Exploring the lovely Cloudbridge Reserve

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Geo: 9.74892, -83.7534

Set in the cloud forest above the village of San Gerardo de Rivas is the lovely Cloudbridge Reserve

After our lunch at the Talamanca Lodge, we decided to hike on further and see how far we got. We are in better shape this year and were able to make it all the way to Cloudbridge!

We went to Cloudbridge twice while we were in San Gerardo de Rivas last time and on one of the times we went on an extensive hike with Adam around Cloudbridge and to the far waterfalls and areas they are working on recovering.

Part of the Cloudbridge philosophy is to protect the area from poachers and to stop farming and allow for the regrowth of the plants and trees that once grew there. They are also planting trees and vegetation so they are recovering faster than the neighboring Talamanca Preserve. The Smithsonian has a hectare at the top of Cloudbridge and they are trying to identify all the flora and fauna in it. So far they have not completed this work.

When we got to Cloudbridge we met Zander who told us that Adam was there as well but was off on his bicycle. We talked to him some about their adventures on mountain bikes in the area and then hiked on up and did the waterfall trail.

There are three main waterfalls on the trail and we stopped at one and enjoyed the tranquility of the area and watched as the clouds changed shapes and colors. Hiked to the labrinyth and on the the Peace Waterfall. It is the largest and the three and is another place to sit and contemplate the world.

Hiked back down and ran into Adam as he was barreling up the hill on his mountain bike. Had a nice visit with him about what all is going on. He is getting ready to start a project growing organic coffee from beans he has collected from farmers. They are going to do a demonstration plot to see how things go and even harvest, dry and roast the coffee themselves. He is still full of ideas and enthusiasm and told of a white water rafting trip he had done that he was sure we would enjoy.

Said our goodbyes because he needed to get on up the hill to his place before dark..

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Photos

road up toward Talamanca Lodge and Cloudbridge
this is also the track the runners had to go up on the race up Chirripo

entrance to the Chirripo path
here the runners continue up that path

took a much deserved break here
this is a beautiful spot with a large rock perfect to sit and contemplate this lovely scene and listen to the water rushing over the rocks

the peace waterfall
one of many waterfalls found in Cloudbridge Reserve

down the road
coming back down from our hike to Cloudbridge