Welcome to Esquinas Rainforest Lodge deep in the Piedras Blancas National Park near Golfito in the South of Costa Rica. It was opened in 1994 by the organisation "Rainforest of the Austrians" who are also responsible for setting up the National Park and thus protecting 70% of the rainforest in this area of the country.... and what beautiful rainforest it is too....
The tranquil and peaceful setting is a beautiful habitat for flowers...
Delicate and fragile wild orchids and violets abound...
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.and it is possible to observe some beautiful toucans and scarlet macaws in the wild (of course the toucan turned up in the tree right outside our cabin after we had hiked for three hours through the rainforest looking for him!!)
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..and wildlife of course - here is an iguana, red-eyed tree frogs (caught mating) and a sinister looking caiman emerging from the dark depths..
At the lodge there is also a biological research station for scientists and the lodge itself is a model of eco-sustainability for which it has received a three leaf rating amongst Costa Rican hotels. It has a special relationship with the local village as a significant percentage of profits are invested in La Gamba and recently a school, health clinic and cultural centre have all been funded. All employees at the lodge are from La Gamba as are the local guides. The lodge offers an array of tours from kayaking and mountain biking to guided hikes and horse-riding with such beautiful destinations as this nearby waterfall "El Chorro".......
You are served three meals today which are excellent and all derived from local produce, ingredients and juices. On Christmas Day all the guests were invited to make tamales with the kitchen staff which proved to be a very enjoyable (and fortunately edible) experience.....
All in all it was a very special place to spend Christmas 2009, and if you are interested in the lodge then go to http://www.esquinaslodge.com/ and the founding organisation go to http://www.regenwald.at/ for more information. Do remember though that you are going to a RAIN forest and even in the dry season that means RAIN - everyday!! For more gorgeous glimpses on the world check out My World Tuesday postings by clicking here. Enjoy!!
17 comments:
Wow, what a tropical paradise. And WARM!
Nothing beats a Costa Rican rain forest. I love the colors and the lush greenery. What a rousing adventure to stay in a rainforest lodge!
it does look like a wonderful place ti visit, gorgeous photos, specially the birds and the frogs...
Love your imagds..some where l have always wanted to see...one day! Just popping by to tell the shadow image of the bridge..you wanted to know where it was taken. Well it was near Abbey Rd. if that helps1 how are doing? i live in Putney, in London.x lynda
I love the warning at the end - I can just imagine the complaints now! Again, I'm left envious of your close encounters with the parrots and toucans. I'd love to see them in the wild, looking as cheeky as the ones in your photos! Goddamit, another place to add to my 'must visit' list!
What a fantastic trip you had! And your photos are the beautiful!! Best of all, it looks WARM! Love the bird showing up after you'd spent the day looking for him!! So lush and green! Superb! Have a great week, Catherine!
Sylvia
Cool photos from Costa Rica, it is one of my dream trips. I would love to see one of the Toucans and the Macaws. Great photos and I enjoyed your post.
Hola Catherine,
Qué suerte vivir tan cerca de Costa Rica y poder admirar las joyas de la selva tropical, este país es como un paraiso.
Espero que hayas tenido unas buenas vacaciones.
Xavi
What great posts of your Costa Rican trip. Superb photographs and so interesting - thanks for that.
You have taken so much effort to present the lovely collages. So well done on these. Wonderful to read your post here today. :)
Incredible... and beautiful, wild nature all around. I'd love to spend some time in a place like that, if I could get there... Anywhere to get away from the frigid cold we've been getting... I'm not a winter person, I don't like shivering...
Thanks for this delicious glimpse of warmer climes...
oh my...i would enjoy the tamale making part :) the rainforest lodge looks like a wonderful place to vacation.
have a good week.
This one of reasons I enjoy my Tuesday trip around the world. Glad I stopped here.
love all your photos. thank you for being so generous to share heaps of them.
http://eraofchris.blogspot.com
Catherine: what a great place. Fantastic photos!
ps thanks for the link to hey harriet :)
I would love to visit Costa Rica again---what a lovely place. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful beautiful Costa Rica! What great captures of those things that captivate our hearts for this fabulous country!
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