monkey Archives - Retired in Costa Rica

November 9, 2019November 7, 2019

Oh, the Places I’ll Go!

Monday I’m off to Arenal Observatory Lodge in Arenal Volcano National Park with my choice room reserved again – #27 – where my deck looks up at the volcano and out past the bird feeders to Lake Arenal over which the suns sets each evening in brilliant colors!

I was there a year and a half ago and you can see why I like it in my trip photo gallery: 2018-May 4-9 – Arenal Observatory Lodge. It is truly one of my favorite places and I’m beginning to return to such more often now, where there are more birds than I will every photograph! (An “official” birding hot spot.) Plus waterfalls, trails, horses, a farm, beautiful scenery, good food, and a comfortable room with more places nearby to visit. And I will probably relax more this time without the rush of trying to see and do everything the first time! ¡Tranquilo!

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

¡Pura Vida!

May 9, 2018

Eye Level with Monkeys!

Mantled Howler Monkey
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Central American Spider Monkey
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Central American Spider Monkey
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Ri

“The Nest” Observation Tower
From which all these monkey shots were made.
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Ri

To learn more about Mantled Howler Monkeys with videos at Arkive.org

To learn more about Spider Monkeys at Wikipedia
To learn more about Arenal Observatory Lodge Costa Rica at their website
I highly recommend this lodge for whatever your experience with nature will be!
Great location! Great facilities! Great services! Great experiences & vistas!

I am posting this Friday morning before I leave Arenal for my wonderful home in Atenas. It is always good to get back home after a trip, but it seems like every trip is getting better and I continue my “yearn to travel Costa Rica!” And this place is a new favorite to which I plan to return. This year’s trip-a-month includes about 4 repeats and the rest new places. See the map of this year’s trips or another map of places visited before this year.

¡Pura Vida!

And My Photo Gallery for this Trip is being added to daily while on the trip!

There you can see all the birds together, etc. plus photos not on the blog.

And for more about Costa Rica, see this Tico Times article What to do in Costa Rica in May and June from many concerts and festivals to a chocolate tasting!

March 23, 2016

Too Much Seen to Report it All!

Today’s Volcano Mombucho has many more photos but I’m settling for the orchid growing near the top! Yesterday’s boating trip had about 20 different species of birds photographed and I’m settling on just the Limpkin, my first to see or photograph in the wild! Plus one of the monkeys we saw on an island. And at dinner tonight more Holy Week pageantry. Tomorrow after breakfast I leave on my birding tour, so in the rainforests the next 6 days. And MAY NOT HAVE INTERNET MUCH OF THE NEXT WEEK.

Orchid growing wild on Volcan Mombucho

Limpkin camouflaged in tree on Lake Nicaragua

Monkey eating apple on an island in Lake Nicaragua

Tonight’s Semana Santa pageantry in addition to a carnival at the church.
Again with the large volunteer brass band playing and parading with the above through streets.

It’s an awesome place!