The Whale's Tail Uvita
Marino Ballena National Park – Uvita
Marino Ballena National Park The drive from Lapas Rios to Uvita took just under three hours and brought us roughly half way back to San José, so it makes a…
Lapa Rios Eco Lodge Costa Rica Room with a View
Accommodation Review – Lapa Rios Eco Lodge – Lapa Rios
Lapa is the Costa Rican name for the scarlet macaw. When the American couple who founded Lapa Rios first visited the area, they spotted a number of macaws flying across the jungle in tandem, creating a river of red. Inspired by this beautiful image, they named the lodge Lapa Rios – River of Scarlet Macaws. It took them 8 years of searching to find the perfect place to realise their vision of creating an eco lodge in Costa Rica. They poured everything into it - savings, pension pots, heart and soul. It was well worth it - this is such a stunning place.
Pacific Ocean Sunrise Costa Rica
Buen Provecho – Sunrise on the Osa Peninsula
The day started early at 5am with a beautiful sunrise - doubled by its reflection in the Pacific Ocean. The first few minutes just before I wake up are usually like intermediate steps from light to shadow - my vision is dim and my mind not yet fully focussed. This morning, I was woken by the loud shrieks of howler monkies and the din of a million cicadas, then soothed by the sound of the ocean as the sun rose over it. It was the quickest move to sharp focus I can remember - the sunrise was absolutely spectacular - the outstanding highlight of this trip.
Hermit Crab
The Idle Traveller …
Dan Kieran’s book “The Idle Traveller” invites you to re-assess what you are searching for when you travel. He urges you to bin the travel brochure, glide rather than fly, embrace disaster, be epic in your travel pursuits and immerse yourself in the life-changing experience of true journeying. It is an entire philosophy of life rather than just a book about travelling. His philosophy is to slow d
Lapa Rios Eco Lodge - Welcome Drinks - Pipa Fria with bamboo straws
Bajos del Toro to Osa Peninsula
We set off at 10.30 from Bajos del Toro on a cool, wet morning and arrived at San José Domestic Departures terminal a couple of hours later, all set for a short flight to Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula.
El Silencio Lodge Bedroom
Accommodation Review – El Silencio Lodge and Spa – Bajos del Toro
El Silencio Lodge & Spa is located in picturesque Bajos del Toro on a 500-acre private cloud forest reserve flanked by the Juan Castro Blanco and Poas Volcano National Parks.
Sarchi Oxcart
The Oxcart Path to Sarchi
It's not many trips that offer you a bare knuckle ride two days in a row. Yesterday, we were expecting adventure. Today, we were expecting a quiet drive to the colourful little town of Sarchi about an hour or so from El Silencio.
Sarapiqui River Rafting
“High Five – Pura Vida” – Sarapiqui River White Water Rafting
The next day took us an hour back down the windy mountain road to the Sarapiqui River and a knuckle clenching raft ride on the white water rapids with Pozo Azul Adventures.. These are Class II/II rapids and rough enough to be quite a thrilling ride. You don't just get a bit wet on this ride, you get completely soaked.
Nayara Resort - Mi Cafecito Coffee Bar
Accommodation Review – Nayara Resort Spa and Gardens – Arenal Volcano
Nayara Resort Spa and Gardens - Accommodation Review Nayara has been recognized as one of the world’s best resorts by Travel&Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler and Trip Advisor and with very…
Hummingbird
“Away Away Away Away, Tico, Tico” – Arenal Volcano to Bajos del Toro
Leaving Nayara Springs for Bajos del Toro It was tough to leave Nayara Springs. Some of the best wildlife we saw was right in the hotel grounds and the hotel…
Mangrove Swallows
Caño Negro Rio Frio River – A Veritable Noah’s ark
Cano Negro Rio Frio River We took another tour with Aventuras Arenal today to explore the Cano Negro River area. Learning the Lingo We were on La hora Tico (appointment times…
Arenal Volcano Hanging Bridges Trail
Arenal Volcano National Park – En Armonía con la Madre Naturaleza
When you have had a shower outside in the rain and an open air bath on your balcony (safely concealed by the jungle!), it seems fairly pointless to wear an uncomfortable rain coat to go on a hike. Skin is waterproof after all? So today, I carried nothing except my camera and didn't let the rain bother me at all. I was feeling rather in harmony with Mother Nature (en Armenia con la Madre Naturaleza) and excited to explore Arenal Volcano National Park.
White Capuchin Faced Monkey
Hola Arenal – Mucho Gusto Amigos!
A warm welcome at Nayara Springs and the return of the sun enticed us into sampling a Caribbean fashion cocktail (7 year old Centenario rum, coconut water infused with rice, cinnamon and orang peel, orange syrup and angostura bitters) and spending the rest of the day doing little more than exploring everything this very beautiful resort has to offer - see the accommodation review for all the details.
Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel Costa Rica
Accommodation Review – Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel – Celeste River
Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel is a small resort-style, ecologically-conscious hotel right in the centre of the lush cloud forest of Rio Celeste in Volcan Tenorio National Park. You can walk down to the beautiful blue river directly from the hotel.
Your best chance of seeing a tapir
Rio Celeste – Un Mundo Differente, Un Mundo Fascinante
Established as a National Park in 1995, Rio Celeste is in the cloud forest region. A massive 3.7 metres of rain falls here a year - around six times more than the UK - and that sometimes feels very wet! A legend tells that after God was done painting the sky, he washed his brushes in the river that now bears the name of Rio Celeste - Light Blue River. It was worth a 4 hour hike to see how beautiful this looks in real life.
Red eyed tree frog
Celeste River National Park – Walk with the Eyes of …
This afternoon, I am visiting the Celeste River National Park aiming to walk with the eyes of a tour guide and see if that helps me to spot wildlife I would otherwise have missed. Come and walk with me and see what I discovered ...
Manatus Hotel Tortugero
Accommodation Review – Manatus Hotel – Tortugeuro
Peace and comfort in the middle of the rainforest. - Manatus Hotel is the exclusive way to enjoy remote Tortugero
Cortez Amarillo Tree
Tortuguero to Volcan Tenorio National Park
Guess what - it rains in a rainforest! Last night, it rained pretty well all night. It hammered on the tin roof of the lodge for all it was worth, building up to a crescendo drum beat for a few deafening minutes before petering out to a bit of a tap dance and a finale of sprinkles and tinkles in the gutters. Then silence, filled only by the constant hum of the air con which intermittently halted as the electricity cut out.
Three toed sloth (and baby!)
Salut Manatus!
Our base in the Tortugero National Park is the Manatus Lodge. Access is via boat transfer only - and let's hope they keep it that way!
Local girl on a swing Tortugeuro National Park Costa Rica
Alajuela to Tortuguero
The transfer from Alajuela to Tortugero took all morning - but what a lovely way to spend it. We drove past banana plantations, fields of papaya, coconuts and plantains learning a little about the beautiful country that is Costa Rica (Rich Coast) as we travelled.
Xandari Resort & Spa Alajuela - Welcome drinks
Accommodation Review – Xandari Resort & Spa – Alajuela
Where to stay in Alujela - Xandari Resort & Spa Accommodation Review Xandari Resort & Spa Alajuela has 24 spacious architecturally designed villas nestled on a 40-acre plantation surrounded by…
Arrival in Costa Rica Welcome Drinks
Arrival in Costa Rica – An Infinite Paradise of Possibilities
Arrival in Costa Rica - The start of a three week trip. An infinite paradise of possibilities beckons, starting with San Jose, Alajuela and a welcome drink of Pipa Fria.
What I'm Packing a Waterproof pouch
Costa Rica What to Pack
Costa Rica - What I'm Packing for a Three Week Trip. All the essentials and what you need to make sure to take to get the most out of your trip.
Costa Rica – Pura Vide
Costa Rica - Pura Vide. What is it all about? It's time to join me on a three week trip to find out ...
St. George's Terrace Perth
WA Final Reflections – See Ya Later …
Final reflections on a great road trip to WA. The questions I asked myself at the beginning of the trip have now all been answered ...
Duxton Perth WA Lobby
Best Place to Stay in Perth: Duxton Hotel
We have stayed in three hotels in Perth during this trip and the Duxton Hotel was by far our favourite. This is the place we will stay when we return here. The room has all the usual comforts you expect of a good city centre hotel - including a bath and fast free wi-fi.
Perth - view from the Captain Cook Cruise
Return to Perth – Fremantle and Dining on top of the World
A great way of spending our last day here was to drop off the hire car and buy a combo cruise/tram (commentated)/prison (tour) ticket for Fremantle (or Freo as they call it here). IT is lively authentic port with plenty of shops and rstaurants to explore and some interesting history to boot.
Pinnacles Edge Resort WA Artwork
Accommodation Review: Pinnacles Edge Resort, Cervantes
Where to Stay in Cervantes - Pinnacles Edge Resort Accommodation Review This hotel is a sister hotel to the Kalbarri Resort, so it felt very familiar when we arrived here.…
Mount Lesueur National Park WA
Mount Lesueur National Park – Boh Djinoong Quabba
Mount Lesueur National Park is one of the world bio diversity hotspots as a result of of its severely impoverished soil and the unforgivingly low rates of phosphorous. 900 flora species grow here - 10% of WA's flora. These are the species that are known too - it is highly likely that others exist in the dense bush that no-one has yet found. It has seven species of Declared Rare Flora. In late Winter to Spring, it erupts into a rainbow of colour and you can see rare orchids and several varieties of kangaroo paw as well as many other beautiful plants.