Costa Rica: July to August 2021

Rio Danta Restaurant on the way to Mawamba Lodge. After arriving in Costa Rica the night before we took a bus to the Mawamba Lodge. Our first stop was this restaurant, which is owned by the Lodge.

On the way to Mawamba Lodge

Iguanas on the way to Mawamba Lodge

Basilisk Lizard on the way to Mawamba Lodge

On the way to Mawamba Lodge

Howler Monkeys the way to Mawamba Lodge

American Crocodile on the way to Mawamba Lodge

Mawamba Lodge

Mawamba Lodge - Baby Iguana

Mawamba Lodge - Red-eyed tree frog. We took a guided walk around the grounds of the Lodge and saw some of the wildlife that inhabits the rain forest.

Mawamba Lodge - Greater White-Lined Bats

Mawamba Lodge - Leaf Cutter Ants

Mawamba Lodge - Purple Leaf Grasshopper

Mawamba Lodge - Lizard

Mawamba Lodge - Iguana. They were all over the place.

Tortuguero Village is the neared habitation to the Mawamba Lodge.

Mawamba Lodge - Iguana at Tortuguero National Park. We went on a cruise in the Jungle and got to see a lot of wildlife.

Mawamba Lodge - Iguana at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Anhinga at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Tiger Heron at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Iguana at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Orange-Eared Slider at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Tortuguero National Park. This picture always makes me think of Jurassic Park.

Mawamba Lodge - Spectacled Caiman at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge

Mawamba Lodge - Ghost Spider on guided night hike at Tortuguero National Park. Jessica, Henry and I went on a night hike through the rain forest. We only really saw some insects, a few birds and one Blue Land Crab. Henry was quite brave and enjoyed the hike.

Mawamba Lodge - Butterfly on night hike at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Cricket on night hike at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Walking Stick on night hike at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Cricket on night hike at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Blue Land Crab on night hike at Tortuguero National Park

Mawamba Lodge - Spider Money at Tortuguero National Park

Boats docked at La Pavona

View of Arenal Volcano from Casa Luna Hotel and Spa. After Tortuguero, we took a van to the Arenal Region.

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour - cocoa pod. We went on a tour of a Chocolate and Coffee farm. We saw the process of how hot chocolate was traditionally made, as well as how chocolate bars are made. The kids had the opportunity to make their own chocolate bars - neither of them were a fan of the taste.

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour - cocoa bean

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour - the process of making chocolate

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour - traditional hot chocolate. It's spicy instead of sweet.

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour - Coffee beans

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour

Arenal Volcano

Don Juan Chocolate and Coffee Tour

Sloth Watching Tour. That same afternoon, we went on a sloth watching tour. We saw a number of sloths as well as a Fer-de-Lance - one of the most deadly vipers in Latin and South America - and a bullet ant, whose bite has been compared to being shot by a bullet.

Sloth

Sloth Watching Tour - Fer-de-Lance

Sloth Watching Tour - Rufous-Tailed Jacamar

Sloth Watching Tour - Bullet Ant

Ecocentro Danaus - Great Kiskadee. The next day we went to the Ecocenter and saw birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. There's also a cultural center.