Costa Rica

8th-11th May 2004 Escaped the clutches of Ecuadorian mainland with all our possessions, except a couple of films probably when being hand-checked at the airport. Arrived at the american-influenced capital San Jose, Costa Rica, having finally got through the super-inefficient Miami airport. Spent a few days at museums etc., before heading for some greenery. 12th-14th May Explored most aspects of Monteverde Cloudforest Preserve including canopy walks, whizzing from tree to tree down wires (see pics), butterfly farm, ranarium (frog house), serpentarium, orchid garden, hummingbird garden. You name it, they´ve got it! Also did night walk. Excellent guides throughout, and got to see several of the elusive, colourful, Resplendant Quetzals, sloths, monkeys, toucan(no ´s´). 15th-17th May Headed south to the pacific beaches, to Quepos via various buses. Arrived Quepos, didn´t like the sewage so hopped on the next bus to Matapalo. Good decision. After 13 hours, arrived at paradise (with added mosquitoes): El Coquito del Pacifico, palm trees, pineapples, mangoes, cashew trees, iguanas, sloths, pool and bar. Right next to the deserted beach (which we galloped along on horseback - for a bit). 18th-19th May Took a bus to Uvita, with intention of diving, on the boundary of Parque Nacional Marino Ballena (Whale), arriving in the only month that you don´t see humpback whales! Dive shop closed due to low season, and it was raining, so went back north to the very americanised Dominical (good for surfing). Dive shop open, but not enough divers for the trip to be viable. 20th-21st May Still raining, so gave up and went back to San Jose. Checked weather forecast and decided to bring forward the flight to Honduras!