Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica ... Day 7
Trip Start
May 01, 2009
1
7
12
Trip End
May 12, 2009
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica
Friday, May 8, 2009
We left about 7:30 a.m. for Cahuita. We arrived at the Sloth Rescue Plantation (www.slothrescue.org) about 8:15 a.m. It was a beautifully landscaped establishment. We were greeted by Jeff, a tour guide who led us to where we would board the canoe for the hour and a half adventure down the rivers. The guide asked us if we cared if it rained and we didn't as we had our ponchos with us so it didn't matter. It was the most beautiful trip, the calm, quiet water, the beauty unsurpassed as we canoed down the tropical jungle. It began to rain, a tolerable rain but not for long. We soon found ourselves in our ponchos but still going, as there was no reason to end the tour. We did see theManteled Howler Monkey ... a great treat to see ... three of them perched high in the trees. There were several species of animals we saw, all were beautiful.
Once we completed the canoe tour, we were taken to a large room where we watched a short 10 minute video about the history of the sloth. This creature goes back 60 million years. The guide then lead us to view the sloths at the sanctuary. They are very cute, a constant smile on their face, they truly do resemble a very cute stuffed animal you just want to grab and hold!
These animals live high in the trees, sleep 12-18 hours per day and live seeing the world upside down. They literally wrap their arms and legs around the branch of a tree and tilt their head back to look around. Most of the sloths we saw were there for recovery, mainly from trauma related issues. Some may return to the wild while others will remain at the sanctuary forever as they are unable to return to the wild. We toured the workers feeding the babies, OH SO CUTE, I didn't want to stop watching.
Once the tour was over, we ventured out on a trail named "the trail of the sloth" which was a very dense jungle area full of beauty. There were literally 100's of land crabs, bugs, butterflies, birds, ants, you name it and it lived among the this trail. The journey was peaceful, the walk only 15 minutes but just looking up in the jungle was a realization of how nature exists. It was an amazing experience.
We left Cahuita and drove the mountain filled area to Bribri. We stopped for lunch at a small soda and had fried chicken and tacos. The small village is filled with people as the local "college" is located in Bribri along with a jail, a lot of banana fields line the hillsides, a great place to just enjoy the environment. We even saw a crop duster plane spraying the banana fields, a very modern looking plane too I must add.
Once we arrived back in Puerto Viejo, the clouds had remained. It was humid from the rain that filled the morning hours, it wasn't beach weather, that's for sure. Upon our return about 2:45 p.m., it felt like a sauna outside.
I took a siesta (yes, you read this correctly). It felt nice and when I awoke, it was nearing sunset and I couldn't miss going to the beach at this magnificent time of the day. I went out to take some photos and met up with Jose and his fellow worker Michael. They said they saw dolphins near the beach swimming so we all watched but never saw any. I took sunset photos and then Ed joined us and we all shared a cold beer, took a "salute" photo and the MOSQUITOS WERE OUT, the humid wet air brought the entire population right where we stood. Despite the language barrier, I enjoyed trying to converse with Jose, I tried and he did as well but the experience was more important than learning a phrase or two.
Thank goodness for CNN, Ed enjoyed watching the news and trying to find English TV stations. Me? I spend my time on the lanai or on the beach. I just watch, listen and enjoy the tropics. I never knew something so simple as crashing waves, tropical foliage and the warm (hot) climate could keep me entertained for hours and hours, but it has.
I can't find much in detail to write because I am captured in the beauty, relaxation and warmth of the air. This vacation wouldn't be for everyone but for us? Perfect.
