2024 Costa Rica

001 San Jose

After five flights we arrived in San Jose. Our "recoup" day was a Saturday and it was very busy in the main mall that ran passed our hotel. We enjoyed experiencing the main centre of San Jose and were ready to explore the rest of Costa Rica.

002 Doka - Poas Volcano - La Paz Waterfall

We departed early in the morning for Doka Estate, a local coffee plantation, where we enjoyed a typical Costa Rican breakfast before visiting the plantation and roast room. On the way to Poás Volcano, we passed more coffee plantations, flower nurseries, and strawberry fields. As we got closer, we noticed a change in temperature and vegetation. Located within Poás Volcano National Park at an elevation of 8,000 feet, the active volcano offers the chance to view its crater from the edge. Unfo

003 Mistico Arenal hanging bridges walk

There were sixteen fixed and hanging bridges—up to 97m long and 25m high—which looped through this private reserve, along with a series of trails, allowing us to experience the rainforest at different levels.

004 Proyecto Asis Volunteer Wildlife Centre

Proyecto Asis is a Wildlife Sanctuary dedicated to supporting environmental, social, and conservation initiatives in the Arenal Volcano region. The sanctuary provides care for wild animals that have been injured, abandoned, or rescued from the black market by local forest rangers. Animals that cannot be reintroduced into the wild become part of their educational programs, helping raise awareness about conservation. To sustain their work, Proyecto Asis offers guided tours and volunteer opportu

005 Arenal to Monteverde

Our transfer from Arenal to Monteverde was by car, boat and car.

006 Monteverde Sky Walk and Tram

Sky Walk is a 2km guided walk along forest trails and hanging bridges, over the cloud forest canopy. There was lots of birds including humming birds. Sky Tram is a gondola that floats gently over the cloud forest, up the mountains, to a wide observation platform at 1600 meters above sea level.

007 Monteverde Night Walk

It was very wet during our walk in the cloud forest.

008 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

It was another wet day when we visited the cloud forest reserve. Cloud forests are a rare mountaintop phenomenon, where warm air from the ocean meets the cool mountain slopes, forming clouds and a constant mist. This mist nourishes towering trees draped in cascades of orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and ferns. Monteverde alone is home to an astonishing diversity of life, with approximately 2,500 plant species, 490 butterfly species, 400 bird species, and 100 mammal species catalogued to date.

009 Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

We travelled by car from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. Our accommodation at San Bada Hotel was just outside the national park.

010 Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most famous in Costa Rica for its wide variety of flora and fauna. It is also home to 3 of the 4 existing tropical primates (monkeys) living in Costa Rica. We began our visit with a guided three hour walk, before spending another two hours exploring on our own.

011 Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge

We were picked up at 5 a.m. and made our way to Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge, a biodiversity sanctuary tucked in the highlands of Esquipulas, just outside Quepos. Despite the rain, we had a fantastic morning spotting a variety of birds.

012 Manuel Antonio

On our way back from Esquipulas Rainforest Lodge, we had the chance to capture additional bird photos. Murray then did a night walk.

013 Manuel Antonio to Drake Bay

We were picked up early in the morning and travelled by car to Sierpe. We then travelled by boat to Drake Bay Wilderness Resort.

014 Drake Bay Wilderness Resort

We had a great day enjoying the resort's mangrove and bird island tour on the Sierpe River.

015 Corcovado National Park

On our last day, we embarked on the Corcovado National Park tour. Although the weather was challenging, it only added to the authenticity of the experience, making it a memorable way to wrap up our adventure in Costa Rica’s wild, untamed beauty.