Corcovado

Tonight will be a quick summary.  We left Tortuguero yesterday, flying in a small five seater plane over beautiful country.  We flew around and through towering huge white clouds, skirting a volcano belching a steady stream of gray and white smoke.  We landed on a tiny airstrip, reminiscent of those we knew in Africa.  A driver was waiting for us and we soon arrived at the taxi boat that would take us to La Paloma Lodge in Corcovado.  It was as described a wet boarding but we were prepared with our water sandals, but were surprised by how warm the Pacific waters felt.

We rested by walking down to the beach and playing in the ocean, then Pam and Olivia stayed in our hacienda while Daric and I visited the pool.  This morning we were up at 4:45 and at breakfast at 5:30.  We met our hiking guide, Jose, hopped aboard our taxi boat and took off for an hour and a half ride to Corcovado National Park.  On the way we saw dolphins and frigate birds.

We hiked through the Park for about 4.5 hours before returning to the boat and returning home.  We were all bushed.  Now, we're off to dinner.  Tomorrow we are going snorkeling, and in the evening we'll take a walk with the bug lady.  Here are some pics:

Our boat, "parked" on a sand bar awaiting our return

Our first coati

Getting back in the boat

Our hacienda high on the hill

Last Adventures in Tortuguero

Here is our last full day at Tortuguero.  Yesterday, after returning from our boating tour down some beautiful canals, we ate lunch and went to the pool to practice our snorkeling skills.  We looked pretty funny in our masks. 

After dinner, we got our cameras ready and put on our mud (muck) boots, and set off for a twilight/pitch dark walk around the forest on the property with William.  We saw and heard some amazing activity as the sun went down and the night pulled a dark curtain around us.  Just at that time when the light left and the dark settled in, William told us to listen.  No sounds.  "The forest too is making a transition between who moves about in the day time and who owns the night."  Soon, the night was full of sound:  monkeys, frogs, cicadas, and things crashing about that we couldn't see...just feel.

In the morning we took an educational walk with William around the property.  It was obvious that love was in the air as two tiger herons called, preened, hopped about in a definite attraction dance.  After breakfast we kayaked for about two hours on a beautiful channel.  It was quiet, and we saw many Caymen, turtles sunning, monkeys, butterflies, birds of all sorts and as we were about to finish...a medium sized crocodile that was very put out that we disturbed his sunbath.

 We saw an educational film about the life of the greenbacked sea turtle--a beautiful and heart touching story.  After that, we strolled along the beach as the Caribbean ocean lapped near our feet.  Then we walked through the town of Tortuguero, bought a few things and returned to our lodge just in time to pick up two teachers and we were off to the neighboring school.  There we spent a delightful hour teaching one-on-one.   Students were learning to use the simple past tense of English.  There was a story (in English) which students had to transform to the past tense.  It was very fun to work with these kids.  Then dinner, and tomorrow we will leave for Drake's Bay in the Corcovado area.  After our flight it looks like we have the rest of the day to relax.  Ahhhhh...

Here are a few pics from our last adventures:

Snorkel guy

Monkey at night through Williams spotting scope

Crabby guy at lunch

Iguanas, and Turtles, and Sloths--Oh My

We went to sleep last night to the soft sounds of river taxis going home, the breeze, and chirping here and there.  We were awakened by the screeching talk from Howler Monkeys in the trees in back of our room.  By 5:15 we were on our way to the coffee station and trooping home with steaming mugs of coffee and hot milk.  On the way to and from, we saw an iguana and a beautiful bird called a Montezuma Oropendola.

Back at our room the Howlers were still calling back and forth.  By 8:00 we were on the river with our guide William and our boatman Pacho.  Olivia was the star of the morning.  She spotted everything William and Pacho pointed out way before the rest of us.  She answered almost every question such as, "What is the difference between a vine and a liana?"  "Vines," said Olivia, "grow up from the ground.  Lianas grow down."  "Excellante!" exclaimed William--and so went the morning.

We traveled slowly winding down canals and riverways.  We saw three toed sloths, birds of many kinds, and white throated capuchin monkeys doing acrobatics overhead.  We saw a small grebe (a kind of duck).  William told us that she will carry her young on her back as they grow.  When it is time to learn to fly, the mother takes short flights, babies still holding on tight.  In this way the young learn about lift, flight, and where to hunt for food.  

At lunch William introduced us to the owner of Tortuguero Lodge, Mike Kaye.  He is a famous early developer of tourism in Costa Rica.  Here they call him the god father of ecotourism. He is a most charming and gracious person.  As we talked he told us he knew Nick Molle, a videographer who lives and works in Estes Park.  After lunch we went to the pool at our lodge and tried out our snorkeling gear.  Daric was the star here, swimming and frolicking all over in his mask and snorkel.  He was really good at diving down and coming up and clearing his snorkel.  We are definitely ready for that adventure.

This evening from 5-6:30 we are going on a twilight walk with William.  Clad in big swamp boots, we'll see what we can see.  Then dinner and off to bed...I can't wait!  Here are a few pics from today's adventures...

Keel billed Toucan

3 toed sloth, slothimg around!

Iguana...yummm!  

Mr Turtel...Black River Turtle.

Ruff n Ready...Ghost eyes n all

Estaban Aqui

We are here in San Jose, safe and tired. Tomorrow we leave at 5:45 for a half day raft trip and then a 2 hour boat ride to Tortuguero Lodge and National Park. 

There was dancing on the plane!!!

More tomorrow. 

Almost Ready

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go.  A week's adventure in Costa Rica with Daric and Olivia.  We are all excited.  We are unsure of our internet connections, so we'll post when we can, and add blogs as we find connections...maybe even when we get back.  Here are a few getting ready shots:

Lucy "anxiously" awaiting her good friend, Rosalie!