22 Jul 2025
Our tour guide Hayor was wonderful and that was the foundation of a great day. He shared a very compact version of the country’s history and provided a base understanding of the forces shaping Costa Rican society today as we wound around and dipped up and down through the hills on our our way to La Fortuna. It was a wet day in the cloud forest so we were satisfied with a view of the waterfalls from the look off. Next it was off to the hanging bridges and a walk through the forest. Hayor was very knowledgeable about the the flora and fauna calling out to birds and red dart frogs. He had a keen eye for what was happening in real time and what had recently happened through the the traces of animals that had passed by. Hayor was fully keyed in on safety. He proceeded us at all times and made us aware of unseen dangers. I would return to walk these paths again and again if I had the opportunity. The smells, the light, the mist and the towering trees made it an unforgettable experience. We saw coati, vipers, frogs and tarantulas and heard the calls of numerous birds. Afterwards we headed for lunch at one of the several venues for thermal baths. I had a tilapia dish for lunch and it was delicious. We were in the baths during a bit of a downpour but it didn’t dampen our fun at all. We relaxed with our thoughts of what a wonderful country this is - pura vida. PS - we saw a resplendent toucan perched on a tree as we were lolling in the warm water waters of the thermal baths. Muchas gracias