Dec 2020 – Jan 2021

Costa Rica 2021

A 20-day adventure by Helene Read more

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Trip start
December 31, 2020
Costa Rica 2021 Helene Rimberg
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Day 1
Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 9:28 PM
🌧 19 °C
Altitude: 931 m
Costa Rica Quebrada La Claudia 10.002447, -84.1953210°0’9” N 84°11’43” W
Travel during the time of COVID
December 31, 2020 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Early morning wake up to catch 6 am flight. Not quite a ghost town but pretty quiet. Most are complying with requirements and there are those who aren’t. Easy flight to LAX. Long layover. Find an outdoor pet station. I’ll take gas fumes over constant mask wearing. 5+ hour flight to San Jose. Arrive as sun is setting. quick shuttle to hotel. Only option for dinner is dennys. But at least they sell wine.Read more
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Day 2
Friday, January 1, 2021
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 723 m
Costa Rica Río Congo 9.848318, -83.59979°50’54” N 83°35’59” W
Volcano and Ghosts
January 1, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Up early to sunny new year! Took awhile to get organized, eat and get the car which was conveniently across the street. Headed around San Jose towards the high country and Vulcan Irazu. Very steep and windy road into the clouds. At over 11,000 feet we popped out over the clouds. Walked along the crater with the view changing constantly as the clouds lifted and settled. Struggled a bit with the elevation and climbing. Wound our way back down past an incredible number of locals picnicking along the side of the road. Opted to look for ghosts in the Sanatorio Duran what claims to be the most haunted place in Costa Rica. An old institution used to house TB cases and mentally ill. Way too many people for ghosts. But Ticos are really good at this COVID things and masts were worn, temperatures taken and maintained distance. Finished climbing back down into the valley, stopped for groceries before finding our Cabana in the the hills. Still no monkeys sighted but the fireflies were out tonightRead more
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Day 3
Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 10:03 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 723 m
Costa Rica Río Congo 9.848257, -83.5996769°50’54” N 83°35’59” W
We are in the jungle
January 2, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Leisurely morning drinking coffee and watching birds from our deck. Drive through sugar cane fields to get to la Marta wildlife refuge. Though no reservations we were able to enter. Meander up and down the jungle seeking animals. Maddie is our best spotter finding 2 frogs. Nice break in one of the many pools. Weather reminds us that we are in a rainforest.Read more
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Day 4
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 12:00 AM
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 1,241 m
Costa Rica Biolley 9.027403, -83.0169839°1’39” N 83°1’1” W
In search of Quetzals
January 3, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Though we were close to packing up at set time, a 3 point turn in the mud left us stuck. With the help of our hostess able to free it with only minimal car damage. Head towards Cerro de Muerte, a treacherous stretch of road up and over mountains. Stop near the top at Parque de Quetzals. None found. Very high up 10,000 ft) and lovely forest. Continue windy drive, arriving at Cloudbridge rather late. Book up to our rustic cabin.. No real electricity but candles work.Read more
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Day 5
Monday, January 4, 2021
🌧 20 °C
Altitude: 1,241 m
Costa Rica Biolley 9.027437, -83.0169499°1’39” N 83°1’1” W
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Cloudbridge Reserve
January 4, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
After a rainy night the clouds lifted early in the morning. Lovely view of Cerro Chirripo which we will not be hiking to. Instead do a series of loops throughout the park. Start with a short labyrinth and then walk along the river, over sketchy bridges and clambering up steep slopes. Not much evidence of monkeys or other mammals but very dense forest. Clouds again settle in and we make it back to cabin before skies open up. Another lovely candlelight dinner.Read more
Clytie Rimberg Nope
1/10/21Reply
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Day 6
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 6:05 PM
🌧 17 °C
Altitude: 1,241 m
Costa Rica Biolley 9.027451, -83.0169229°1’39” N 83°1’1” W
Coffee baskets?
