We left San Jose at 8am today enroute to the Bahamas for a week relaxing and hopefully enjoying some sunshine. This is my overview of Costa Rica:- It is a country of contrasts and ecosystems from rainforest to cloud forest to dry forest and stretching between the atlantic and pacific coasts. To the north is Nicaragua and to the south is Panama. It is seen as the most advanced Central American country and although I have nothing to compare it with I believ...

Bags were down at the bus well before the required time of 0630; we paid our bill and wandered around the shop until breakfast opened at 0630. The weather was clear but cool and the restaurant was a tad cold which meant the cold fruit did not seem so appetising this morning - I tried some but it was not as a tasty either so I reconciled my hunger with cereals, toast and coffee. Today we got a glimpse of Costa Rican life - we headed to a small village called Trin...

We were up at 0445 having a cup of coffee in the room and were down at reception all booted and suited for the very cool (but dry) mountain air by 0520am for the Quetzal quest. We set off as planned at 0530 and headed in the bus up the valley to a local farm where an enterprising farmer lets bird watchers onto his land to watch the quetzals for $5 each ( payable only if you see them - which is fair). We walked up to a wild avocado tree with lots of small green...

We lay in bed listening to a very vocal buff rumped warbler leading the dawn chorus - I saw it on the bush outside our cabin door but it flew before I could get my camera out. Today I got up extra early, at 0530, as it was a travelling day and our bags had to be at the bus by 0630 - I thought this would give me ample time for my swim -but imagine my surprise when I got to the pool and it was empty - no water --zilch, zippo, nil----they clean the pool every 6-8 ...

Today started with a 0600am 30 minute dip in the freshwater pool. Refreshed I went back to the cabin, showered and we went to breakfast - being out for that half an hour makes for matrimonial harmony as John can have the bathroom to himself for 30 minutes! After breakfast we got ready for our hike around the trails surrounding the lodge.....we left at 8am as did 6 of the group who opted for a day tour of the Mangrove swamps instead. Besides Juan Carlos guiding u...