A relaxing upper back massage by the thermal natural springs at Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
Dates visited: December 24, 2012 – December 27, 2012
We drove to La Fortuna (83 miles northwest of Alajuela), making a stop at Proyecto Asis—an organization dedicated to wildlife protection and environmental conservation. We volunteered for half-a-day, making food and feeding the rescued animals (peccary, spider monkeys, white-headed capuchins, kinkajous, toucans, macaws, parrots and more) and learning about the several ways humans are harming wild life. Some of the animal rescue stories were very heartbreaking and since this visit, we have started holding back on seeing animal shows or performances.
Before hiking in the Arenal Volcano National Park, we took one of the Sky Tram gondolas that soared through and over the trees, offering awesome views of the rain forest. We also loved walking on the never-ending hanging bridges through the rain forest totally mesmerized by the different species of plants. The slight drizzle made the hike mystical.
After hiking for a few hours, it just seemed obvious to spend the rest of the day soaking in thermal natural springs at Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort. These springs are 97% rain-based and 3% magma-based and range from 77 degrees Fahrenheit to 122 degress Fahrenheit. It was a relaxing way to end the day.
We also visited the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge near the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Of all the nature trips we made in Costa Rica, we saw the most wildlife here— storks, white-headed capuchins, anhingas, cormorants, common basilisk (aka Jesus Christ lizard), two-toed and three-toed sloths, caimans, bats, iguanas, anteaters and more.
On the last day, we stopped by the stunning 246-feet high La Fortuna Waterfall.
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- Volunteering at Proyecto Asis—an organization dedicated to wildlife protection and environmental conservation
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- Feeding nuts to a white-headed capuchin
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- “Oh, my! Are you taking a picture of me?”
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- Red-lored Parrot rescued from exotic bird smugglers
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- Thin clouds drifting through Arenal Volcano National Park
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- Nothing like cold and refreshing coconut water… …
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- The spider monkey really took a liking to me… …wrapping her tail around my neck
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- The Sky Walk hanging bridges offer spectacular view alongside the canopy of tall trees
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- As they say in Costa Rica, “Pura Vida”… …meaning “Pure Life”
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- Candles – check, now, all we need is a cake!
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- We hiked all the way down to see the La Fortuna Waterfall
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- Don’t remember the name of this dish… …all I remember is that it tasted awesome!
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- Leafcutter ant hard at work
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- Papaya trees
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- Iguana—aka “chicken of the tree” because it tastes like chicken
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- On the boat tour at Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
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- Can you spot the caiman?
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- La Fortuna Waterfall
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- A three-toed sloth making it’s way… …slowly, very slowly
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- Great white heron
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- Feeding flour balls and bananas to rescued spider monkeys at Proyecto Asis (wildlife rescue center)
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- Purple Gallinule aka Yellow-legged Gallinule
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- White-headed capuchin
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- Feeding flour balls mixed with banana to the rescued parrots at Proyecto Asis (wildlife rescue center)
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- Caiman
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- Sky Walk hanging bridge at Arenal Volcano National Park
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- Amazon Kingfisher
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- Common basilisk aka Jesus Christ lizard for its ability to run on the surface of water
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- Leaf-chinned bats
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- Anhinga aka snakebird or water turkey