Just Arrived
This is me after just arriving and checking into my hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Stone Statue
At our hotel in San Jose
Toucan
Stained glass at our hotel in Costa Rica
Relaxing
At our hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica
Happy to be here
Let's sit and think about this...
Breakfast
Fruit is plentiful and a good way to start the day.
Elephant Leaf Tree
And our tour bus in the background
Elephant Leaf
Pink Bannanas?
Tall Tree
There was a sloth in the top branches, but I couldn't get a good shot. Keep scrolling for a sloth with baby that I did get.
Orchids
Orchids grow naturally and are abundant here in the rain forest.
Elephant Leaf
Boat Taxi Driver
We took a boat taxi to Tortoguero National Park.
Clowning
These tour boat operators enjoy a good laugh together.
Egret on a Branch
Baby Sloth
Hanging out with its mother
Sloth
Better view of the mother sloth. You can see much more detail here than I could see with my camera display down below. From there it just looked like a big hairy blob. Not sure if this is a two-toed or three-toed sloth.
Fruit Stand
Everyone was smiling and friendly here in the village of Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast.
Coin Stamping
This street vendor was stamping coins for tourist customers.
Wall Art
A phrase that you will hear and see everywhere in Costa Rica is “Pura Vida”. The term “Pura Vida” has been present in Costa Rica's vocabulary for over 50 years. It's English translation means “pure life” or “simple life", however its more then just a phrase- it is a way of life.
Green Macaw
Feeding on large seeds provided by nature in a tall tree top
Green Macaw
Hanging Bird Nests
The birds that build and live in these nests are called Montezuma Oropendula.
Ramshackle
These are tourists, but the ramshackle houses in the background are typical of what we saw throughout much of the country.
Iguana
Many different types of iguanas are seen everywhere in Costa Rica. This was on a boat tour in Tortuguero National Park.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
A beautiful bird, did not fly away when we got close in our boat, I think he may have been dozing with his eyes open and one foot tucked against his body.
Iguana
Jesus Christ Lizard
The common Basilisk is nicknamed the Jesus Christ lizard because he can "walk" or skim across the water surface when fleeing from a predator.
Blur Morpho Butterfly
Brown on the outside as you see here, and a beautiful blue on the inside that you can see when it flies. Their flight pattern in quick and erratic, difficult to photograph. I was still glad for this side view of him all in focus.
Giant Palm Tree
I think this is called a Tailpot Palm and grows up to 80 feet high with giant fronds that spread out like you see here.
Botanical
Not sure what this is, but it seems to grow well here in the rain forest.
Hibiscus
These are abundant and grow naturally
San Carlos River
Panoramic view as seen from just outside of our hotel room.
Red tropical flower
Nicknamed the Lobster Claw
Crab Claw Helioconia
Walking Tree
This tree moves over time by sending down shoots that find their place in the ground below to establish it's best possible location to prosper in the rain forest.
Rain Forest
As seen from above on a hike that included hanging bridges
Rain Forest Seedy Plant
So many different botanical species here that you may not find elsewhere.
Above the Canopy
Boy walking across one of the hanging bridges on our hike through the rain forest.
Arenal
Panoramic View of the Arenal volcano, partially obscured by clouds, and the surrounding rainforest.
Street Vendors
In the village of La Fortuna where it was sporadically sunny and raining.
Yellow flora
In the central park of La Fortuna
Man with Ukelele
I asked for his photo and he obliged without hesitation
Flora abundance
Flora
I had never seen anything like this before. It was grown on our hotel grounds in Arenal.
Just a dog
Poking around the grass and large fallen leaves
Blue-Grey Tanager
In the same park as where the dog was photographed. I was just sitting at a table drinking coffee and he flew over to the tree right in front of me.