On the Rio Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
https://www.entercostarica.com/destinations/northern-region/sarapiqui
Sarapiqui valley, bordering the river of the same name in northern Costa Rica, is a glorious place with national parks, rainforests and the river itself to explore. In Heredia province, it is one of the few places in the world where you can see the great green macaw.
Walking, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, fishing, whitewater rafting and river trips are just some of the things you can do.
This article covers both videos we've made on this wonderful area of the planet:
3 great reasons to visit Rio Sarapiqui
1. The birds and animals
Because of the number of national parks and wildlife reserves in this area, and its rainforest vegetation, the Sarapiqui valley is a great place to see heaps of wildlife.
There are three species of monkey commonly seen here: the mantled howler, white-faced capuchin and spider monkey. It is also quite easy to see either Hoffman's two-toed or the brown-throated three-toed sloth, or if you're lucky, both.
You can also find huge green iguanas, basilisk lizards and anole lizards. There are lots of different frogs, including the strawberry (blue jeans) poison dart frog and the famous red-eyed tree frog who features on all the websites and social media posts about Costa Rica.
Bird life abounds. Heredia is one of the few places you can see the great green macaw. There are also red-and-green and scarlet macaws, keel-billed and chestnut-mandibled toucans, hummingbirds, tanagers galore and a host of other amazing birds.
On the river you can spot great blue herons, spectacled caiman and the massive American crocodile with rows of sharp teeth.
Our videos feature much of the wildlife listed above, and more. Check out:
for:
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little blue heron
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green kingfisher
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red-eyed tree frog
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emerald basilisk lizard
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bare-hearted glass frog
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common rain frog
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variegated squirrel
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buff-rumped warbler
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Baltimore oriole
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scarlet-rumped tanager
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green iguana
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strawberry poison-dart frog
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chestnut-mandibled toucan
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mantled howler monkey
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long-tailed tyrant (bird)
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Taylor's leopard frog
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green honeycreeper
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crimson-collared tanager
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black-cheeked woodpecker
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hook-billed kite
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four-lined ameiva (lizard)
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summer tanager
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slender brown anole (lizard)
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buff-throated saltator (bird)
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Hoffman's two-toed sloth
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ground anole (lizard)
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black river turtle
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cool spiders and insects
for:
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little blue heron
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golden-headed tanager
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great kiskadee
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tropical kingbird
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Hoffman's two-toed sloth
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buff-rumped warbler
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violet sabrewing (hummingbird)
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variegated squirrel
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keel-billed toucan
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emerald basilisk lizard
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summer tanager
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Hoffman's two-toed sloth
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blue-and-white swallow
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anhinga (bird)
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spectacled caiman
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mantled howler monkey
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snowy egret
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great blue heron
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American crocodile
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green iguana
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clay-coloured thrush
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black river turtle
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chestnut-mandibled toucan
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great green macaw
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red-and-green macaw
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scarlet macaw
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white-faced capuchin monkey
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paca (mammal)
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northern jacana
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cool insects.
2. The activities
The activities all centre around the wildlife and the river. All places you stay can offer boat trips and wildlife viewing in various national parks and reserves.
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La Selva Research Station, run by the Organisation for Tropical Studies, offers walks round its facility with knowledgeable guides. They also offer accommodation.
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Selva Verde Lodge is an educational facility and wildlife viewing resort, with trails through primary and secondary rainforest, birdwatching and guided walks. We stayed here and can recommend it. For more information on the trails and activities offered by the lodge, see our videos: * Selva Verde, Costa Rica - Central American Adventure 10 and * Along the Rio Sarapiqui - Central American Adventure 11.
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Most places you stay can organise boat trips along the river. These are very pleasant and guarantee sightings of lots of water birds, caiman and crocodiles as well as a very good chance of seeing monkeys, sloths or both. You can find out more about what you can see on a river trip in our video Along the Rio Sarapiqui - Central American Adventure 11.
