Sarapiquí

If you would like, you can join us today at 06:00 in the morning for a short walk, hoping to see and hear toucans. I will be there as well. We will start directly from our accommodation. It goes downhill for quite a while. We pass by huge pastures where cattle and cows are grazing. Also, we will see a beautiful farm. As we get deeper into the forest, you can start to hear them. The rainbow toucans. And indeed, we are lucky, because Jef, our guide, soon spots some. Through his binoculars, we can see and observe them well. They look beautiful. It's amazing how they fly through the trees. They also sing so beautifully. The ascent back to the lodge is quite exhausting, as the temperature quickly rises and it is already humid. By the time we arrive for breakfast, I am pretty sweaty but satisfied. After breakfast, it’s time to pack, as we are leaving Turrialba. 

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Today, we are traveling to Sarapiquí, a place that is closer to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The travel time is about three hours. On the way, we make another stop at a supermarket. You can really feel it. It is getting noticeably hotter and even more humid. We take a lunch break at Maria's. Here, there is the opportunity to try a local specialty, namely palm hearts. Once prepared as a salad and once as lasagna. We also have fresh papaya juice. It really tastes delicious. 

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Our destination today is a rafting tour on the Río Sarapiquí. So again, we can expect action and adrenaline. The tour begins again with safety instructions, where we learn the correct commands that are important for rafting. We each receive a paddle, a life jacket, and a helmet. However, for me, the tour starts first with a jump from a small cliff about 5 meters high into the river. Some others dare to jump as well. We let ourselves drift a bit and then climb into the boats. We sit sideways on the inflatable boat. The ride begins. We see crystal-clear water, gentle and roaring rapids. The river is surrounded by a tropical jungle with an incredible variety of animals. We see kingfishers, ospreys, toucans, and much more. The descent is so much fun. In between, there is a chance to jump out of the boat and swim a bit where the river runs calm. During the trip, we take another break, enjoying fresh pineapple, watermelon, and delicious cookies. After 1.5 hours, the adventure unfortunately comes to an end. After we all change, we make our way to our new hotel, the Selva Verde Lodge. The small bungalows are situated right in the middle of the jungle. I have a huge room with two large beds. Plenty of space. It is very clean here too. Everyone now has time for themselves to shower, unpack, or just explore the large property. Dusk is slowly setting in. The crickets are chirping, and you can also see fireflies. It really leaves you speechless. We have dinner together and end the day with some delicious drinks.