Week 1 in the Costa Rican Rainforest

(Map found at: http://www.arenalcostaricacr.com/)

Report from Costa Rica by Kathryn Babin and Scott Johnson:

We've just arrived in La Fotuna, the town at the base of the Aernal Volcano in central Costa Rica. The trip has been fantastic so far and a great deal has to do with the people involved. First of all, all of the students have been getting along quite well and dealing with wet socks and long bus rides with a great sense of humor. Our Tico guide, Walter or 'Guapo' is truly fantastic. He has been with us from our arrival in San Jose and will be with us until our departure. His knowledge of everything about Costa Rica is vast: biodiversity, plants that can kill you and plants that can save your life, the people of the area, the history of the country, not to mention an uncanny ability to grab poisonous tree frogs from the jungle floor.

We began the trip in bustling San Jose in a hostel overlooking the city. A blanket of lights spread out before us as we settled into our new country. The next day we drove through winding mountain passes bordered by small cattle farms and tiny villages. We passed by a university dedicated to creating 'greenways' connection the national parks of the country. As we dropped out of the mountain mist and entered into the coastal plain, banana plantations run by names like Dole, Del Monte and Chiquita dominated the landscape, complete with “Warning: take no photos of the workers” signs.

Our faithful bus and driver, Juan Carlos, dropped us at the put in for the first leg of our water adventures. We kayaked for 5 hours through rich tropical rainforests on canals that serve as the only roads of the Tortuguero National Park. For locals, owning a boat is more important than owning a car. Our campsite and home base for the next 3 nights was a well-manicured lawn nestled in the rainforest. From here we adventured to the nearby town for a walk along the Atlantic shore to look at empty turtle nests and for an ice-cream treat. We also went 'gunkholing' through narrow waterways leading into the interior of the park. Howler monkeys warned us to stay away from the tree tops as we passed by sun-bathing turtles and caimen.

(Photos found at CBBC.)

On the fourth morning, we left the park via motorboat and cruised to our bus, which drove us to our next destination: a put-in on the Pacuare River. Walter was joined by two more guides who led us in paddling through the Class III rapids. Our lodge for the next three nights was carved into the hillside above a wide turn in the river between two tall canyon walls. From the hammocks and rocking chairs we observed the daily life of the jungle. Some highlights included a hike to the top of the ridge, a river crossing via small basket pulled hand-over-hand on a cable, scrambling up a small stream to a natural water slide and of course, zip-lining through the jungle canopy.

Pura Vida!


(Photo found at: http://www.costaricatours.com/pacuare/pacu01.html)