Day 3: A Day In Monteverde

Today we actually went into the refuge, instead of just to the entrance. Pedro took some time to tell us about the history of Monteverde. We went partway along the "El Camino" (highway) trail, then cut over to the nature trail and came back that way. We liked the round wooden "cookies" (as Pedro called them) used to provide the trail surface in the many wet areas, and we even got to see the fabulous quetzal, one of the most spectacular birds in the world. Back at the entrance, the coati was still around, this time getting brunch from a ketchup bottle.

In the afternoon, we went to a butterfly farm and then to an "Eco-Farm." We got to see some agoutis, a pair of coatimundis, and some leaf-cutter ants. I had little success on the photography front, however, until we got back to the hotel, and I took a couple of nice sunset shots.

Pedro telling us about Monteverde.

Trail with wooden "cookies."

The fabulous quetzal through Pedro's scope

Another view of the quetzal

Coati feeding time at the refuge

Sunset at Belmar