I went to Rescate Zooave Wildlife Rescue in La Garita in Alejuela, which received allot of press for reconstructing the beak of a toucan named Grecia that teenagers had thrown rocks at. Abused animals are rehabilitated there, and many, like the parrots, are not in cages. Iguanas also roam around. I was able to get close to one without spooking it.
There are many animals there like monkeys, sloths, turtles, etc. as there are over 250 species of animals. There are large spiders in their webs everywhere so be careful… There are also beautiful flowers. This isn’t a zoo; the main purpose is educating people against mistreating animals since they are vital to our ecosystems. The funds from admission are used to continue the work there. I think it’s a great cause, and important to educate people when they are children. Hopefully, incidents of animal abuse can one day cease to happen.
After the rescue center, we went on another excursion. An oxcart is an important symbol of Costa Rica, hearkening back to when it was used as the main transport. We visited a family business that has been making oxcarts since 1923. We took a tour of the place, and I especially enjoyed watching the artists paint…I really liked the stylized floral designs. They took us through the process of making the carts at the manufacturing side of the business.
They sell handmade items at the gift shop so I couldn’t resist a beautiful green tray with that design. The souvenirs are all reasonably priced so I was able to get most of my gifts here. One of the artists carves figures from cypress teak wood, so allot of his work is sold at the shop. Above the shop there is a restaurant that serves delicious food upstairs. The tres leches cake was one of the best I ever had!
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at San Rafael Church in Zarcero. The grounds have beautiful topiary gardens that you can explore. The church was constructed in 1895, and is worth taking the time to view. They had this beautiful aqua fabric decorating the interior…maybe it was for a wedding, but it added to the church’s appearance.
The gardens were created by the artist Evangelista Blanco in the late 1960s. The shrubs are shaped as animals, and different things like tiny houses a hobbit would live in. I had a great time walking through and photographing it.
I was so excited to visit Arenal Springs resort which is next to Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna, northwest of San Jose. The resort pumps water from the springs, and the water is supposed to take years off…of course I slept in it like it was the Lazarus Pit. Happy to say I shaved years off my life.
The pool area is amazing since you can be in the springs, and still order your tropical drink at the bar. The Costa Rican specialty is a Guaro Sour, made with guaro cacique, which is alcohol made from sugar cane. The drink also has lime and sugar cane juice…I like it since it’s tart like a classic margarita.
There are also different pools at different temperatures. So do as the Romans did, start with hot, then warm, and finish with a swim in cold water…it’s good for you! I enjoyed my downtime at the pool. But some friends took a cab to La Fortuna for some shopping, and enjoyed their afternoon.
In order to see some native wildlife, the tour took us on a cruise on the Rio Frio at Los Chiles. We even crossed to the Nicaragua side of the border…got to take some steps there. On the cruise, we saw a family of white headed capuchin monkeys. The alpha got mad and told us off since he thought we were too close. I also got to see a howler monkey…they were sitting in the same spot a while, unfazed, posing.
I was pretty giddy to see a family of brown nosed bats! They are so small and are hard to see without a better camera lens. I hope you can see them lined up on the underside of the log. I have a thing for bats ever since I visited Mammoth Caves in Kentucky, and learned how important they are. Plus, I like anything that feasts on mosquitoes.
We also saw water walking lizards aka “Jesus” lizards, iguanas, and birds galore. A dog even accompanied us on this cruise. The tour guide tried kicking him off the boat a few times, and he would just follow us by swimming next to the boat. He was so persistent! On the way back we crossed “Iguana Bridge” where the reptiles are found in a cluster on the trees there.
After my fun excursions, I was happy to be back at the resort. I relaxed in a hammock then went swimming in the thermal springs. It was great to have a glass of wine and soak my muscles.
