April 2019 Costa Rica what a colourful and beautiful country

I have just returned from Costa Rica and discovered what a truly beautiful country it is.  The people are really welcoming and friendly and are very proud of their country and the natural places within it.  Twenty five percent of the country is protected national parks.  They also produce over 95% of their energy needs from renewable resources.  There are rainforests and cloud forests with amazing wildlife to see.

Primary Rain Forest

It is really uplifting to experience a primary rainforest and know that is one of the most bio diverse eco systems on earth and has survived intact for millions of years.

Chestnut Billed Toucan

Collared Aracari

The birds are amazingly colourful and noisy.  There are three types of monkeys that can be seen in the forests.

White Faced Capuchin

The most familiar and confiding are the White faced Capuchins.  The Howler Monkeys are very noisy and dominate, and their calls can be heard across the canopy especially in the mornings.  What a great natural and thrilling sound.

Howler Monkey feeding

We also saw Spider monkeys on our trip.
There are many reptiles to be seen, Lizards, Iguana's snakes and crocodiles.

An Iguana

American Crocodile

Wherever you go people always point out if there is a Sloth in the trees.  Everyone seems to love them.  They are very slow moving animals.  We had ongoing laughter when a guide told us that they only come down from the trees once a week to go to the loo.  (Apparently they have a week to think about it!)

Three Toed Sloth

 We ended the trip on the pacific coast and the trip ended in glory when Scarlet Macaws landed in the nearby trees.  I have enjoyed birding for most of my life but I think these are the most beautiful birds that I have ever seen.

Scarlet Macaw

What an amazing trip with so many memorable sights and sounds.  I will never forget it.