Travel day from Monteverde to Punta Leona

Today was a travel day from the mountains and cloud forests of Monteverde to the beaches and warm ocean water of the Pacific.  The group was ready to leave the cloud forest mostly due to the accommodations that we stayed in in the mountains. You will hear all about the Monteverde hotel, the bugs, random scorpions, strange smells and wild dogs fighting on the grounds at 4 am.  However, the food was great there, and the setting was picturesque. 

After leaving from  Santa Elena, we hit the Trans-American highway and headed south. The highway was a breath of fresh air compared to the insanely steep mountain roads and switchbacks that we endured in the Talaran mountain range. 

The first stop was a reschedule tour. Instead of going to Carara national park to hike, Diego suggested a boat ride on the Torcales River.  We saw tens of different types of birds, a few lizards, and about seven or eight crocodiles. These tour boats travel the river and feed the crocodiles. Everyone on the boat was impressed by the size of the crocodiles and the daring guide that leaves the boat and gets within inches of the crocodiles. 

After the river tour we drove about twenty minutes to Punta Leona Resort. The hotel website did not lead on that this is one of the most beautiful places to vacation.  The beaches on the premises are remarkable, the grounds are clean, well-kept, the food is great and the water is around 80 degrees.  We arrived at two o'clock, ate and everyone headed to the beach. The pictures below show what an impressive location we are at for the next two nights.  **Here is Shelli's website again: http://my.eftours.com/shellih/costa-rica-a-touch-of-the-tropics I made an error the first time I posted it.

These crocs are obviously fed daily by the tour guides, but still...

Here we are stopped in a Mangrove forest.

If you look in the distance you can see the ocean breaking onto the mouth of the river.

Tashi poses in front of one of the regulars.

An iguana watches our group as we leave the boat.

We heard that Playa Blanca is a twenty minute walk from the hotel, but after talking to one of the employees after everyone else had left, Tashi, Katie, Talia, Linda and I were driven there in this shuttle. Ha! 

Katie, Tashi and Talia posing between the two beaches.
(sorry for the dark pic)

The shuttle driver stopped again to point out a couple of Scarlet Macaw

All of us on Playa Blanca after being in the water for a couple hours before dinner.

Initially, I was concerned that this was a monkey, which are known for stealing beachgoers' belongings and other items, but it's just a raccoon.  This guy has no fear of anyone on the beach and got feisty when a young boy approached him.  Another raccoon was walking INSIDE the outdoor cafeteria tonight and had to be persuaded to leave several times during dinner.