Monteverde Action Tag (07.02.2022)

06:45 is wake-up time today if you want to see wildlife in action. Our guide 'Johny' picks us up from the hotel on his off-road motorcycle (the perfect vehicle for here) and we convoy to the Curi Canchaa Reserve, a private protected area. Our very competent guide walks with us through this natural paradise for nearly 2.5 hours, and even though we didn't have many direct encounters with animals, we were able to learn a lot. From ants to hummingbirds to sloths, it was clear that Johny is passionate about the subject and has a lot of knowledge. Even though the entrance fee and guide amount to €40 per person, you leave with new topics and, above all, perspectives on the diversity of nature. One of the highlights was definitely a glimpse of a quetzal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzal), one of the most beautiful and legendary birds in the region. It can only be found in cloud forests and therefore only in some countries in Central America. After our guide said goodbye, we decided to hike a bit more and explore the trails. All in all, it was a very educational and varied morning.

Before we moved on to the next action, we decided to grab something to eat and ended up at a very charming place called 'Stella’s'. 'Late breakfast' was on the agenda, including cake and coffee (unfortunately the espresso was weak). What becomes quickly visible in Monteverde is that there is a creative scene on site (many stores with local art) and as a result, there is a nice local scene with small cafes that give off a vibe similar to Vienna-Bobostan 1070. This is also reflected in the prices, which tend to be higher than on the coast. After we tasted espresso in a second place (Choco Cafe) - or rather, I forced Kathi to taste it (much better) - we went to the outdoor facility 'The Original Canopy'.

Recommended by the hotel among numerous canopy providers in the area, we plunged into the adventure with a group. Tarzan swing, rappelling, tree climbing, and 10 rounds of zip-lining were on the program. It took a bit of overcoming, especially with rappelling and the first zip-line, but thanks to the good guidance of the guides who took care of safety and checks everywhere (which is different from Austria's system), it turned into fun adrenaline rushes. The longest rope length was about 800m of steel cable at a height of up to 30 meters, with a view of the Pacific Ocean and the cloud forest - it couldn't get much better.

Happy and a little tired after about 10km of hiking and a series of adrenaline rushes, we decided to stop by the local 'Commercial Center' for some small purchases (some soul food like nachos and beer ;-)), in order to be back at the accommodation in time for the breathtaking sunset. As already described yesterday, it is a dream place from the veranda to end the day and humbly look into the distance as the sun slowly says goodbye.

The Daily Two:

Insight: Cloud forests are very special ecosystems. Not only are they breathtaking to explore, but even a single tree can be covered with up to 300 different plants. In addition, the biodiversity is hard to comprehend. For example, a small reserve like today's has over 3,000 different species of animals (birds, monkeys, reptiles, insects, etc.).

Moment of joy: Feeling free and carefree is ideal when doing an 800m zip-line (which takes about 43 seconds) across the cloud forest with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Definitely the most beautiful moment of a truly great and varied day.