Costa Rica February

Vacation 2013EF Tours

Left at 2:40 AM Flight to Charlotte, NC

at 6 AM Boarded US Airways

plane at 11:10 AM Landed in Costa Rica

and was greeted by Olman, our tour guide

Boarded our Marvi bus and headed for the Gran Hotel Costa Rica –

Checked in about 5 PM

Day 1 – Friday, February 15th

Learned all about the production of coffee from plant to bean and beyond

Tour was fun and entertaining!

Gift shop and free samples concluded the tour.

Day 2 - Brit Coffee Tour

Zipped through the rainbow!

Thrilling adventure Waterfall views 12 cables 4 extremely long

over 2ooo ft. Height 225-450 feet

Day 3 - Montverde Canopy Extremo Zip line!

Planted trees near a school

Visited Cloud Forest rich with plants, mosses, ferns & flowers

Continental divide with tower view of smoldering volcano

Day 3-Cont.Tree Planting & Santa Elena

Cloud Forest Reserve

Day 4 - Montverde Elementary School

• 308 students Pre K-Grade 6

• 5-hour days, split with lots of homework

• 25 students per class

• Students clean the classroom

• One cafeteria lady cooks meal

Day 4 - Cont.Cabinitas LaFortuna

Saw white-nosed coatis on the way.

Hotel was short walk from town . We got souvenirs and ice cream at POPS

I stayed in cabin #202

Day 5- Arenal Waterfall& Kayaking

500 steps down to the waterfall and then 500 up again!

Kayaking was fun. We saw this Great White Egret on the shore as we went by.

Baldi Hot Spring & SpaMrs. Murphy, Mrs. Cowan, Miss King & Mrs. Fisher

Baldi Hot Springs and Spa is located at the base of Arenal Volcano and has 25 natural mineral pure water pools with 12 different temperatures, waterfalls and tropical gardens which are therapeutic.

On our way to Sarapequi

Stopped at pineapple plantation and Olman explained the process of harvesting pineapples.

A quick visit to Las Iguanas

Centro-Turistico

Day 6Pineapple Plantation & Iguanas

100 students at this school

Principal must also teach and lives at school during the week

All students are taught English

Extra-curricula activities are important here

No nurse on duty Students wear

uniforms

La Trinidad Schoolin Sarapequi

Nature walk Animals in

their natural habitats

2-hour nature walk in daylight

2-hour walk at night with flashlights –Scary!

La Selva Biological Station and Research Center

Peccary

2-Toed Sloth Fer-de-lance snake

Golden Orb Spider

On the way, Olman explained how bananas grow

Took a 1.5-hour boat ride to Tortuguero Island to our next hotel

Saw crocodiles, birds and animal life along the way

Day 7On to Tortuguero

Basilisk Lizard

Heron

American Crocodile

Olman Holding banana seed

Baby bananas Boat ride to the island

Hotel located on the open ocean

Took early morning boat ride to see animals in natural surroundings

Beach sand was black from volcanoes

Saw howler, white-faced and spider monkeys and all kinds of plants and birds

Day 8Vista Al Mar &

Boat RideJacana

White-faced Monkey

Tiger Heron Howler Monkey with baby

Rehabilitates all kinds of birds and animals, including sloths, like Millie.

Leslie & Jorge are very passionate about what they do

They educate visitors about the animals

Day 9Toucan Rescue Ranch

OncillaHarpy Eagle

Leslie with porcupine

Kinkajou3-Toed Sloth Moluccan Cockatoo

Parrot

Buffet-style dinner was served

Dancers performed a native folk dance

Spectacular views of the San Jose!

Tiqueria Mirage

Mrs. ComeauMs. Paling

Mrs. Schofield