Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many moments it is hard to pick. We saw animals from the start - a sloth in a tree when we stopped for breakfast on the first day on our way to Tortuguero NP and that set the tone for the rest of the holiday. The boat trip the lodge in Tortuguero NP was great stopping whenever there was anything interesting to see, sloths, Caymans, crocodiles, different types of birds etc The second afternoon boat trip was particularly spectacular. The morning boat trip was undertaken in torrential rain so not much was seen but in the afternoon when the rain had stopped and it became beautiful sunny day we saw lots - sloths, monkeys, iguanas, birds etc plus when we turned into tributary the water turned black so the mangroves were see in spectacular reflections. Even our boat captain was taking photos. Listening to the rain and thunder storms whist staying at Evergreen lodge in the NP became part of the experience. The humming birds and seeing the Resplendant Quetzal in Savegre as well as the humpback whales, dolphins and turtles on Drakes Bay. I am going through hundreds of photos but also took the time just to immerse myself in the whole adventure. We were so luck - we saw everything!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader Carlos was fantastic. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Costa Rica's flora and fauna as well as answering all our questions about the country and the way of life. So we got the full experience. Nothing was too much trouble, he went above and beyond to make this an unforgettable trip - even going through my bird book marking all the birds we had seen on the trip. As Carlos also runs photographic tours he helped me with my photography and also shared some on his photos which my lenses just could not capture. Our driver was Randall - who got us to where we needed to go and couldn't have been more helpful. On our trip there were only 6 of us - so it made it easier for the guide to point things out and us all have a good chance to photograph - it made it a rather personal tour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It is not called the rain forest for nothing!. Do not let the rain stop you or you will miss out - just go with it as activities will take place what ever the weather unless it is dangerous. We experienced a lot of torrential rain showers. Take a good rain poncho - it is good for covering your bags also, an umbrella, a good dry bag when travelling on water or walking in the rain forest, closed toed water shoes. We had to wade through knee deep waterways - which were footpaths. I used my canoe shoes. If you wear your trainers they will get soaked and as it is very humid things do not dry very quickly. Insect repellent is a must also as in sunscreen. If you are taking photographic equipment make sure that you have something to cover it with. I also took pouches of silica gel which I kept with my camera and lenses to absorb any moisture. We took Colons as well as US dollars since they could be used to pay in local shops or also when you stop for lunch. If you have any left they can form part of the tip. Mastercard was accepted at all the hotels we stayed in also. When in the mountains you will need a fleece or jumper since it gets a bit cold
