Tag: Selva Verde Lodge

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TWO YEARS TODAY LIVING IN COSTA RICA

Two years ago today (on Dec.24, 2014) I boarded a plane in Nashville with 5 suitcases and a one-way ticket to Costa Rica. (I’ve since learned the airline was not supposed to sell me a one-way ticket since I wasn’t a legal resident of CR yet. But anyway, I got here late and the taxi driver drove me in the dark up the winding mountain road (Ruta 3) from airport to Atenas and the inefficient Dutch owner/manager of the apartments Hacienda La Jacaranda was not ready for me, thinking I was not coming until January. His girlfriend had to clean an empty apartment for me before I could move in and the adventure began!

Today’s Boat Captain/Guide, Luis
Two years later I’m on my umpteenth birding trip, this time to Sarapiqui and what some have told me is one of the best birding spots in Costa Rica. Well . . . I’ve only been here a day and a half, but it has not yet proven to be one of my best! Most of the birds I’ve been able to photograph have been at the feeder outside the dining room and only a fraction of what I can see in 2 hours on the Tarcoles River or a short time at San Gerado de Dota or Rancho Naturalista.

I was hopeful about the birding river boat trip this afternoon, but some new friends told me they saw only 4 birds on yesterday’s boat trip, so expecting the worse, I went. Well I saw about 12-15 bird species including a yellow-throated toucan, so very good for me and better than today’s morning walk, though not like Rio Tarcoles. But my guide here, Evon, is trying to schedule me an early morning boat trip for Monday when I’m likely to see a lot more birds. Hope it works out! 

Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I do morning and afternoon walks and maybe will see a lot more. The lodge on the river is nice and I’m enjoying my stay here; resting, birding and meeting some very interesting people, especially today a couple from Ireland who also lived in The Gambia once like me.

Didn’t use my cell phone camera much today, but above is a shot of by boat captain and guide Luis and below a couple of shots here at the lodge. 

Violet-headed Fairy Hummingbird
In the gardens of Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiqui
Maybe the only bird shot on my cell phone.
Shooting into the sun is not good on any camera!

Orchid Blooms
In the gardens of Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiqui near my room.

I heard that we will have the option of tamales for dinner tonight which is a big Christmas tradition in Costa Rica. I’ll tell you tomorrow on Christmas Day. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS or Feliz Navidad!

Charlie
Enjoying Retirement in Costa Rica
My 2014 Selfie at Trogon Lodge, San Gerado de Dota

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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