After a hearty breakfast we're off to La Reserva Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena to explore the Cloud Forest.
Certainly cloudy - still raining hard in Costa Rica. Certainly foresty - tropical trees, vines and orchids abound! Lots of birds - that big black one is a Black Guan (or Forest Turkey) - impervious to the downpours!! And the little one is a Hummingbird - our Guide tells us each species of Orchid has it's own species of Hummingbird up here in the Cloud Forest!
All the animals are staying at home - keeping dry - no sign of the fabled Howler Monkeys - or anything else of a four legged variety!
Highlight of the tour for David is the revelation that the many burrow holes in the side of mossy banks are Tarantula's Casas - some of the residents are still home - those aren't zoom lens photos - they are up close and personal shots of Orange Kneed Tarantulas (Female of the species - more deadly than the male) at home snoozing - around 6 inches long says our Guide, looking edgy as David crouches down for another extreme close up!
After 3 hours of treks and trails our Guided Tour comes to an end - and we're very well informed about Cloud Forests - a lot like Rain Forests - but much wetter - abundant Flora - less Fauna!!
Soaked to the skin, we jump in the car, whack up the heater and head for Los Pinos Cabanas y Jardines to a Cloud Forest Cabin and complete change of clothes!
