Trip Report: Costa Rica, April 2011
Read MoreAbout the size of Vermont, Costa Rica has more biodiversity than Europe or North America, supported by beautiful coastal regions, numerous volcanoes, and mountainous cloud forests. I was in the Northwest Pacific region, on the pacific coast at Playa Conchal, and inland near Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
I wanted to see as much wildlife as I could. With the promise of viewing toucans, up to 3 species of monkeys, blue morpho butterflies, and more, we signed up for an ecological tour on horseback. We were shuttled up to the stables in this neat old military vehicle. As you might expect, it was a bumpy ride in the back...
Throughout the jungle, we saw huge fig constrictor trees. These trees start out with vines climbing up a larger supporting tree. As more and more vines combine and grow larger and larger, they surround and suffocate the supporting tree. Then support tree dies and rots away, leaving a hollow center and a great place for critters to make their home. These trees a truly unique and beautiful.