We travelled to San José via a transfer in Miami (as horrible as ever). We stayed overnight in Xandari Hotel near to the airport. We then visited the following five places:
1. Two hour transfer by road (c. 90 kms along route 2) to the Savegre Valley at San Gerado de Dota, which is about 7000 feet above sea-level. Here, we were hoping to see the Resplendent Quetzal - we were successful! Whilst there, we met a couple from Colombia who kept in touch for years, and constantly urged us to visit them at home. Sadly, this was at a time when the country was not safe.
2. Four hour, 200 km, road transfer to Las Cruces Biological Station, near the Panama border. Here we stayed in the Wilson Botanical Gardens, very much part of the tropical rain forest. We experienced torrential rain and most of the sightings were plants.
3. Two hour road trip to Sierpe where we transferred to a boat en route to Corcovado National Park (where the only access was by sea), for four nights.
4. There was a heavy swell off Corcovado and the boat had to negotiate a narrow gap between fearsome rocks. We visited the rain forest and also a boat trip to Caño island, ten miles offshore, for snorkelling.
5. Back to Sierpe for an internal flight to Tamarindo and four nights at the Capitan Suizo Resort. We had a hire car awaiting us and did a litle exploring, most roads were unmetalled. We flew back to San José from Tamarindo.
Savegre Valley
Resplendent Quetzal
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
White-throated Magpie-Jay
Boat leaving Beach at Corcovado
Big Waves at Beach
Howler Monkey
Weasel-like Tayra in a tree
Spiny-tailed Iguana
Waterfall