Costa Rica Day 16 - La Selva

Today we had an early start and drove to La Selva Biological station near Sarapiqui.  It has 1,600 hectares of well-preserved old-growth and recovering wet lowland tropical forest that abuts the Braulio Carrillo National Park. It has a 4 to 6 km wide forested corridor that connects La Selva at 35 m above sea level to the Barva Volcano at 2,906 m.  Where we were was mainly at the 35 m level.  Apparently it takes 4 or 5 hours of hiking through forest to get from a lower point to a mid way point.  It has an abundant species of birds, reptiles and insects.  We were shown photos of many animals that also transect the corridor including Puma, Jaguars and other cat species, Tapirs and Peccaries.

I haven't identified this butterfly as yet but most of the extras I have already blipped before so this one can get main billing.  We were shown around by a very knowledgeable guide and while there were some stunning birds, it was hard to get good shots of them all. 

The sloth in the first extra is a two toed sloth who apparently was seen fighting with another one yesterdat.  That would be interesting in slow motion wouldn't it.  The other one fell out of the tree.  Where this one is is above a river so I am not sure whether the other one just fell to another branch or into the water.

We had lunch a local Tico restaurante and then returned to San Jose.  The traffic can be a bit tricky so I am glad I am not driving.

We are just back from dinner and tomorrow we go volcano visiting.  Someone is going to be sacrified according to our guide.   If it comes to it, it will be him although he has really looked after us so well it will be a shame to push him in.

Hasta Luego!