| I decided to take an extended weekend trip to | | | | expensive are nice because you learn alot about |
| Costa Rica. It was one of my dreams to explore | | | | the people and the culture through your private |
| a rainforest! This trip was done on my own, using | | | | tour guide. The roads to Monteverde were |
| local tour companies I found on the web and | | | | bumpy as the elevation got higher. It was very |
| booked prior to arrival. My B&B and base | | | | breathtaking, however. We arrived in good |
| was in San Jose, the capital. Although rainy season | | | | weather again. Now Monteverde was EXACTLY |
| can cause problems for travel to the mountainous | | | | what I had dreamed that a rainforest would be, |
| rainforest regions, my week was blessed with | | | | gigantic, enormous trees with gargantuan leaves in |
| good, mainly sunny weather. Upon late arrival at | | | | a thick, wooded landscape that went on and on. |
| the B&B, I dined on my vegan travel supply | | | | First sight, a large ape up in the trees holding its |
| of trail mix and fruit purchased at home and at | | | | baby! So precious! There were various colorful |
| the airport. Time for sleep. | | | | flowers and plants along the way. Instead of a |
| Early the next morning, I chose to first visit the | | | | quick zip lining, I decided to walk on the treetop |
| Tortuguero Rainforest in northeastern Costa Rica | | | | hanging bridge so I could see more and really |
| with a local tour company. We lucked out with | | | | soak it in as you could on a slower pace. From |
| good weather..no blocked roads! On the way | | | | the bridge, I could look down onto the ancient, |
| there, my tour stopped at an animal reserve in | | | | giant trees and pathways in the jungle. We saw |
| the woods. We saw poisonous, red-eyed frogs up | | | | the spongy moss that is used in manger scenes. |
| close, multi-color toucan birds, gorgeously vibrant | | | | There were dozens of species of |
| flowers, and indigenous fruit. Well worth the stop! | | | | vibrantly-colored birds in the trees.I stood at the |
| When we arrived at the tour's starting point, we | | | | sign which signifies the continental divide! We |
| got onto a small boat with an awning and slowly | | | | noticed beautiful butterflies, large colorful beetles, |
| cruised along the waterway to our destination. | | | | and caterpillars. |
| During our journey, there were many sights to | | | | After the tour, we stopped at the rainforest's |
| behold..sloths among the trees, horses and | | | | cafe for lunch. Vegans need not starve! There |
| flamingos along the water's edge, birds on the | | | | were vegetable options. In fact, Monteverde town |
| grassy shoreline, and many indigenous plants. Why | | | | has a vegan-friendly restaurant called Cafe Flor de |
| there was even a family of crocodiles in the | | | | Vida. |
| water. One of them jumped, spread its jaw wide | | | | At this point we proceeded to head back to |
| open and snapped its mouth shut before it could | | | | town. Along the way, we stopped for beverages |
| come over and eat us! | | | | and snacks at an outdoor cafe. It happened to be |
| Finally, we arrived at Tortuguero Rainforest. We | | | | adjacent to coffee-growing plantations. Very |
| got off the boat and preceded to walk into the | | | | scenic. Costa Rican coffee is known to be of |
| forest. I was fortunate enough to see several | | | | good quality. I purchased a cashew Britt snack, |
| white-faced, capuchin monkeys scurrying among | | | | chocolate covered cashews. The Cafe Britt |
| the treetops! That was the absolute, high point of | | | | company makes coffee and dark chocolate |
| the trip! After walking along the beach, we got | | | | covered nut snacks which are very popular all |
| back into the boat and headed to a nearby small | | | | over the country and can even be purchased at |
| island stop to fuel up the tank. We were given | | | | the airport. Its a great snack for vegans as they |
| coconuts with a straw and were grateful to have | | | | travel on a long journey to the rainforests in tour |
| this soothing beverage to replenish us as we | | | | buses. |
| cruised back in the tropical heat. | | | | I saved the last two days of my long weekend |
| It was a late evening arrival back in San Jose. | | | | to go sightseeing around San Jose itself and the |
| Prior to my trip, I had found a couple of | | | | nearby village. At this point in my journey, I |
| vegetarian restaurants on happycow.net but they | | | | already got to see some gorgeous scenery and |
| were closed when my tour arrived back in town. | | | | adorable wildlife so now it was time to explore |
| Instead, I found small cafe where I had a salad | | | | the cultural side of the country. I first found a taxi |
| and side order of veggies. Vegans do not despair! | | | | driver who was willing to drive me to an artisan |
| I was on a mission to do a lot of sightseeing at | | | | village 20 minutes away and waited for me to do |
| many destinations, during a brief, weekend trip. | | | | my browsing. I purchased the typical touristy |
| There was not much time for me to dine..not my | | | | souvenirs of rainforest animal statues and |
| goal. I enjoy spending my long weekend trips | | | | indigenous peoples statutues. After a few hours |
| running around like the energizer bunny, soaking | | | | of shopping at these artisan shops, it was time to |
| up as many sightseeing tours as I can! | | | | head back to San Jose. |
| I will be honest. Costa Rica is not the easiest place | | | | My final day was spent exploring the past and |
| to find vegan cafes in the small villages. However, | | | | present at the local museums in San Jose. I joined |
| there ARE vegan-friendly dining establishments in | | | | a tour of San Jose's beautifully ornate National |
| town. San Jose has about a dozen or so | | | | Theater. My stops for the rest of the day |
| vegan-friendly or vegetarian restaurants. Some | | | | included the Gold Museum and Art Museum. The |
| examples are Comida Para Sentir, Nirvana, | | | | locals were surprised at how much activity I was |
| Mantras Veggie Cafe and Tea House (Costa Rican | | | | able to cram into a long weekend vacation. After |
| cuisine), and Soda Amitabha. | | | | just a short trip, I feel like I know Costa Rica's |
| The next day, I hopped on another tour bus, this | | | | landscape, peoples, and culture! Plus..vegans can |
| time for a private tour of the Monteverde Cloud | | | | indeed go to this jungled, remote country and find |
| Forest. A cloud forest is at a higher elevation than | | | | enough food options to satisfy them. |
| a typical rainforest. Private tours, though a bit | | | | |