Just a few highlights from our Costa Rica sojourn. A blue-crowned mot mot plus multi textured vegetation from around the world was a good introduction to the tropics our first morning at the Bougainvillea, our starting point as we began our journey.

Then a rainy canopy tour on the way to Tortuguero yielded a bare-necked umbrella bird for a lucky few. The canals of Tortuguero always beautiful made even more so by a wealth of waders - the displaying tiger heron on the lodge palapa crowning them all. Strawberry poison dart frogs, tent-making bats, and a purple caecilian added their vibrant colors to this green world. Made all the greener by a fly-by of four great green macaws!

In another world a short hop, skip, and a jump away as the kiskadee flies resides the Resplendent Quetzal in the oak shaded valley of the Rio Savegre. This jewel of the neotropics never fails to evoke awe. And two male birds feeding only scant feet in front of us in a wild avocado in the yard of Mrs. Quetzal was surely worth the price of admission. The Sulphur-winged parakeets we watched feeding on apples would agree.

So up and over the continental divide through the mists and clouds to the Pacific side of the country and Ballena Park. The stop at Oro Verde with its giant ceiba and sandbox trees - what a walk! - ending with a sloth staring serenely out into the setting sun!

Dolphins, a cow and calf humpback whales, plus three monkey species and a bounty of birds. What more could you want! Hope you enjoyed the Rich Coast - pura vida!

Guia Tom