• Mdtravels
  • Mdtravels

Costa Rica and Brazil

Our trip begins with 16 days in Costa Rica. Next we fly to Brazil and have 5 days in the Pantanal and 7 days in Manaus cruising on the Amazon. We then fly to Iguassu Falls and Rio de Janerio before flying home. Les mer
  • Reisens start
    23. oktober 2024
  • Brisbane to Santiago

    24. oktober 2024, Chile ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We had a good flight on Qantas to Auckland. We then were fortunate to share three seats in the middle on our flight to Santiago so managed to get some sleep. It is a beautiful afternoon in Santiago and best news was when Skyteam Lounge accepted our Priority Pass cards for four hours in their lounge. It certainly makes a different when you have a long stopover.Les mer

  • Overnight at Lima

    25. oktober 2024, Peru ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We are finally at our Lima airport accommodation after a very long trip and guess what?...our luggage is with us after we checked in at Brisbane! It is just after midnight and we are looking over a very busy airport while enjoying a complimentary drink. We are hoping for leisurely flight to San Jose tomorrow.Les mer

  • San Jose

    26. oktober 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Today has been our "recoup" day. Being Saturday, it has been very busy in the main mall that runs passed our hotel. We have enjoyed experiencing the main centre of San Jose and are ready to explore the rest of Costa Rica.Les mer

  • Doka, Poás Volcano & La Paz Waterfall

    27. oktober 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We departed early in the morning for Doka Estate, a local coffee plantation, where we enjoyed a typical Costa Rican breakfast before visiting the plantation and roast room.

    On the way to Poás Volcano, we passed more coffee plantations, flower nurseries, and strawberry fields. As we got closer, we noticed a change in temperature and vegetation. Located within Poás Volcano National Park at an elevation of 8,000 feet, the active volcano offers the chance to view its crater from the edge. Unfortunately, visibility was nonexistent that day, as we were surrounded by clouds.

    La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is the most visited privately-owned ecological attraction in Costa Rica, known for its famous five waterfalls. It also has the largest animal sanctuary in the country, housing over 100 species. The park features 3.5 km of cloud and rainforest trails, as well as a butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden, serpentarium and frog exhibit.
    Les mer

  • Místico Arenal hanging bridges walk

    28. oktober 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    There were sixteen fixed and hanging bridges—up to 97m long and 25m high—which looped through this private reserve, along with a series of trails, allowing us to experience the rainforest at different levels.

    That night, Murray had planned a night walk with our guide which was unfortunately cancelled do to a big thunderstorm.
    Les mer

  • Proyecto Asis Volunteer Wildlife Centre

    29. oktober 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Proyecto Asis is a Wildlife Sanctuary dedicated to supporting environmental, social, and conservation initiatives in the Arenal Volcano region. The sanctuary provides care for wild animals that have been injured, abandoned, or rescued from the black market by local forest rangers. Animals that cannot be reintroduced into the wild become part of their educational programs, helping raise awareness about conservation. To sustain their work, Proyecto Asis offers guided tours and volunteer opportunities.

    Our guide introduced us to each animal and shared their often heartbreaking stories, emphasizing the critical role of conservation. As volunteers, we had the chance to prepare breakfast for the monkeys, creatively inserting the food into enrichment toys to engage them in varied daily routines. The guide placed the food in their enclosure, ensuring the troop leader was fed first.

    In the afternoon, we looked forward to the sloth tour, where we were to learn about the vital role sloths play in maintaining biodiversity. Sadly, although we had just encountered a sloth at the start of the tour, a major thunderstorm struck within ten minutes, forcing the cancellation of the experience.

    Our photos are a mix of animals currently in rehabilitation and others that have found a permanent home at the sanctuary.
    Les mer

  • Monteverde Sky Walk and Tram

    31. oktober 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ 🌫 19 °C

    Sky Walk is a 2km guided walk along forest trails and hanging bridges,
    over the cloud forest canopy. There was lots of birds including humming birds.

    Sky Tram is a gondola that floats gently over the cloud forest, up the mountains, to a wide observation platform at 1600 meters above sea level.

    Unfortunately, half way through our walk, Murray's camera or memory card failed and he lost many photos.
    Les mer

  • Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

    1. november 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    It was another wet day when we visited the cloud forest reserve.

    Cloud forests are a rare mountaintop phenomenon, where warm air from the ocean meets the cool mountain slopes, forming clouds and a constant mist. This mist nourishes towering trees draped in cascades of orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and ferns.

    Monteverde alone is home to an astonishing diversity of life, with approximately 2,500 plant species, 490 butterfly species, 400 bird species, and 100 mammal species catalogued to date.
    Les mer

  • Manuel Antonio National Park

    3. november 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most famous in Costa Rica for its wide variety of flora and fauna. It is also home to 3 of the 4 existing tropical primates (monkeys) living in Costa Rica. We began our visit with a guided three hour walk, before spending another two hours exploring on our own.Les mer

  • San Jose to Caiman Ecolodge

    9. november 2024, Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    Our journey began on November 9th with a flight from San Jose to Panama City, departing at 6:30pm. From there, we flew to Sao Paulo, arriving the next morning at 6:45am, before continuing to Campo Grande, landing at 10:05am. After a four hour, 230 km scenic drive, we arrived at Caiman Lodge located in the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetlands.

    The lodge is set within a 53,000 hectare property combining livestock, ecotourism, and conservation in harmony. Adjacent to it lies a 17,300 acre private ecological reserve. The name “Caiman” reflects the owner’s commitment to conservation and regional progress.
    Les mer

  • Caiman Lodge - Day 2 - Afernoon Safari

    11. november 2024, Brasil ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    When the temperature cools off (4pm), it is time to go out for the afternoon safari which is another good time to see wildlife and enjoy a local sunset. During our safari, we saw a tapir and then spent time watching a jaguar and her cub playing with a stick in a waterhole. Unfortunately, for the second, Murray's camera or memory card failed and he lost these photos.

    We arrived back to a traditional barbecue for dinner.
    Les mer