Ted and Gil guided us on an amazing adventure in Costa Rica. We experienced many environments from sea level (southwest and northeast) to almost 12,000 feet. Unlike the visit Jann and I made in 1992, we did not peer into any volcanos nor walk a trail filled with White-faced Capuchin monkeys. But we did almost everything else, and boy did we experience wildlife.
This post briefly summarizes the second half of our adventure. You can see many more photos and learn about the locations we visited if you click this link: Costa Rica 2025 Main Page. From that page, which will open in a new tab, you can click other links for bite-size pieces of our trip.
Our very knowledgeable and enthusiastic leaders were Ted Levin of Vermont and Gil Calvo of Costa Rica. As we travelled around in our air-conditioned and very comfortable bus/van Gil told us about Costa Rican life, politics, culture, agriculture, and economy.
We departed the lowland tropical rainforest renowned for its high biodiversity that is Corcovado and took a late afternoon boat trip on the Tarcoles River. This river is know for its crocodiles, but our interest was mostly birds.
We said good-bye to two couples and began the extension staying two nights at the fabulous Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails, a spot not to be missed if you are ever in Costa Rica. Gil hired a local guide and we soon saw Yellow-throated Toucans mating.
We saw many hummingbirds.
I saw a food exchange between a pair of Crested Guan while walking to my room the second afternoon and took photos of the event with my iPhone.
On the second morning, part of our group took a very beautiful hike before breakfast past colorful eucalyptus trees and displaying Montezuma Oropendola.
The Arenal Volcano was in display with lenticular clouds across a small pond.
Heading back to my room, I photographed a Coatimundi that climbed a tree to feast on fruit.
This is the view of the volcano from my room.
As we were leaving, Gil spotted a Rufous-tailed Jacamar and stopped briefly. This was the only time we saw this stunning creature that looks like a giant hummingbird. It had an insect in its long bill.
We stopped in nearby La Fortuna to drink very fresh coconut water from a straw poked through the nut.
On our boat ride to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast, we saw a Laughing Falcon.
We hiked a path near the beach and saw a giant reticulate lubber grasshopper.
We were hoping to find Great Green Macaw. I got lucky and photographed the first one we saw in flight.
This macaw is feasting on a sea almond, a favorite food.
Heading back to the excellent Hotel Tortuguero Beach, I photographed a Tropical Kingbird in flight.
Along “main street” I photographed locals and saw huge marine toads mating in the flooded front yard of a small home.
From almost the same spot, I captured a Bare-throated Tiger Heron.
We took a boat trip through the complex network of waterways in this area and saw Boat-billed Heron among other species.
We hiked through the Tortuguero National Park and near the entrance I photographed a Sally Lightfoot crab.
Before breakfast our last morning I returned to the Montezuma Oropendola colony we saw previously to get this photo of nest building.
Eventually all good things must come to an end. We headed home, but not before we sampled an amazing assortment of Costa Rican tastes at a small roadside market.
I hope you will visit this page: Costa Rica 2025 Main Page and explore in more detail the animals and sights of this amazing country. Just click the bold words and you will get to a page with links to pages revealing individual pieces of our natural history adventure.