Selva Bananito

After breakfast we are picked up by a private tourist bus and head to Selva Bananito. The ride takes us over lush mountains with steaming volcanoes to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The scenery made us wish we were stopping to check out the many little villages we passed through. On the van, I sat by a young lady who worked with the tourist bureau for Costa Rica and we talked the whole 4 hour trip about her life growing up and her job. Good thing she spoke great English! After our time on the van, we were met by an old land cruiser that bounced us up 7 miles of rocky almost trail-like road to Selva Bananito lodge and reserve. Just as soon as we arrived, upon putting our baggage in our cabin, we sat down to a typical Costa Rican lunch with another couple from Germany whom we quickly became friends with. After an hour rest, we hit the trail on horseback to see the farm and gain a quick overview of what kind of sustainable projects were taking place. The flowers were amazing - I just couldn't stop taking pictures of each new one. After getting our horse fix and sore bums, we had some much needed quiet time before dinner. At dinner, which was by candlelight (no electricity here), we met and talked with the owner of the farm, Jurgen Stein, and he shared with us his involvement in the many sustainable and green projects that are taking the forefront in Costa Rica, the same environmental issues we have in the states.