Arenal

Lazy morning, then hike near the volcano. Then to Tabacon hot springs for a soak and dinner. Beautiful.

Hanging Bridges

Another early start, this time to go to hanging bridges. Somewhat rainy, but nice walk through/above primary rainforest. Saw an anteater, tarantula, eyelash pit viper and a ton of interesting plants. Nice lunch in La Fortuna, then lazy afternoon and evening napping, finishing a bottle of wine and soaking in the natural hot springs (thanks to the volcano).

Moving day, heading to Arenal

Moving day. Started with the boat trip "out". Saw a couple kaiman. Eventually got to our new hotel. Settled in, nice dinner and soak in the natural hot springs (thanks to the volcanoes around).

Tortuguero

Started with an early morning boat tour , then walk, then afternoon body tour. Saw three kinds of monkeys, many birds (green McCaws and toucans, though flying so you couldn't really see then clearly), many basalisks, iguanas, a boa constrictor, etc and then there's the plants.

Leaving San Jose

Moving day, to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast. After lunch, a visit to the little village (basically tourist stuff). Best o part of the day was a night walk in rain forest. Saw lots of different kinds of frogs and toads, done bats, and various insects (walking sticks, katydids, spiders, grasshopper-like things, etc.)

Doka coffee estates and La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Early start to visit a coffee plantation and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Coffee tour was interesting, but really enjoyed the Waterfall Gardens. It's basically a wildlife rescue. All the animals are unable to be released to the wild because they are injured, too habituated to humans, etc. Oh, and the waterfalls. Beautiful, misty--just what you'd hope for in a cloud forest.

Moving day

Started with our own walking tour of Barri Amón, an area with some old mansions built by the coffee barons. There's also this wall with a bunch of tile murals showing rural life (ordinary people). Argentinian grill for Christmas lunch. Then got ourselvess moved to the new (much posher) hotel for the start of our tour tomorrow.