Are you a professional photographer? This was the best question I was asked during my single-trip from the caribean ocean to the pacific coast of Costa Rica. Especially as I just started to use my Nikon DSLR D5100 with my basic objectiv 18-105mm, without any filters and even no tripod with me...
Tortuguero National Park
I left the capitol after one night to enter the wonderful world of Tortuguero Nationalpark on the northeast caribean coast. I left the minibus to a world of waterstreets and a huge variety of animals and plants. During several boat trips - the one in the early morning hours starting at 5.45pm was just awesome - I could get a deep look into the wonderful rich coast of this country.
New years eve was celebrated 2 hours earlier at Evergreen Lodge, to empower the locals to celebrate outside the hotel with their friends and familys at 0.00pm. I met lovely people from Ireland and had a great start into my 2014...
Cahuita
Travelling was pretty easy for me, mini busses took me from "Tortuguero Harbour" to Cahuita, situated on the southeast caribean coast and completely different to Tortuguero. I met a lovely family at the beach in the afternoon, ending with a very funny bbq dinner at the Malu bungalow resort. During my expedition at the national park I was closer to a poisoned snake than ever before...
Arenal Volcanoe
The whole area is dominated by the massive volcanoe Arenal and very popular for adventure sports of all flavors. I booked a adrenaline zipline tour, only with a leather glove to brake and slow down the high speed when flying from on platform to another. Due to that, I left my camery at a safe place. Riding back with horses was another highlight of that day.
On a guided tour I was walking on a volcanoe for the very first time. We stood there until the sunset, which was awesome directly behind the colcanic lake nearby. A great day ended in one of the hot pools "Ecotermales" - with a cold cocktail in my hands. Pura Vida!
Monteverde
The green heart of Costa Rica really surprised me beeing much colder due to the altitude of 1.330m below sea level. I met some german travellers during an excursion and had a very funny night with them. On a coffee plantation I learned the smart way of roasting great black gold and really enjoyed my time up there.
The nature was just awesome, especially on the morning walk! Like everywhere in Costa Rica...
Manuel Antonio National Park
The last stop on my journey brought me to the pacific ocean. Nationalpark Manuel Antonio was a great place for hiking. Having a cold coconut was a dream come to true when I left the sunny park many hours later. Great beaches, pure rainforest and a green snake on my path...
Pura Vida is a great memory - I am very proud of having travelled on my own. Costa Rica: I'll be back.