January 5, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Another brilliant blue morning. Head up the mountain for a early am hike. Doug spots a coati on the path. Soon after proceeds to loose part of scope down a steep slope. Maddie and he manage to find it. Walk along the muddy ridge to park entrance. Back down, slipping most of the way. Leave our lovely rustic cabin and head south toward Altamira and our cabin on a coffee plantation. However, cabin not available and instead we will be staying in coffee baskets.? Ponder this on drive and yes we are staying in coffee baskets.Read more
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Day 7
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 8:57 PM
🌧 16 °C
Altitude: 1,227 m
Costa Rica Biolley 9.0269, -83.0172869°1’37” N 83°1’2” W
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La Amistad
January 6, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Early morning walk through coffee farm yielded many toucan sightings. Though we later learned they are carnivores and eat other birds, they are still very cool looking. Fresh coffee to set us on our hike into La Amistad. Met up with Scott, our local guide at the park entrance. Hiked up into the forest, still searching for the elusive mammals. Spotted many frogs, grubs and birds but alas still none. Seems they like lower elevation and at 7000+ ft it is too high. Learned a bit from Scott and hiked up to lookout though the clouds had rolled in. Lunch at the top and then back down. Opted to have dinner cooked for us as hadn’t brought in enough food. Cooler night but no rain.Read more
Hannah Boe Love the jungle music 🎶😌
1/8/21Reply
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Day 8
Thursday, January 7, 2021
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Costa Rica Punta Banco 8.352658, -83.1306438°21’10” N 83°7’50” W
Cafe, Los Monos y la playa
January 7, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Before leaving Coffea Diversa, take a tour of their farm and learn about the coffee business. Finish it off with a coffe tasting! Leave our coffee baskets and bounce back down the gravel road. Spot a big black moving object in the tree and finally see monkeys! White faced capuchins. All that hiking only to spot them along the road. Continue drive into the valley and head south. Quite toasty. Stock up on food and return to bumpy road toward Punto Banco. Last few miles are tough. Find our house and while awaiting Sonia, spot a Coati and then an Agouti behind our house. Sonia arrives and lets us in. Head to the beach for a quick swim in the warm ocean. Walk uo the beach only to stumble upon baby turtles being released. Nice dinner on our veranda.Read more
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Day 9
Friday, January 8, 2021
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Costa Rica Punta Banco 8.352535, -83.1306718°21’9” N 83°7’50” W
A day at the beach
January 8, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Up early for a run. Tide pretty high and sun hit this don’t go far on the beach. Back to the road. It heads up pretty quickly. Figure it will crest soon but end up going up and up a lot! Get to a nice vista and decide to head down not knowing where the top might be. Back for breakfast and then a beach walk. Though we can see Panama, can’t get there. Search for sloths in the trees but they are elusive. Spend the rest of the day in a shady spot doing NYT puzzles. Watch more turtles make their way to the ocean. Torrential rain. Easing into life with no requirements or time constraints.Read more
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Day 10
Saturday, January 9, 2021
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Costa Rica Punta Banco 8.352625, -83.1306748°21’9” N 83°7’50” W
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Un dia al playa
January 9, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
After last nights rain, wake up to another lovely day. Maddie and I head up the road and hill, this time making it to tiny village and beyond. Spot iguanas and cows and lovely views. Back to the casa for breakfast and then hit the beach. Return to our protected cove and make enhancements to increase comfort and shade. Laze on the beach, reading, puzzling and playing in the waves. Beach walk going the opposite direction - coming to a maze of boulders before turning around. Maddie and I get an early start for the turtles. While we wait, she spots a tree full of spider monkeys. Watch the nightly turtle trek and watch the sun set! Another lovely day in paradiseRead more
Clytie Rimberg That is so cool
1/19/21Reply
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Day 11
Sunday, January 10, 2021
🌧 27 °C
Altitude: 125 m
Costa Rica Dos Brazos 8.525994, -83.4116758°31’34” N 83°24’42” W
A lazy day
January 10, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
Morning beach run though no sign of yesterday’s monkeys. Claim our beach spot and chill. Meander back to the turtle spot but apparently they rest on Sunday. Lovely sunset.
