Costa Rica

July 2023

A 16-day adventure by Catherine & SarahB Read more

15footprints
3countries
16days
117photos
5videos
11.9kkilometers
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 8, 2023, 5:03am
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 52 m
- England Ringway Manchester Airport 53.368561, -2.28274153°22’7” N 2°16’58” W
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Day 1
Costa Rica
July 8, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Here we go! 😀✈️
After a great flight we arrived in Atlanta and got the shuttle downtown to our hotel. Lots of the buildings were impressive and we went for a long walk through the Centennial Olympic Park and round the neighbourhood to a lovely lively Italian.Read more
Traveler Have the best time both of you ❤️
7/8/23Reply
Traveler Have an amazing adventure together. X
7/8/23Reply
Traveler Have a wonderful time girls and look after each other x
7/8/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 9, 2023, 6:26pm
- ☁️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 140 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Puntarenas Ballena Río Ballena 9.171594, -83.7202999°10’18” N 83°43’13” W
Day 2
Arriving in Uvita Costa Rica
July 9, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Having got our connecting flight from Atlanta we arrived in San Jose at lunch time. We picked up our hire car and drove 31/2 hours down the Pacific coast to Uvita. The scenery on the way was absolutely beautiful with mountains stooped in cloud, swollen rivers and palm trees lining the road for miles on end. The place we are staying at is an eco lodge way up the mountain - only reached in a 4x4 and surrounded by the rain forest. It’s amazing.Read more
Traveler Please bring that fabulous green wicker chair home!
7/9/23Reply
Traveler Looking gorgeous ladies. Welcome to the jungle 🌴
7/10/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 10, 2023, 7:19am
- ☁️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 140 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Puntarenas Ballena Río Ballena 9.171603, -83.7202629°10’18” N 83°43’13” W
Day 3
Whale spotting
July 10, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Having started the day with a delicious breakfast we set off in the distant hope of seeing humpback whales. We were extremely lucky to spot the first pair of the migrating humpbacks arriving from the antarctic- what a sight seeing them breaching around us - just amazing. Our trip also took us to some caves and swimming off the boat near to an island was a great end to a fabulous experience.
Uvita is famous for its whale tail shaped beach which is exposed at low tide and this is where we walked out to, seeing a flock of pelicans flying overhead too. We also saw a howler monkey, numerous raptors and frigate birds then headed back to our accommodation passing an iguana on the way, arriving just as the thunder, lightning and rain started and we settled down to a beer or two before bed.Read more
Traveler What a day! Fabulous! That breakfast looks brilliant too - fruit, toast and fried eggs! Bags we try that …
7/11/23Reply
Traveler Oh my goodness what a wonderful day!
7/13/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 11, 2023, 6:43am
- ☁️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 130 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Puntarenas Ballena Río Ballena 9.172067, -83.720239°10’19” N 83°43’13” W
Day 4
Snokelling Cano Island
July 11, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
What a day! We started early on a boat trip out to Canó Island. Once there we snorkelled off the boat for a couple of hours.
It was amazing. We saw so many bright and beautiful fish in all shapes and sizes. However, the absolutely best experience was seeing and swimming with so many Hawksbill turtles. They came up for air right in front of us. Near enough to touch - (which of course we didn’t try to do). 🐢
We then spent a bit of time on the island. The sand looked alive with scurrying hermit crabs. A real David Attenborough moment!
Drove back through the mountains and clouds back to San Jose.Read more
Traveler This is just amazing. All the memories you are making and such a wealth of wildlife to see. Stunning 🤩
7/13/23Reply
Traveler Looks incredible! Biggest love to you both! X
7/13/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 12, 2023, 9:01pm
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 1,186 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de San José Aranjuez 9.938641, -84.0682579°56’19” N 84°4’6” W
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Day 5
Poas Volcano
July 12, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Following a night of sleep interrupted twice by earthquakes we were up early again this morning and out for the day to visit Poas Volcano. Along the way we went to a coffee plantation and Lapaz Waterfalls and tropical gardens.
The active volcano was smouldering and bubbling away as we stood nearby. An unusual colour of eggshell blue it was stunning despite the strong smell of sulphur.
The gardens and waterfalls were fantastic with some beautiful Costa Rican wildlife.Read more
Traveler Stunning. Although not sure about that volcano.
7/13/23Reply
Traveler That must have been one amazing day! The wildlife is so beautiful. That toucan thing looks spray painted😀. And the warning sign for the volcano does have the air of being hope over reality it it ever blew. Surely the sort of day that will live long in your memory.
7/13/23Reply
Traveler Stunning scenery and wild life. What’s the climate like?
7/13/23Reply
Traveler Very hot and humid. 😓
7/21/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 13, 2023, 8:59pm
- 🌧 26 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Limón Colorado Tortuguero Caño Chiquero 10.550981, -83.50749210°33’4” N 83°30’27” W
Day 6
Tortuguero
July 13, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
