Heliconia Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

We will post trip information here as soon as it starts. For 2010, we will continue planning the project and look for Sponsors that are willing to invest and support the Project. All indications in that regard is ...

Small village on the main road but Tucan Hotel set back. Not cheap and only 2 showers/toilets shared between up to 4 people in treehouse, 4 in hammocks, multiple others camping plus 12 people in dorms when fully occupied. Female shower/toilet always full of men as bigger - thankfully came when quiet.

Cocked up the directions to the falls, Cascadas Verde & didn't turn left before hardware store. Ended up crossing the river ...

... most of us cower inside.

A few butterflies, a sleeping bird, and a big cricket later, we were back at the ranch, only to be greeted by a tiny scorpion which had set up resident next to the door of the office. Our guide toyed with the angry looking creauture, trying to tease it out of the way with a twig, but eventualy gave up and had to resort to opening the door quickly and grabbing his bag before the tiny little beggar got inside. I gathered from his approach, it ...

... the Moutain of Death.

The Moutain of Death is a mountain range on the InterAmerican Highway that got that name long before cars were around when people used to cross this moutain range by foot, horse, or donkey. Many people died back then and this moutain was almost the dealth of poor Wesley as well! We barely made it over the pass as Wesley was sputtering, blowing smoke, and wouldn´t go over 40 kms. We even pulled over and Devin replaced the fuel filter as ...

... kept landing on us as we walked the trail and some had the most amazing iridescence and we did see a large stick insect. One of the weirdest insects we saw were the glow worms whose green LED lighting caused by a chemical reaction in their bodies flickered around the forest. Another strange sights was a salamander peeping out of its hole and I was surprised to learn that Costa Rica has forty three species of this animal and contains nine percent of the world's population!

Just a quick blog to keep you up to date
Had to change plans as there was no space at Sirena Ranger Station. Margarita was able to organise alternative route into Corcovado
Got Marvi bus to Sierpe. Stayed in good cabinas and had excellent meal in their restaurant

... it was very fun, that step off the platform really scared me. Parker, Shaeleigh, Malesa and I all did the Tarzan Swing and loved it. Grandma thought it looked too scary, and decided to pass.

The very last zip line was 1,000 meters and you had to go with a Buddy in order to have enough weight to make it to the end. I went with Parker, and Shaeleigh, Malesa, and grandma all went with a guide. The last zip line was worth the price of the activity. You ...

Today we started out for Monteverde. First we stopped and toured the school for kids with disabilities. Emma and Megan plan to volunteer here for some par tof their next three weeks. It is really great. Great facilities and equipment. Everything seems under control. There are no children that are not involved in some kids of meaningfull actgivity. Charlie tell us that this is the oldes school for kids with disabilities in Central America ...

I met up with Craig, a WorldTeach guy from Marbella in the Musoc bus station in San Jose. He had invited me a week earlier to climb Chirripó with him and several other WorldTeach volunteers. I didn't really have too much of an agenda, so it seemed as good an idea as any. Nelle and Seth seem really nice; also with us is Seth's friend from home, Mike, and Craig's little (Tico) brother, Kenneth. We took two buses to arrive in San gerardo de Rivas at an ...