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Day 12
Monday, January 11, 2021
🌧 27 °C
Altitude: 134 m
Costa Rica Dos Brazos 8.525928, -83.411638°31’33” N 83°24’42” W
Around the gulf
January 11, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
Morning beach walk before packing up. Road in is less bumpy as they had done some smoothing of it while we were there. Leisurely drive around the gulf to Puerto Jimenez. Stop for ice cream and groceries. Bounce again to our remote lodge in the jungle. Settle in for an evening of jungle sounds.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
🌧 28 °C
Altitude: 134 m
Costa Rica Dos Brazos 8.52589, -83.4115818°31’33” N 83°24’42” W
Into Corcovado
January 12, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
Very early start (4:30) to meet our guide into the park. Opt for accessing at La Leona though we were in for quite the drive. Watch the stars go down and sun come up. Hit likely the worst road yet for 46 km. Spot a group of monkeys on the way. Park by the beach. Our guide is an awesome spotter an we see monkeys, many different types of birds and a sloth duo! Within the park we are visited by several gangs of coatis, an agouti and a very bold anteater. Long day out but well worth it. Bounce back mostly in the dark again stopping for a band of squirrel monkeys.Read more
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Day 14
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 4:59 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 134 m
Costa Rica Dos Brazos 8.52589, -83.4115818°31’33” N 83°24’42” W
1
A river walk
January 13, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Bird watch and listen to monkeys while we have morning coffee. While doug deal with flat tire, Maddie and I head into Bolita, a private park right next to us. At the top of the hill arrive at a very remote hostel. Continue to waterfalls and then decide to attempt the 2k river walk. Quite sketchy in parts especially as we weren’t prepared with smart things like dry bags. Make it through with no major mishaps. Dinner prepared for usRead more
Clytie Rimberg Oops!
1/19/21Reply
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Day 15
Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 11:32 AM
🌧 28 °C
Altitude: 125 m
Costa Rica Dos Brazos 8.525988, -83.4116058°31’34” N 83°24’42” W
1
Final beach stay
January 14, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
Morning hike in Bolita to gotogo point and great view of,the bay. Leave our jungle casita and find a swimming hole. Into town for food and then head north to find our meet up point. Find it and board little boat with lots of stuff. Clouds look ominous but not much happens. After settling in, attempt snorkeling, but kind of cloudy. Work on NYT MEGA puzzle and make dinner.Read more
Clytie Rimberg Kapok tree! Used to make life preservers!
1/19/21Reply
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Day 16
Friday, January 15, 2021
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Costa Rica Bahía Rincón 8.721979, -83.4737038°43’19” N 83°28’25” W
A kayak trip without devices yields ....
January 15, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
...incredible animal sights.
Day was somewhat cloudy which was fine as running out of sunscreen. Attempt to use all 3 kayaks but the older one had a leak. Maddie and I continue on. Pass by first bay and head along coast. Spot schools of fish flinging themselves into the air. Have several sea turtle sightings. Spot fins which turn out to be dolphins who circle us. Head back along the coast to first bay and notice many splashes. Get closer and see 100s of rays ‘flying’ in the air and heading towards us. Follow them as they head back out to sea. And of course no way to document. Back to our shrinking beach. Attempt snorkeling again though all we find is a tiny yellow fish who follows us, staying very close and nibbling. Plenty of interesting wildlife in our houseRead more
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Day 17
Saturday, January 16, 2021
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Costa Rica Bahía Rincón 8.721992, -83.473718°43’19” N 83°28’25” W
Kayak take 2
January 16, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
After a brief morning swim, take kayaks out again - this time bringing a phone. Maddie and I share a one person kayak making for a tight fit. Spot one ray, a school of fish and some guy painting on a SUP in the middle of the mangroves. Paddle,up into the mangroves but find little besides a few birds. Hang out on beach and attempt another kayak outing. Storm building so make it short.Read more
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Day 18
Sunday, January 17, 2021
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Costa Rica Bahía Rincón 8.722, -83.47378°43’19” N 83°28’25” W
Last beach day
January 17, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Morning swim in much clearer water. Full sun seems to help. Out for a kayak. See a few rays jump in the distance and chase a pair of dolphins out to sea - though we never quite catch them. Get some beach time, cards time, and then paddle out to watch sunset.Read more
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Day 19
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:37 PM
🌙 18 °C
Altitude: 931 m
Costa Rica Quebrada La Claudia 10.002511, -84.19517310°0’9” N 84°11’43” W
A sunrise to begin the end
January 18, 2021 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
After a long night of rain, early am wake up to watch sunrise. Head out on kayaks to get best view. Pack up and get ferried back to the car. Long drive back to San Jose, stopping for a bit at two different beaches. Mad dash to hotel to unpack car and return in on time. Sa,e hotel as where we began but order through Ubereats and have a better meal than Denny’s.Read more
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Trip end
January 19, 2021