Steve- The last night in Tamerindo was quite eventful. We went out for a few drinks when halfway through the night a Boa Constrictor was founf in one of the toilets! There was a bit of commotion from the staff before one of the chefs went in and got him. He was about 5 feet long and the chef posed for photos with him before letting other people in the bar pose for photos with him. They then rang the local rspca to take him away. What a night to forget the camera!
We left Tamerindo the next afternoon and thankfully there was a bit of surf which was great, especially with the water being as warm as bath water. Sure beats England. The trip to Monteverde took about 5 hours with the last hour and half being along very bumpy, untarmaced, loose gravel roads. Kate was not happy! Speaking later to one of the local guides, he told us it is a ploy to stop tourists visiting the area for day trips as it is such a pain to get to. He was not convinced by this and says it is not much good for residents as their cars
are ruined pretty quickly. The tourism is really well run up here with all the buisnesses lcally run and jobs given to locals over outsiders. For example to work for the National Parks you have to have lived in the area for at least 4 years.
We stayed in the Monteverde backpackers which was cheap and really nice. Plus the owners loed football and it was always on the TV, whichj meant i was able to see the Champions League semis. Happy Days! The next day we spent settling in and having a look around before heading for a night walk in the forest (the secondary forest not the cloud forest, as there are more animals). There was a group of about 8 of us armed with torches led by a guide. It was pretty good and we managed to see Racoons, a tiny tree frog, 2 Tarantulas (which the guide coaxed out of their holes), a kinkajou (a cross between a stoat and a monkey) and best of all a bloody great Sloth who just hanging around itching himself (in fact they do little else).
The next morning we headed up to St Elena Cloud Forest for
6.30am, to go on a guided walk. Apparently this is the best time to go as the animals are most active. We saw lots of birds (inc 2 rare birds of paradise), a vine snake and a pig like thing called a peccari who was very friendly. Our guide was brilliant and seemed to knoe everything and without him we would have seen nothing. He would get the birds in his telescope and then take pictures of them through the telescope with our cameras which was great. We got talking to the guide after and he offered to take us on another walk through the secondary forest in the afternoon along with a couple from NZ (who are cycling around Central America, crazy). He showed us loads more birds, inc toucans and the odd animal that afternoon. Dad - You would have loved it.
The next day we did the Skywalk above the Cloud Forest but without a guide, we didnīt see much. Still it was amazing to be up in the clouds above the forest.
Me and the pig againThis in the Cloud Forest. Its called a Peccari and I have since found out they are prone to charge peope!
One of the rare birds we sawThe guide took the picture for me through his telescope. Apparently its called a 3 wattled bellbird and it uses those things hanging of its beak to attract women. They canīt get enough of it!
This is called a Resplendent QuetzelI think. Apparently its really rare and the most inportant bird in Costa Rica because in ancient times the people though it was God or something!
This is a parasitic treeIt attaches itself to a living tree from the top - vines grow down and suffocate the orginal tree leaving this, which is completely hollow!
Costa Rica's Flag
Map of Costa Rica