We've finally found the formula for getting the most out of Costa Rica. It's the 3 day, 2 night plan. With school out, and our flight to Seattle only a week away, we wanted to get out and see some Costa Rica without exhausting ourselves too much. Monteverde with a beach kicker was the solution.
It took only 2.5 hours from Escazu to Santa Elena, the cozy town couched amid the cloudy green peaks of Monteverde. But, the rains started that afternoon at about 2 and didn't stop until the following morning. Our only activity that afternoon was a hike into a nearby forest to find a giant and well-known ficas tree that wrapped itself around another tree from base to crown. When the strangled tree died, it left only the shell of the ficas, which now allows teva wearing tourists with dreadlocks to climb up higher and higher inside the ficas to dizzying heights above the forest floor. This is, perhaps, the only free activity available in the ultra-touristy Monteverde. Benji and Marina found a second ficas that was too tight for most tourists and made their own ascents.
The next morning we spent 3 hours doing extensive loops through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It's a beautiful park with trails that meander through the cloud forest jungle. Our goal, as we climbed up and down, through hill and dale, was to view the elusive and resplendent Quetzal. Finally, after 2 hours, we came across a large group of tourists excitedly pointing their 8000 dollar cameras in one direction. Yes, it was a Quetzal. Long blue tail, bright red chest, green head. If I were a Mayan king, this would be my signature bird, too.
We have favorite birds here. I never thought I'd even have a list, but here it is. We like the Scarlet Macaws, though they are quite ubiquitous around the south end of Jaco beach. They are beautiful and majestic. Then, you have to go with the Quetzal, as there's nothing like them and they are dang hard to find. Next, when just thought a Toucan was some kind of advertisement ploy, then you see one in the wild it blows your socks off. Who invented that bird? So bizarre! Next, the Mot Mot, with the split fancy tail. We've seen them in the wild, at Tres Cruces, and right at CDS. They only appear when you say words twice, like Boutros Boutros Ghali. To round out my list, I do like the flocks of Parakeets that are squawking away in large groups near Avenida Escazu and near the Intercontintal, across from Multiplaza. Apparently, they like shopping malls.
If you go to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Refuge, don't forget to stop at the free hummingbird "exhibition" across the street. Hummingbirds of all shapes and sizes are buzzing around a series of feeders. Fast, sleek, and with dazzling coloration --now I'm sorry I left them off my bird list above.
After a fiercely fast sandwich, we then raced off to Selvatura Adventures to do their highly rated zipline tour. We were trying to beat the weather. But, Daniel and Steven, our devoted guides, told us that we weren't going to be rained on today. Apparently they both have PhDs in meteorology. But, we were trusting them with our lives, so we left our raincoats behind and began our 16 line tour. Ilana was a bit wary of the whole, "you must do the brake with your back hand" situation. She didn't want that kind of responsibility. But, in truth, we didn't need to do any braking. She was also a little distrught about the 5th cable being assembled before our eyes by an 18 year old with a wrench, a crowbar and the word Daisy tatooed on his arm. He was attaching the cable to a tree. Not a concrete foot reinforced by titanium spikes. Just a tree in the jungle that hasn't fallen down yet. I have to be honest that I gave the root structure of that tree a thorough assessment before I allowed myself to be clipped on as the guinea pig that would sail across the canyon on the cable attached to a tree by Al Bundy's Costa Rican cousin.
The highlight of the zipline for me was the tarzan swing that came before the 16th zip. Benji bravely went first and survived unscathed. Then, I stepped off the platform into the abyss and felt my heart in my mouth as my velocity increased faster and faster. Scary, exciting, exhilarating. For someone who used to hate heights, I'm still amazed that I did it. And enjoyed it.
On our way home, we met up with the Anne, Noah and Arielle at Playa Blanca. There we had some remarkably good boogie boarding before the waves got too big. The beach was gorgeous, the water cool and clear, and the lunch was yummy.
Written by Benji Blatt
The hike wasn't that hard, but it took a long time because we loved to constantly stop, sit down and pet the dogs that would swarm us. Some of the dogs had marks of abuse like brain damage, no teeth, or a cut tail, leg, or ears. However, you could tell that they were all really happy to be with a lot of other dogs and still were very cute despite the injuries and sicknesses.
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