Thrills in Monteverde Cloud Forest!

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Costa Rica seems worlds apart from its neighbors to the north. It readily obvious that the standard of living is much higher as well as a lack of indigenous people influence in the culture. What it lacks in that cultural diversity, it makes up for it in that it has one of the most gorgeous landscapes in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It also has some adrenalin pumping features that would make any Kiwi proud!

It was a little tough (again) getting here from Granada. We took TICA bus to Liberia which required 4 hours to get through immigration. This was the most disorganized hot frustrating (got any other non 4 letter word adjectives?) time on the trip. People were butting in and there was a total lack of control . Maybe there is still some third world aspects in this country. We spent the night in Liberia and took a shuttle to Santa Elena. There is definite desire to keep this area remote and partially accessible since the the last hour to Santa Elena is 4 wheel country on bumpy gravel roads.

We took a guided tour of the cloud forest in which all of trees are covered with moss, bromeliads, epiphytes, orchids and ferns. It has a much different feel from lowland tropical forest in which its moisture is from rainand the cloud forest is ... surprise - clouds.

We also went to an orchid farm. There are over 400 wild growing orchids in this area of which the majority are real tiny. However, the can't miss attraction was the zip lines through the cloud forest! We still get a rush thinking about it. Over two miles of zip lines in the Monteverde cloud forest! The last zip line we did together and it was 3200 feet long and 230 feet high. Just to let you know, we were both screamers!

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Photos

Monteverde
Leona in cloud forest

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Frank in cloud forest

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Zip line through the cloud forest. What a rush!

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A co-zipper.

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cloud forest

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Lush!

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User friendly paths

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Pura vida!

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moss, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, growings on the trees!

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lush again!

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Humming bird

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Jurrasic Park

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Orchids

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Orchids

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Orchids

Comments

[Wayne L. King]

hello
Hi Leona & Frank, we just missed your telephone call this evening. We were over at Bill & Elaines for dinner/Bills 64th birthday. Leona your voice was very clear on the phone. Costa Rica looks wonderful. We are still getting lots of rain. Talk to you soon. Love, Wayne & Phyllis

[Roxane Wellman]

Great photos and story, thanks!
Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing, you guys! I would have paid good money to see/hear you on the ziplines.....

[Frank and Leona]

Ziplining
Seeing would have been ok but hearing would have been hard on your ears! Got the email from Adam, so if we get some dry weather, we may have some tennis at SAC when we get back? Haven't been there since November. Frank/Leona