Curu Wildlife Refuge and Tortuga Island, Costa Rica
Our day began with excursions into the Tropical Dry Forest, an ecosystem that this southwestern corner of the Nicoya peninsula is so famous for. Within minutes of stepping ashore we could see why this area is so famous, as no matter which walk we chose, we were soon surrounded by Mantled Howler monkeys calling from the treetops! The Curu Wildlife Refuge is a part of the protected areas system of Costa Rica, but is also private property and a working farm, and no matter where we walked we were rewarded with great wildlife sightings.
During lunch we repositioned a short distance to Tortuga Island, where we spent our final afternoon enjoying the warm waters, the soft sand and a last chance to snorkel. Also at Tortuga Island was a chance for us to do our best impression of a monkey swinging through the treetops, as we rode the “zipline” canopy tour. Here an enterprising local has set up an operation where one can zoom through the treetops in a harness. We could only imagine how the monkeys feel as they swing through these same treetops.
All too quickly, this day and our Family Expedition through Costa Rica and Nicaragua was drawing to a close, and with a tinge of sadness we bade farewell to Tortuga Island, to Costa Rica and some new friends.
