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Costa Rica 12.2017
  • Angela Stanczak
  • Angela Stanczak

Costa Rica 12.2017

A 8-day adventure by Angela Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 23, 2017
    Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 1, Arrival San Jose, Costa Rica

    December 22, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    It was a long day with not much happening. The five of us, Mom, TJ, Vienne, Tommy and I left the house at 2am for the Detroit airport. Theres a picture of our parking ramp area so I don't forget where the Yukon is! We split from mom to check in with different airlines and didn't see her again until we were at the hotel around 5pm.

    Vienne got a great shot of the Cuba coast as we flew over, but other than that there weren't many photo opportunities. She tried to send it to me so I could post, but I'm not getting it. I'll try to add later.

     We hed a buffet style dinner set up by the Caravan tour group, a meet and greet with other passengers, and then we crashed into bed!

    Sloth souveniers are everywhere. Miss you awesome nerds!!    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 2

    December 23, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Animal rescue, zooave
    We are about 10 degrees North of Equator in tropic of cancer. Costa Rica is smaller than Lake Michigan.
     Today is 98 degrees, just past summer solstice so sun is directly above us.  San Jose is situated between the Sierra and Cordillera ranges, Sierra is younger range.

    This is the first stop, Zooave. Can you see the dragonfly on the crocodile?! Oops, I switched out the photo before posting. This pic doesn't have the dragonfly. Sorry!    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day2 cont

    December 23, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Animal rescue, zooave
    A sloth! But not very close. And yes, that spider is real, not an exhibit *shivers*
    We are about 10 degrees North of Equator in tropic of cancer. Costa Rica is smaller than Lake Michigan.
     Today is 98 degrees, just past summer solstice so sun is directly above us.  San Jose is situated between the Sierra and Cordillera ranges, Sierra is the "younger" range, still over 7,000 years.    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 2, Doka Coffee Plantation

    December 23, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    Doka coffee tour.
    Seedlings sprout after 2 months. They are called "little soldiers" because they have a bean on top that looks like a helmet. After 1 year they are planted and after 4 years you can begin to harvest the beans.

    Costa Rica has 8 coffee regions that produce different varieties of flavor and strength, but all coffee is the Arabica variety.    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 2 cont, coffee plantation

    December 23, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    The coffee fruit is removed and used for compost. There are 1 to 3 beans in each fruit. If there is only 1 bean in a pod it is called a peaberry. For the peaberry, all the genetic flavor profiles normally shared by 2 or 3 beans are concentrated into the single bean and it produces a soother, sweeter flavor.

    Pic of coffee beans fermenting, the house where they are processed, druing the beans, a view of the Poas volcano above coffee fields, cool pattern in walkway, and TJ in front of bus (mom and Vienne in window)    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak
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    Day 2, Zarcero

    December 23, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    We stopped in a small town in the mountains called Zarcero. The town is named after the Sassparilla root that is grown and exported for root beer.

    There is a beautiful church here and famous topiaries. The guys decided to play a wuick game of ping pong before we left. You can see the 3 shadows of us girls watching.Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 3, River Cruise

    December 24, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    Stopping in Los Chiles near border of Nicaragua for a boat trip on the Rio Frio. We can cross over the border without papers, but can't go far. 

    Saw a beautiful kingfisher bird, lots of snake birds, iguanas, and howler monkeys.Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 4, River Cruise cont

    December 24, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    Further up the river here is Nicaragua. Tommy got a text from Verizon welcoming him to another country. Had to log it here also, just to make it official!! We didn't travel as far as this map says, just about 1 boat length across, then back.

    Pics of the Rio Frio, border signs, bumbs on a log (pygmy bats), tiny van next to TJ.    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak
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    Day 3, Arenal Hot Springs

    December 24, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    In Fortuna, under the view of the Arenal volcano, we visited the Baldi hotel and spa. Different level pools run down the mountain. The hottest water comes from the top "waterfall" and cools as it moves down. There are also cold spas where you can sit to cool off before heading back to the hot water.

     This water has a high concentration of minerals and is naturally heated by the nearby volcano. Our skin felt very soft when we were done. Look at those big smiles!    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak
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    Day 4, Hanging Bridges

    December 25, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌙 -2 °F

    We visited the Mistico hanging bridges park and spent 2 hours hiking through the rainforest and crossing high over the forest floor. The first bridge was scary, but after that I was mostly worried I would drop my phone!! Sorry you can't see the video, it makes me nervous just looking at it!Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 4, Turtle Park

    December 25, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    We visited a center that is working to protect the leatherback turtles. The Caravan tour operation donates a portion of our costs to support these research and conservation efforts.

    The 2 researchers there were both American students working on their masters. Pics are of recently hatched turtles (these were not leatherbacks though), the researchers and the nesting pen where eggs are transferred after being laid, the beach where eggs are found, Pura Vida, and TJ running in the sandRead more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak
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    Day 5, JW Marriott, Guanacaste

    December 26, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Today was all about relaxing! We have had amazing buffet meals, swimming in a beautiful pool, a massage (so needed that!), and scouring tide pools for critters.

    Infinity pool, driftwood, sunrise, Christmas tree, Vienne at tide pool, a hidden crab in the tide pool.Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 6, ice cream and crocodiles

    December 27, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Stopped for ice cream at Monteverde Cooperative (first pic) founded by American Quakers. Left behind one of the teens from our bus. We didn't even go back to get him!!

    Don't worry, another bus with our tour group called our bus and let them know we forgot him.  They brought him on to our next rendevous and I don't think he will ever live it down!

    The rest of the pics are from the crocodile and bird cruise on the Tarcoles River.    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak
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    Day 6/7, San Bada hotel

    December 28, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    There was a rooftop bar that we relaxed at while watching the most amazing sunset! We were told we might get some good sightings of birds in the morning so we went back early. Instead of birds we had a group of capuchin monkeys stop by!Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak
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    Day 7, Aerial Tram

    December 28, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌙 63 °F

    I'm not exectly sure where the tram was located, but it was a relaxing ride in a ski-lift type gondola through the forest canopy. Our guide was not very happy with the two adult children (husbands) that made jokes the whole way. They were pretty funny though!

    Note the toucan in one of these pics. It is a rule that they always travel in pairs or more. The guide was ADAMANT about this. I wanted to buy a toucan stuffed animal in the gift shop and they wouldn't let me. They said I had to buy TWO!! (LOL!)    Read more

  • Angela StanczakCosta Rica 12.2017Angela Stanczak

    Day 8, goodbye

    December 28, 2017 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Just a little shout-out to all the friends and families we met on this trip. You were all terrific! Thanks to Clarence, our guide, and Lolly, the best driver I have ever seen! The 28th was his birthday, Happy Birthday Lolly!

    Random pics that didn't make the cut before, including the dragonfly on the croc this time!!    Read more

  • Trip end
    December 30, 2017
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