After breakfast we boarded the bus and headed up the mountain to the Selvatura Adventure Park. The park is a privately owned ecological park with over 850 acres which features the hanging bridge canopy walk, a long zip line, a butterfly greenhouse, and a hummingbird garden. White knuckle ride up this one lane gravel road. Our driver Manrique is fearless!
We had opted for the hanging bridge tour, as did most of the others in our group. Before we began our hike we detoured to the butterfly greenhouse which was very interesting although we did not see very many butterflies. By this time it was pouring down rain but we were well enough equipped to head off on the hanging bridge trail. The trail is a almost two miles and crosses canyons and ravines on eight different hanging bridges. The trail was built some 35 years ago and has become quite the tourist attraction. The "cloud forest" is amazing with a an incredible variety of trees and vines and various tropical plants, all epiphytic. Very few flowers to be found as the canopy prevents light from reaching the undergrowth. It reminds one of Isla Nublar for sure!
A few of our group went zip lining. They said it was a blast but really wet!
After our hike we went up to the restaurant for a very nice lunch followed by a few minutes in the hummingbird garden which was amazing. Many varieties of hummingbirds reside here and they flitted around the feeders paying no attention to us. It has been our best wildlife sighting to date. (see video in the last post)
We then headed back to the hotel to rest and dry out. Linda found out that the coat she thought was water resistant really wasn't so she was soaked through!
We were shocked to see a "band" of Coatimunis walk past our patio door. We'd never seen them before! Reminds one of a cross between an anteater and a raccoon! Apparently very common around here, but stay clear, they can be nasty! (see video)
Just before we boarded the bus for a lecture and dinner we enjoyed yet another awesome sunset! Our lecture in the conference center was by a young woman representing the Costa Rica Conservation Foundation. She talked about the amazing biodiversity of Costa Rica and specifically their work researching the Three Wattled Bellbird, an amazing creature! Dinner tonight was a treat from Collett at Tramonti, a very nice restaurant down in the village of San Arena. It always seems odd to have these nice restaurants in these out of way mountain towns!
Tomorrow we head for Lake Arenal and the volcano! Let's hope it stops raining!
(Note: the inside of my camera has fogged up so some photos are no good. Darn! I have used my phone, which works great but its less versatile and a pain
to get the photos onto my computer)
This is another odd hotel property. You can't walk anywhere from a room because it is too steep. You get from here to there by little diesel shuttle buses. there is no Central lounge area. There's no coffee maker but a very unusual Keurig like espresso machine. The breakfast buffet is okay but nothing to write home about so I won't.
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