Back for more Pura Vida in 2011! Our trip began on February 22nd in Bijagua, we stayed at a great B&B called Sueno Celeste. The Rio Celeste was a short 15 minute drive and a 3 mile hike! The river transforming into a sapphire blue waterway was amazing.

A two hour drive southeast took us back to Arenal volcano. The Observatory Lodge is the only place to stay there, we love it. Rain continued for the first 2 days but finally cleared as did the volcano. However, Arenal has been unusually quiet for months and continued it's sleeping while we were there. A stark contrast to last year and all the fireworks it provided (see 2010 gallery!).

From here we spent 5 nights in Manuel Antonio at the El Paseo Del Mar apartments, good wildlife around the grounds and the owner was great. Continuing down the coast to Dominical, we stayed at Casa Artistica in the hills above Playa Guapil. Buck and JoAnn Rogers have a beautiful piece of property and are very welcoming in sharing it. Toucans, parrots, capuchins, spider monkeys and sloths were seen and also several encounters with the collared peccaries.

We finished up the 23 days in San Gerado de Dato valley and stayed at Savegre Mountain Lodge. The quest here was Respeldent Quetzels and we were successful! I photographed a male and female near their nesting tree for a half hour, quite exciting!

Another great trip to our favorite place, soon to return!

Pura Vida :)