Tag: Sarapiqui River

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First Night and Forgot Something!

Somewhere beyond La Paz was this
 roadside waterfall that had tourists stopping
 and trucks slowing down. Cell phone shot
in a misty rain.
The first adventure was driving to Selva Verde. To avoid the horrible traffic in San Jose I chose the mountain route north of Alajuela which did involve driving through downtown Alajuela, but before businesses opened, so not as bad as San Jose at all hours! Then it was mountain curves (hairpin curves) and farmers almost all the way from Alajuela to Puerto Viejo Sarapiqui. The total drive from Atenas to the lodge was just 99 km or about 53 miles and took me 2 hours and 45 minutes, which is approximately averaging around 33 km an hour or 17 miles an hour. No muy rapido! For the visitors whom I’ve taken to Poas Volcano and/or La Paz Waterfall Gardens, I drove right by both and you know what those roads are like!  J

Soon after arriving I started photographing birds on my SLR camera but I screwed up on this trip and forgot to bring the USB cable to connect my camera to the computer. So no bird photos until I return home. Sorry, but maybe meant to be. I have to go to hotel lobby or dining room for Wifi service, and that is a long walk since my room is down by the river, the furthermost away. Lesson learned: Use check-lists when packing!

SO ALL I CAN SHOW FROM HERE IS WHAT I DO ON THE CELLPHONE WHICH IS SELDOM A BIRD! My favorite today is of a Golden-fronted Woodpecker. You will see bird photos after the trip.

The front porch of my room overlooking the Sarapiqui River.
You can see the swinging bridge in the distant that I already walked over.

The Sarapiqui River by my room with good sleeping noise.
Its a mountain stream that here is down to the flat lands near banana farms.

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Where I’m Going for 4 Nights

Yellow-throated Toucan
I photographed at Manzanillo

Somehow I have missed going to one of the most popular birding areas in Costa Rica during my first two years here, so that is my Christmas present to myself, leaving tomorrow (23rd). The Sarapiqui River runs along the base of the mountain chain down the center spine of the country that separates the Pacific and Atlantic (or Caribbean) slopes. It is on the Caribbean slope just northeast of San Jose, about 3.5 hours drive from Atenas unless I’m told a mountain shortcut is in good condition, then maybe 2.5 hours drive through the countryside north of San Jose (otherwise it takes an extra hour to drive through San Jose and over mountains of Braulio Carillo National Park). An adventure either way!  🙂  When I feel more confident with my Spanish, I will make these trips more adventurous by riding the bus to the closest town to a park or lodge, in this case Puerto Viejo Sarapiqui.

The Google Map is the most accurate presentation except that the time does not allow for the hour lost driving through San Jose and the park, bumper to bumper.

I am staying at Selva Verde Lodge which I would not have to leave to see and photograph hundreds of birds! But what made the place famous is the research and educational center La Selva Biological Research Station which I will get to visit my last day there. And then there is one commercial place I may visit that friends have bragged about called Dave & Dave’s Nature Park. I will be busy with morning and afternoon birding hikes plus one boat trip on the Sarapiqui River. A great Christmas plan for me!  🙂

Selva Verde Lodge, Puerto Viejo Sarapiqui, Costa Rica