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Part 2: Costa Rica—Anteaters, Poison Dart Frogs, & a Rain Fo
(by Patti Day-Miller - February 26, 2008)
The next morning the five of us had breakfast, and Doug spotted a flock of wild parrots in the park across from our hotel, before we made our early departure, which first took us through Braulio Carrillo National Park, with its beautiful scenery and cascading waterfalls. Next stop was an aerial tram ride in a rain forest, which is rated as one of Costa Rica’s top attractions. But before boarding our tram, we were entertained by an anteater, high in a tree, which many photographed.
The aerial tram system was conceived by Dr. Donald Perry while he was involved in scientific investigation in Costa Rica. It opened in 1994. First the tram skims the floor of the rain forest and then soars above the trees on a two-mile circuit, taking 90 minutes to complete. A naturalist accompanies each tram to point out different flora and fauna and to answer questions. After our ride, we had a short nature hike with a naturalist. We saw many of Costa Rica’s well known, beautiful Morpho butterflies, whose wings appear a brilliant blue due to the tiny, layered, glass-like scales on the upper wing.
Then it was another delicious lunch (after which my son Doug found, and his son photographed, a poison dart frog). At one point on that lunch stop, I was amazed to see Doug leading a small parade of our tourmates through a wooded section so that they too, could photograph a poison dart frog. Reminded me of the Pied Piper.
Later on, we stopped at a butterfly garden, as we drove east heading toward the Caribbean. At Parismina on the coast, we boarded our covered boat for our 80-minute canal cruise to our lodging in Tortuguero. Along the way we saw caiman and many water birds. (Tortuguero National Park is home to more than 300 species of birds.) While waiting for our cabin keys at Pachira Lodge, we saw toucans and the first of the howler monkeys, just hanging around their home. ‘Twas very exciting to witness, and we’d only landed five minutes earlier!
Our lodging was just as exciting. Once you leave the lovely pool/bar area, you walk on an elevated wooden walkway a few feet above the rain forest jungle floor. (The walkway is covered with a wiring to help with footing when the walkway is wet and has railings on each side.) Each little cabin is also elevated, and when looking out the windows, one is very aware of being in a jungle. And never more than once or twice, while walking on the walkway to/from meals or events, did I ever fail to see monkeys (twice a mother with a baby).
After we settled into our lodging, there was ample time for a swim and exploring before dinner. Doug found a rhinoceros beetle, a basillisk lizard, and land crabs, among other creatures, much to the delight of those around. Dinner that night was very good, and sleeping that night was special because of the sound of rain on the metal corrugated roof. We now knew was it was like sleeping in a rain forest.
Waking up was just as special because our alarm clocks were the howler monkeys calling to each other with a huge, booming roar, which sounded more befitting a gorilla than the much smaller howlers. Quite an experience, sleeping and waking up in a jungle rain forest. I loved it!
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