Once more today, we had the privilege of waking up in this majestic place on the Pacific side of the North Pacific tropical moist forest. We observed an active volcano and enjoyed ziplining, horseback riding, hiking on forest trails, and waterfalls with swimming holes. We observed this incredible tropical forest and some of its inhabitants, including monkeys, black iguanas, and tropical birds.
11/17/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Curu Wildlife Refuge and Isla Tortuga
Today was a wildlife fiesta. Along our forest walks in Curu we saw scarlet macaws (Ara macao), greater, white-lined bats (Saccopteryx bilineata), Central American agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata), white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus), howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), and banded owl butterflies (Caligo atreus). Curu is a multi-use sustainability development project that prioritizes forest protection, sustainable agriculture, and wildlife conservation. Clouds broke in the afternoon for a lovely beach excursion to Isla Tortuga where guests swam, drank rum coconuts, and observed charismatic collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). It was difficult to leave the beach, but we had the world premiere of our Guest Slideshow to enjoy, prepared by our magnificent photo instructor, José Calvo. This week we were lucky enough to experience the tail-end of rainy season here in Costa Rica, a climactic rhythm that defines the beautiful biodiversity that drew us here to begin with. Thank you, rain, for all you make possible.