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Sarapiqui River is near Arenal volcano and most places you stay can organise day trips here. Until recently, this was Costa Rica's most active volcano and although at the time of writing it was dormant, it could easily become active again.
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There are several private reserves and gardens in the area. We visited a farm that rescues macaws who are free to come and go as they please but tend to stick around as the farmer feeds them regularly. There are also white-faced capuchin monkeys and other birds and animals on the pretty property. Check out this place in our video Along the Rio Sarapiqui - Central American Adventure 11
3. The relaxation
There's a lot to do in this region and it's only 2 hours drive from the capital, San Jose. If you are not an active person, or have young children, it's a great place to rest and relax. Most places to stay have swimming pools and gardens where you can see frogs, birds and lizards without even trying, as well as cheeky squirrels.
More about the wildlife
Five great facts about Hoffman's two-toed sloth Choloepus hoffmanni
1. Hoffman's two-toed sloths live almost all their lives in trees and have powerful claws that help
them grip and hold onto branches, even when asleep.
2. The sloths sleep a lot, between 15 and 20 hours a day, and are most active at night when
they forage for fruits, leaves and seeds.
3. Their favourite trees are cecropia trees but they can live in other trees too.
4. Because they have a very slow metabolism, they only need to defecate and urinate once a
week.
5. They live for 15 to 20 years in the wild, but can live for up to 30 years in captivity.
See a sleeping mother and baby in Selva Verde, Costa Rica - Central American Adventure
10 and a baby sloth in action in Along the Rio Sarapiqui - Central American Adventure 11
Five great facts about the mantled howler monkey Alouatta palliata
1. Mantled howler monkeys mainly eat leaves which do not provide a lot of energy. As a result,
they spend a lot of time eating and sleeping.
2. They are the loudest of the New World monkeys but only the males call - a bone in their necks enables them to produce a call that can be heard up to 5 kilometres away.
3. They are called mantled howler monkeys because of the golden hairs on their sides.
4. The monkeys spend most of their time in the upper canopy of trees. However, they do travel across the ground and even swim short distances when they need to.
5. Mantled howler monkeys live in social groups of 10 to 20, with 1 to 5 adult males and 5 to 10
adult females and their babies. They are not as aggressive as other species of monkey.
See mantled howler monkeys and their very cute babies in Selva Verde, Costa Rica - Central American Adventure and Along the Rio Sarapiqui - Central American Adventure 11
Five great facts about the emerald basilisk lizard Basiliscus plumifrons
1. Emerald basilisk lizards can run on water. They have strong hind legs with which they churn
up air by moving them like windmills. They hold their tales in the air as a counterbalance.
2. These lizards are nicknamed 'Jesus Christ lizards' because of this ability to run across water.
3. Emerald basilisk lizards are brightly coloured and the males have large crests on their heads and bodies.
4. Pregnant females lay up to 20 eggs in a trench on the ground. Hatchlings are born with the ability to run on land and water, climb, and swim.
5. These lizards eat plants, fruit, insects and other small invertebrates.
See these amazing lizards in Selva Verde, Costa Rica - Central American Adventure and Along the Rio Sarapiqui - Central American Adventure 11
Five great facts about the great green macaw Ara ambiguus
1. These endangered macaws are one of the largest macaws. They are highly threatened by
loss of habitat. Farmers see them as a threat, thinking they eat their crops and shoot them. They are also in danger of being poached for the pet trade.
2. These endearing birds are very sociable. They live in tree hollows in family groups of 5 or 6
and go out to forage in groups of up to 50.
3. If they can survive, these birds can live for up to 80 years.
4. They eat seeds, fruits, nuts, flowers and berries.
5. These macaws are important for the survival of the forests in which they live. They support
new tree growth by dropping seeds in their excrement or while feeding.
See these endearing macaws in Along the Rio Sarapiqui - Central American Adventure 11.
Do you have questions or comments about this article? Email maddestinations@gmail.com or leave a comment under one of our videos:
