving - probably called dangle!

Carved Rock

After a good night’s kip we head for La Selva -a biological research center carrying out research into the rain forest and its inhabitants.  We have arranged for a guide to take us on a guided trek and are joined by a Spanish couple.  As usual, it is raining and I am surprised to see the footwear of choice in this area is wellington boots although given the humidity, I am glad I am not too close when they take off their boots!

We see all sorts of interesting flora and fauna including a very rare White Honduran Bat that makes its home under a large palm leaf.  It uses its teeth to cut the stem so that the sides of the palm droop down forming a shelter from the rain and predators

Just hanging around

and a yellow eyelash viper which although small is very toxic. 

Eyelash Viper 

Fascinated Antshrike

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Keel Billed Toucan

Black Mandibled Toucan

We walk over a long hanging bridge over the river with monkeys chattering away and we spot a water turtle and a river crab

Fresh water turtle

Fresh water crab

I'm watching you

you looking at me

Big hanging bridge.

Next stop - Arenal

There's a reason they are called RAIN forests!

Spoiler alert ......... I'm not David Attenborough so some of the names may be made up!

In the sunny intervals we continue to marvel at all sorts of flora and fauna.  The birds, reptiles, and flowers are in abundance.

Orchid

Furry balls plant- seeds are used for colouring

Big toucan - looking for a Guinness 

Montezuma Oripodula

A very social bird that wakes us up at 5am

Now we’ve been lucky so far with the weather but this isn’t called a rain forest for nothing.  With little or no warning the rain can arrive in a torrential downpour that soaks the unwary to the skin in seconds – and when you’re out on a boat trip there is nowhere to shelter as we can attest

Entrance to the National Park

On the water

The boat trip through the rivers of the National Park is spectacular although sadly our pictures don’t do justice to the sights and sounds.

A heron stands guard

Herons sit and stare into the dark clear water

Brown heron

Gray Heron

Little Blue Heron

Another Heron

There's hundreds of 'em

Iguanas sit high in the trees,  

Green Iguana

You're not an iguana

An orange iguana

A sloth hangs out

SSSShhhhh sloth asleep

Birds warm in the sun or bob on the river

Giant turkey - endangered - reason?  Rubbish at hiding

and the sun flashes into the interior revealing some magical views.  Everyone in the boat is looking out for wildlife when I spot what I think is a snake.  We turn the boat around and cautiously approach ……. a seed pod.

Arty shot

Almond tree - they don't float

Root cause

Bathed in glorious sunshine a female yellow throated Heron booms out alerting us to the onrushing rain.   

Within seconds we’re scrambling to get on waterproofs on before the mother of all storms hits out of nowhere.  No photos of this as cameras were hastily confined to plastic bags as we raced to beat the worst of the storm.  Within 15 minutes of getting back the rain has stopped and the sun is shining - this is a crazy place – and at least the rain is warm.

Meanwhile, back at the pool the local iguanas sun bathe

Pottering about

You can see me now....

but where's Iggy?

and the frogs do their own thing..

Strawberry Poison Arrow frog has enough toxin to kill 5 people

Top trump - the Turquoise Poison Arrow frog has enough toxin to kill 12!

Sleepy tree frog hides its colours from view

Colourful character 

We're moving on tomorrow so the next blog might not be available for a few days - Cheers