Limón to San José

     We spent our final day in Costa Rica driving from the Villa Toucan to San José. Here, only one major highway connects two large cities in the country; San José and Limón. By our standards in the United States, this road would be considered a secondary surface street, but to Costa Ricans, this route is vital. As the highway winds it way through the mountains east of San José, the road alternates between two lanes on one side and a single lane on the other. During the inclines, you are often stuck behind large semis huffing and puffing their way up the hill while you patiently await the next two-lane passing zone. On the other side of the road, huge trucks come barreling down the mountainside at speeds that seem less than comfortable. However, it is important to remember that these truck drivers traverse this route multiple times per day and they have gotten used to driving it regularly. The key strategy on this highway is to stick completely to your lane and pass only when it is safe and permitted. A few unofficial overlooks provide scenic vistas of the jungle-coated mountains.

     Reflecting upon the entire trip, I realize how Costa Rica truly is the ideal destination for nature-lovers, beach goers, and photographers; in my mind, the country falls somewhere between a completely foreign destination like Columbia and a mainstream tourist location like France. Costa Rica offers a little bit of everything while providing travelers with an authentic central-American experience (without feeling unsafe). The country relies heavily on the tourism industry as part of its economic growth. People here are kind and welcoming to foreigners. Costa Ricans live a relatively simple life and they make the best out of what they are given; a beautiful, unspoiled country. 

Panamanian border crossing

      Crossing the Costa Rica-Panama border proved to be a more daunting task than anticipated. While nearly everyone in Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo has been across the border to Panama at least once, each person seems to have a different view on how the system works. In our case, we simply wanted to cross the border for 30 minutes and visit the duty-free store in Panama. Initially, we believed that no stamps were required for a quick visit to the duty-free zone, but this was far from the truth. After much confusion and back-and-forth to different immigration desks, we discovered that a total of four stamps are needed to complete the process; exit of Costa Rica, entry to Panama, exit of Panama, and entry to Costa Rica. Exit fees are also included for both countries during this lengthy procedure. Ultimately, though, everything worked out fine for us and I was happy to cross another country off my list. 

     Immediately upon entry to Panama, the difference between the two countries is noticeable. Infrastructure in the Panamanian border town of Guabito is more run-down and less maintained than its neighboring town of Sixaola in Costa Rica. Visiting this area exposes you to the raw feeling of a poor, Central-American town. However, everyone there was nice and willing to help us. People make the most of what they have in places like these, and visiting Guabito made me realize how good we have it in the United States. 

Birding & snorkeling

     When it comes to birdwatching in the jungles of Costa Rica, wildlife can be much more active on some days than others. This particular day, we had more luck than any other. The aptly-named Villa Toucan provides an ideal perch for viewing several varieties of exotic birds, with the keel-billed toucan being the star of the show. These birds are well-renowned throughout the region for their large, vivid beaks that stand out against the rainforest backdrop. I was lucky enough to capture several images of two keel-billed toucans exchanging pleasantries on their favorite tree branch.

     On the same day, we also went on a snorkeling tour of the spectacular coastline near Manzanillo.

 A boat picked us up on the beach near the central portion of  town and we were taken along the coastline to a beautiful spot called Playa Paulo Mena. From there, I swam out of the clear, shallow water to the beginning of the reef. We saw large schools of medium-sized fish, abundant brain corals, and all kinds of underwater biodiversity. I am always amazed by the whole concept of a “second world” existing beneath the surface of the water every time I go snorkeling or scuba diving.

Punta Uva & Villa Toucan

     Punta Uva, near Limón, hosts some of the most pristine and quintessential Caribbean beaches I have ever seen. Sunbeams reflect of turquoise-clear water and the white sand flows gently with the current of the waves. Sitting at this beach, I couldn’t help but marvel the fact that these kinds of beaches are advertised with airline awards cards all over the US. 

    Reaching the Villa Toucan requires passing a very steep gravel road with pavement strips in the excessively abrupt inclines. The house is nestled deep in the jungle where all kinds of exotic birds and animals are common to see. Howler monkeys, the loudest land mammal on Earth, awoke us around 4:00am in the morning; about an hour before sunrise. Their ominous call defies the common belief that monkeys make a cute, ooh-ooh-aa-aahh noise; howler monkeys project a deep, sinister scream that can be heard from approximately three miles away. To me, the howler monkey call sounds similar to that of dementors in Harry Potter. 

 

Vara Blanca to Limón

      A drive through the north-central lowlands reveals the true essence of Costa Rica and Central-American culture. I noticed numerous street markets and colorful buildings lining the highway. While these markets and homes may look run-down and poor, everything is kept well-maintained and free of any litter. Heading towards Limón, the highway switches to only one side frequently, and it is often hard to tell if you are driving in the correct lane. However, the locals know how to handle these roads, and the best way to follow the traffic rules is to simply copy the actions of the person in front of you.

La Paz Gardens

 

     

     Our day was spent exploring around La Paz Waterfall & Gardens in the Vara Blanca district of Costa Rica. Endless amounts of lush, tropical gardens was met with a variety of native animals and insects at the exhibits. I saw countless amounts of plants that we struggle to grow in pots in our homes flourishing around this area. Monsteras, Bird of Paradise, and Orchids are just a few of the many common houseplants that grow naturally in Costa Rica. Multiple large and powerful waterfalls are reached via the trail down the gorge. 

First impressions

 

     Tan-roofed, Central-American style buildings and abundant amounts of rainforest are the first noticeable aspects of the area upon arrival into San José. Descending beneath the cloud ceilings, my eyes were glued to my first-ever glimpses of this incredible country. After finally completing a lengthy customs process on the ground, we began our drive up the hillside to our first night at Poas Volcano Lodge. The roads are so steep and narrow getting up to this location that they would likely be made into switchbacks if they were constructed in the US! The densely-lush forests and terraced grazing fields resemble something that I imagined existing only in Bali or Vietnam.