We were up early yet again today to get our transfer over to the Caribbean coast. This involved a 3 hour drive and 1 1/2 hour boat ride through the canals until we reached Tortuguero. The Lodge is surrounded by beautiful gardens with many animals such as sloths, iguanas and toucan to name just a few. We followed the roar of the sea down to the beach with it’s crashing waves and dramatic sky. Tonight we went back to the same beach to witness the most amazing site of a Green sea turtle laying her eggs then covering and camouflaging them. She was a metre and a half long and her eggs a bit larger than a golf ball. We were in total darkness apart from an infrared torch and the lightning flashing across the sky. What a special experience which we will hold in our heads forever, as obviously no cameras were allowed.Read more
Traveler Wonderful photos, looks like you're having the best time xx
7/14/23Reply
Traveler Loving the peach 🍑 colour on you both 😂
7/15/23Reply
Traveler Most glam lifejacket wearers I've ever seen. Less keen on the insects!! X
7/15/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 14, 2023, 8:03pm
- ☁️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Limón Colorado Tortuguero Caño Chiquero 10.551546, -83.50707910°33’6” N 83°30’25” W
Day 7
Tortuguero Day 2
July 14, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
After a late night we were kept awake by a thunder storm and heavy rain throughout the night. Out kayaking by 5:30am in the pouring rain was great fun and we spotted a two toed sloth, spider monkeys, white face capuchin monkeys, jakana, bear throated tiger heron, oropendola, and anhinga birds
Back for breakfast, then sat playing dominoes until the bar opened to avoid the rain!
When the rain eased we walked into Tortuguero and found a lovely Caribbean place for lunch on the waterfront.
Out for a boat trip followed by a night walk where we saw a variety of insects and amphibians such as: bullfrog, cane toad, stick insects, grasshoppers, crickets, bullet ants, red eyed frogs, golden orb spiders, black river turtle and golden arborio frog.
Time for another cocktail, dinner and then a well earned nights sleep- hopefully.Read more
Traveler Crikey! Follow that! My gob is smacked!! Three days now and it just gets better and better😀😀. What a surfeit of wildlife - such fun❤️. And you’re only half through.
7/15/23Reply
Traveler Oh my goodness the trip just gets better and better. 🛶
7/15/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 15, 2023, 9:31pm
- 🌧 24 °C
- Altitude: 236 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Alajuela La Fortuna 10.474672, -84.64425910°28’29” N 84°38’39” W
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Day 8
La Fortuna
July 15, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
Today was mostly spent travelling on the boat from Tortuguero, then bus to La Fortuna. We arrived just in time to join our night walk which was very different in this area compared to Tortuguero. We saw lots of snakes and insects including a green Walking stick and lots of different frogs as well as the iconic Red eyed tree frog.
Straight back to the hotel tonight as we are up early again in the morning.Read more
Traveler Looks like some kind of water bus? Very fast! And no end to the abundance of wild life. Must be wonderful!
7/16/23Reply
Traveler What a wonderful evening stroll 🐍 and 🐸
7/16/23Reply
Traveler The scenery and wild life is so beautiful. Enjoy every minute of it. X
7/16/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 16, 2023, 8:25pm
- 🌧 23 °C
- Altitude: 253 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Alajuela La Fortuna Quebrada Cristalina 10.471084, -84.6474310°28’16” N 84°38’51” W
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Day 9
La Fortuna day 2
July 16, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 23 °C
Today was wet, very wet, but it didn’t stop us. We started off on a walk through the tree canopy over hanging bridges with great views of the tree tops beneath us. Catherine then went zip lining! It was so much fun squealing through the 8 lines and then took on the Tarzan swing as well! 😬
We spent the afternoon walking around the town, then relaxed in the natural volcanic hot springs with various pools and temperatures. The cocktail was good too! Now sitting on a restaurant waiting for our bbq meat to arrive with a beer🍻Read more
Traveler What halcyon days you two are enjoying! The rainy season really seems to be the time to go there - nature at it’s most vibrant. A walk in the woods back here will never quite seem the same. And more days to come!
7/17/23Reply
Traveler Despite the rain it still looks stunning.Fancy the cocktail!
7/17/23Reply
Traveler Amazing adventure. Are they Pisco sours?
7/18/23Reply
Traveler They were sours with a local spirit.
7/21/23Reply
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Costa Rica
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- Jul 17, 2023, 8:45pm
- ☁️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 236 m
- Costa Rica Provincia de Alajuela La Fortuna 10.474753, -84.64430210°28’29” N 84°38’39” W
Day 10
La Fortuna day 3
July 17, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Today we went to Arenal volcano and walked through the lava flows to the highest point allowed. On the way we saw lots of birds including a blue Jay and fly catcher, two Pacific screech owls and many insects including a gang of leaf cutter ants taking their leaves into a burrow of their enormous nest. We also saw Mariolas bees, who build a tube to fly into before entering their hive. We learnt some interesting facts about the most recent fatal volcanic eruption in 1968 which was caused by the spread of ash rather than the lava. Afterwards we went in search of sloths and spotted a baby three toed sloth having a good scratch whilst hanging from its tree. Given the torrential rain we then retreated to a bar to dry out and relax.Read more
Traveler These are wonderful photos and trip accounts - apart from the rain it sounds idyllic … and even the fact that’s given reason for cocktails isn’t bad!
7/17/23Reply
Traveler Amazing pictures. So exciting to watch your adventures
7/18/23Reply
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