The Grand Tour in Costa Rica

On lower lot of Angel Valley

We celebrated July 4th in Costa Rica receiving final payment for our house and discharging the contract for deed. We got to meet the other 2 buyers -- Costa Rican sisters who live and work in the States. We introduced our friend Carolyn to several of our favorite sites and people, and of course, did some incredible bird watching.

 

Gondola with guide at Braulia Carrillo National Park

 

Braulio Carrillo National Park, northwest of San Jose, is a favorite of many Costa Ricans. While we have passed through it many times on our way to the Caribbean, we had never stopped to hike in it. This time we hiked the mountain trails and rode a gondola through the dense canopy.

On our way to Arenal, we took a chocolate tour at the Tirimbina Biological Center in La Virgen. After a hike through the jungle, we came to a clearing where we saw cacao (cocoa in English) pods growing on cacao tree trucks.

 

 

 

 

 

We attended a demonstration on the stages of drying the cocoa beans . . . .

 

 

 

roasting them . . .

 

  

 

 

and grinding them in a traditional stone metate . . .

 

 

 

 

to get thick rich chocolate. Stir in Costa Rican tapa dulce (evaporated cane juice) and a pinch of cinnamon. Yummm!!!!

 

Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano showed her splendor for our three days in La Fortuna. An early morning birding expedition to Puentes Colgantes (Hanging Bridges) provided an unexpected thrill. Not only did we spot the shy white collared manakin, we actually saw it beating its wings to make its odd snapping noise in a courtship ritual.

White collared manakin

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where we spent a day hiking, has a newly opened reserve next to it called Curi-Canchea Reserve. Alas, we did not see a quetzal on this trip.

We stayed at the eco-friendly Los Pinos, which grows lush hydroponic greens and vegetables for local tables . . . and for guests like us.

All in all, a fabulous trip! We may have sold our house, but we still have the lot (pictured above) below our house. Our love for Costa Rica will draw us back often in the coming years.