Having spent three peaceful, interesting days and wonderfully cool nights in Bosque de Paz, we braced ourselves for the return of heat and humidity as we descended the mountain to Selva Verde Eco Lodge and Rainforest Reserve near the Sarapiqui River.

Amazingly, we arrived with no more problems with our 150,000 mile Geo Tracker. In fact, when we stopped at a small bar hut to pick up a 6-pack of Costa Rica’s own Imperial Beer, several well-lubricated patrons came out to have their picture taken beside the car while trying to, shall we say, cozy up to me. Ah, you have to love those colorful locals.

The lodge had set aside a middle room for us which had no cross breeze…not acceptable when merely breathing makes you sweat! We noted there was a corner room empty and went to the front desk to see if we could move. They said it was reserved for another couple, however, when I asked if the couple had any idea which room they had, they admitted no, and promptly allowed us to relocate.

The ceiling fan and the occasional puff of “cross breeze” lowered the room’s overnight temperature to about 83°F. Ideal, maybe not, but tolerable, sure.

Room blocks are connected to each other and the main building by a series of covered walkways, which makes getting around the “campus” a lot easier, especially when it’s pouring rain. There is outdoor seating on both sides of the main building, including along the river — a great place to sit, relax and rehash the day’s explorations.

At night the riverside view included bats, birds and various small nocturnal animals, especially the adorable kinkajou which, while shy, seemed to love playing to its captive audience.

Selva Verde Reserve is the direct result of Giovanna Holbrook’s eco-desire, sparked in 1982, to preserve 500 acres of endangered tropical forest, and all that lived within it. She succeeded brilliantly. Selva offers a wide range of activities from self or guided rainforest tours, to river cruises or white water rafting, to birding, to educational programs, and is a mecca for everyone from solo travelers to larger groups, yet still feels small and personable. Selva Verde.

Even the bridge which crosses the river to the Alemendro Trail is fascinating in the dark. Millions of spiders have spun intricate webs along each side, and at night they create an eerie art collection lit by the moon (or your flashlight). We tried in vain to capture a picture of them…sadly none turned out, so you’ll have to go see them for yourself.

Traversing the bridge during the day provides a nice view of the river, but most importantly, gets you to the other side for a day of exploration. We hired a guide, donned muck boots (as there had been torrential rains), and set out on a very active hike. Unfortunately, an hour and a half into our trek our guide made the decision to turn around, as the muddy ground grew evermore unstable and she felt it too risky to proceed.

We were, however, able to see bats stealthily tucked up under palm fronds, and colorful, unusual plants and trees. Few birds made themselves seen due to the weather and the late morning hour. The ever present chatter of well-hidden monkeys played back-up to our huffing and puffing as we negotiated the tricky terrain.

We were hoping for better weather the following day for our river cruise, and were not disappointed. Those with keen eyes and ever-ready cameras were able to capture a host of wildlife including lizards, gigantic 3-foot long iguanas, bats roosting under a wooden bridge, and a variety monkeys. It was a day to remember, including a later “off campus” stroll with a few other guests.

My husband all of a sudden started stamping and beating at his pants legs…he’d stepped on a hill of nasty, biting army ants and they were having a field day with his calves. It took 3 of us to beat them off, and a quick removal/shake-out of the pants before we could finish our walk. It was a sight to see, but, sorry, not one of which I took a photo. It did make a good “brotherhood of the stinging army ant pants” tale to tell later at dinner.

Having stirred up as much fun and/or trouble as we could, met some nice people and had exciting adventures, it was time to leave Costa Rica. I was never so thankful for air conditioning and a clothes dryer as I was once we got home. However….those conveniences should not be enough to deter you from exploring the volcanoes and rainforests of Costa Rica.

For those of you who are “beach people”, we understand there are stellar destinations there as well. So, grab a guide book and go, my friends. It will be an experience you won’t regret.

Written by VIP Members Thomas Lera and Sandra Fitzgerald.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.