LAST DAY IN COSTA RICA

Our last day in Costa Rica was filled with beauty and tropical weather.  We visited the La Paz Waterfall Gardens which are in a rainforest at an altitude of 4200 - 5200 feet overlooking the PoasVolcano National park.  It took about 1 1/2 hours to travel up to the gardens and we were rewarded with one of the most beautiful animal, butterfly, bird, and hummingbird preserve in Central America.  It is a private resort and wildlife sanctuary for injured animals and birds.  The cages are designed to be a part of the jungle and are spaces and natural. Our lunch was exceptional in a beautiful room with views of the surrounding jungle and the Arenal Volcano.

TYPICAL POWER LINES THROUGHOUT PANAMA AND COSTA RICA

IT IS COMMON TO SEE PLANTS USED AS FENCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRYSIDE

COFFEE BEANS PLANTED THROUGHOUT THE HIGH MOUNTAIN RANGES

An American man discovered this beautiful land full of waterfalls and jungle about 12 years ago and bought it to preserve its beauty and create a wildlife preserve. It is also a lodge and spa

THE BUILDINGS BELOW ARE THE ANIMAL, BIRD, BUTTERFLY, AND HUMMINGBIRD HOUSES. IT IS THE #1 MOST VISITED PRIVATELY OWNED ECOLOGICAL ATTRACTION IN COSTA RICA. IT IS A RESCUED WILDLIFE PRESERVE WITH OVER 100 SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND THE MOST FAMOUS WATERFALLS IN COSTA RICA

 THE PARK IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE REHABILITATION OF SOME OF ITS RESIDENCE.  ALL OF THE MONKEYS WERE CONFISCATED FROM PEOPLE WHO HELD THEM ILLEGALLY AND WERE DONATED BY THE COSTA RICAN MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT. IN MANY CASES THEY WERE ABUSED AND IN NEAR DEATH CONDITION WHEN THEY ARRIVED.  THE FELINES WERE ALSO DONATED BECAUSE THEY WERE EITHER VERY OLD, INJURED, OR HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO HUMANS FOR TOO LONG TO BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.

 LA PAZ WILL ONE DAY SEEK TO RELEASE THE OFFSPRING OF THE CATS INTO PROTECTED ZONES.

OUR FINAL VISIT WAS TO THE DOKA COFFEE ESTATE WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF COFFEE BEANS IN COSTA RICA.  THEY SAY THAT COSTA RICA PRODUCES THE BEST COFFEE IN CENTRAL AMERICA

 COFFEE IS GROWN AT HIGH ALTITUDES AND AT 4000 FT. IT WAS COOL AND LUSH

 OUR GUIDE WAS DARLING..VERY DRAMATIC AND KNOWLEDGEABLE .

 THESE ARE THE BASKETS USED TO HAND PICK THE BEANS

 THESE OX CARTS WERE USED FROM TIME TO TIME

 A SCHEDULE BOARD FOR COFFEE CYCLES

 ALL MACHINERY WAS POWERED BY WATER

 THE BEANS ARE GROWN IN THREE DIFFERENT QUALITIES

 FLOWERS AND PLANTS ARE PLANTED ALL AROUND THE PLANTATION TO GIVE THE BIRDS FOOD SO THAT THEY WON'T PECK AT THE COFFEE PLANTS AND BEANS

 OUR LAST VIEW OF COSTA RICA FROM HIGH ABOVE THE VALLEY

WHAT A WONDERFUL TRIP OF A LIFE TIME!