From Bottom to Top:
Poison Dart Frog.
Leaves that had been cut by leaf cutter ants.
Spider Monkey.
Wild Hog.
Bullet Ant (about and inch long) and whose bite hurts more than 50 bee stings and causes lots of swelling.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Monday, June 9, 2008
LaSelva Research Station
Thursday we departed San Jose to spend a night at La Selva Biological Research Station. La Selva is part of the Organization for Tropical Studies, which is a group of organizations devoted to the study of tropical rain forests. La Selva is the primary location for this organization and accomadates those wanting to study or observe and is located in the Atlantic lowlands of CR.
During our stay we were scheduled for two different walks. One for late afternoon/early evening and one for early morning. On the first walk we were lucky enough to see many poisonous Dart Frogs, wild pigs, birds, and many different insects. On the morning walk, we attempted to find one of the many poisonous snakes that call La Selva home. We were unsuccessful but the walk again, opened my eyes to the beauty and diversity located in Costa Rica. Pictures of some of our findings are to come!!
During our stay we were scheduled for two different walks. One for late afternoon/early evening and one for early morning. On the first walk we were lucky enough to see many poisonous Dart Frogs, wild pigs, birds, and many different insects. On the morning walk, we attempted to find one of the many poisonous snakes that call La Selva home. We were unsuccessful but the walk again, opened my eyes to the beauty and diversity located in Costa Rica. Pictures of some of our findings are to come!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
White Water Rafting (Pacuare River)
Early Saturday morning, we departed San Jose for a white water rafting trip down the Picuare river. The company picked us up in buses for a short drive out of San Jose. We could not have asked for a nicer day to raft. Breakfast was provided when we arrived at the base camp for the rafting. After another 45 minute drive and lots of sunscreen, we were in the water and ready to hit our first rapids.
Our raft lost our first person on the very first class 1 rapid. It was very funny and was a good start to our trip. Though I had been white water rafting before, I had never done class 4 rapids and it was quite the adventure. I fell out of the raft twice. One of the times was particularly painful because I was sucked under the boat and was being knocked back and forth between the raft and the rapids.
After about 2 1/2 hours of rafting, we settled down on the riverbank for a delicious lunch also provided by our guides. Deli wraps, fresh fruit, and dessert were all very delicious. After letting the food settle in our stomach for a while, we loaded up onto the rafts again for the second leg of our trip.
The second part of the trip was shorter and a little less rough in terms of the class of the rapids. We were able to get jump off the boat and swim in the cool water, see waterfalls that fed fresh water from the mountains into the river, and even flip the raft upside down. All these things helped make this rafting trip really incredible. Some of the views while going down the river were truly something I don't think I would be able to see anywhere else!
After the long day of rafting we were transported back to San Jose. After the long day, it was nice to go to bed early and get some sleep. We had a departure time of 6:30 the next day for the Osa Penninsula.
Our raft lost our first person on the very first class 1 rapid. It was very funny and was a good start to our trip. Though I had been white water rafting before, I had never done class 4 rapids and it was quite the adventure. I fell out of the raft twice. One of the times was particularly painful because I was sucked under the boat and was being knocked back and forth between the raft and the rapids.
After about 2 1/2 hours of rafting, we settled down on the riverbank for a delicious lunch also provided by our guides. Deli wraps, fresh fruit, and dessert were all very delicious. After letting the food settle in our stomach for a while, we loaded up onto the rafts again for the second leg of our trip.
The second part of the trip was shorter and a little less rough in terms of the class of the rapids. We were able to get jump off the boat and swim in the cool water, see waterfalls that fed fresh water from the mountains into the river, and even flip the raft upside down. All these things helped make this rafting trip really incredible. Some of the views while going down the river were truly something I don't think I would be able to see anywhere else!
After the long day of rafting we were transported back to San Jose. After the long day, it was nice to go to bed early and get some sleep. We had a departure time of 6:30 the next day for the Osa Penninsula.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pics From Manuel Antonio
From Bottom to Top:
Crocodiles on the trip to Manuel Antonio.
View from our hotel.
Bob, Jon, Morell, Myself, and Evan at Dinner.
Chase and I at dinner.
Stream running through Manuel Antonio National Park.
Pic of me while on our hike through Manuel Antonio National Park.
Off day visit to Manuel Antonio
On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27th and 28th, all 27 of us boarded the bus for a 5 hour drive to Manuel Antonio. The whole way it rained but we remained optimistic that it was going to be sunny at the beach! Turns out, that CR is in the middle of a tropical storm and can expect more rain to come. Even with the rain, the trip was a lot of fun.
After a 5 hour bus ride that included seeing crocodiles in the river we passed over, we arrived in Manuel Antonio around noon on Tuesday, and I headed straight for the beach. It was my first Pacific Ocean experience. The water was really warm and with the rain, it was an especially amazing experience.I spent about 4 hours on the beach until it was dinner time. We headed for a local restaurant just a little in town from our hotel. It was also happy hour which ended up being a good time. After dinner, we went back to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.
Wednesday morning I awoke at 7am for breakfast and an 8am nature walk through Manuel Antonio Natural Forest. It was still raining but this walk was well worth it. We saw many good views, monkeys, a forest tree fall just in front of the trail we were walking on, and other creatures that inhabited the rain forest. After the tree fell, The wild life in the forest made many calls and it was amazing to hear all the monkeys call out into the rest of the forest.
Finally, later that afternoon, we headed back to San Jose. I arrived around 8pm exhausted and after dinner was asleep by 10. Overall, I was very pleased to have a short break from studies and San Jose and to have the chance to see another part of CR and experience the Pacific Ocean.
After a 5 hour bus ride that included seeing crocodiles in the river we passed over, we arrived in Manuel Antonio around noon on Tuesday, and I headed straight for the beach. It was my first Pacific Ocean experience. The water was really warm and with the rain, it was an especially amazing experience.I spent about 4 hours on the beach until it was dinner time. We headed for a local restaurant just a little in town from our hotel. It was also happy hour which ended up being a good time. After dinner, we went back to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.
Wednesday morning I awoke at 7am for breakfast and an 8am nature walk through Manuel Antonio Natural Forest. It was still raining but this walk was well worth it. We saw many good views, monkeys, a forest tree fall just in front of the trail we were walking on, and other creatures that inhabited the rain forest. After the tree fell, The wild life in the forest made many calls and it was amazing to hear all the monkeys call out into the rest of the forest.
Finally, later that afternoon, we headed back to San Jose. I arrived around 8pm exhausted and after dinner was asleep by 10. Overall, I was very pleased to have a short break from studies and San Jose and to have the chance to see another part of CR and experience the Pacific Ocean.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monteverde
This weekend we head to Monteverde. Bathing in natural hot springs, seeing a volcano and waterfalls, horseback riding, ziplining through the jungle, and a tour of a hydro electric plant are all activities on the schedule. I can not wait to finally see some of the beauty that CR is known for. Will have new post when I get back!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)