Tirimbina Reserve

I slept pretty well. The day starts at 7:00 AM with a delicious breakfast. There is fresh fruit again, especially the melon which tastes particularly good today. There is something for everyone, from porridge, toast with fried eggs, to pancakes. The accommodation is really beautiful. In the elevated breakfast room, there are benches on a kind of balcony, from which you can see directly into the jungle to observe animals. Fruits are placed on the trees for the animals to access. In my opinion, breakfast can't get any better than this. We have the morning free today. There is a self-guided tour available that some choose to join. Here, more animals and plants can be found. However, one can also relax or spend time by the pool. I choose the latter. It is very sunny by the pool. The water is pleasantly warm. One must be very careful regarding sun exposure here. The sun is quite strong and aggressive. A high sun protection factor is needed. Swimming is nice. There is also time to read.

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Today we are scheduled to meet at 1:00 PM. Everyone is punctual at the bus and excitement is high. We are visiting the Tirimbina Reserve. Here, we will embark on a chocolate tour. We will learn about the entire manufacturing process, from the cocoa fruit to the bean to the finished chocolate. In between, we get to taste it repeatedly. I find it impressive how good the beans taste after roasting and what flavors emerge. The cocoa nibs (separated from the shell) are then processed with cane sugar and cinnamon, ground on a special stone and then milled further. Here we get involved, because we are turning the crank. A very special “cocoa liqueur” is created. This is then poured by Don Giovanni with hot water and stirred vigorously. We essentially have a natural hot chocolate here. We can flavor it with various spices, such as pepper or chili or nutmeg, but also with vanilla or rum. It really tastes good. We learn the theory regarding the further steps until the finished chocolate. This is melted for us, and we can eat it together with fresh pineapple or coffee nibs, or coconut flakes. There is also sea salt. In the end, we also enjoy dark chocolate. The presentation is really well done. Very dynamic, funny, and in very good English.

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Afterwards, we take a hike through the reserve. We walk over a longer suspension bridge and cross the Sarapiquí River. We have a great view from the bridge. During the hike, we discover many depth and interesting plants again. Jef explains a lot about the flora and fauna in Costa Rica. When we arrive back at the starting point, cold drinks await us, such as soft drinks, beer, or fresh shakes. For a small part of the group, a great highlight begins in the evening. They go on a night hike with a guide and flashlight. Equipped with appropriate clothing and good mosquito repellent, they head out. The other part of the group, to which I belong, is taken back to the hotel. We meet later for dinner together.

We learn that the night hike was a resounding success, as there was a lot to discover. After sunset, the jungle awakens. The group sees spiders, frogs, snakes, numerous insects, and also discovers a sloth again. Really great 😊