Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. Return to San Jose

In the morning we journeyed north to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, near the Nicaraguan border and the town of Los Chiles. This day proved to be one of the most exciting and fulfilling of the trip, especially since I had no idea what to expect. The day's boat tour on the Rio Frio was chock full of wildlife viewing. We saw capuchin (white-faced), spider, and howler monkeys, a caiman, at least 30 species of beautiful birds, tropical bats, and more! The local outfitter did a great job of keeping us entertained and fed throughout the day.

That night I made it back to San Jose on a long public bus ride that stopped every few minutes. This made me appreciate the much faster minibus transfers I used earlier in the tour, and that our clients use throughout their trips. The staff at comfortable Hotel Santo Tomas in San Jose welcomed me after a long day of travel through Costa Rica's countryside, and I slept well that night, appeased after a great getaway to this ecological paradise.