Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Vulcan Arenal, Costa Rica




Image: Margay, 5D MK II, 300 F4 IS L.F 7.1,
ISO 400.

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Image:Chestnut-mandibled Toucan. 5d Mk II 300 F4 IS L. ISO 3200.

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Arenal is located in central Costa Rica 90km NW of the capital of San Jose in the Arenal Tilaran Conservation district and is home to many of Costa Rica's diverse animals and birds, it is a bird lovers paradise and a volcanologists dream, the volcano is close to La Fortuna which is every one's kick off point to explore the area, we stayed on our last trip at the Arenal Observatory Lodge which is a very nice place to stay, its clean and well equipped and as close to the volcano as you can get, as a matter of fact most rooms have a view of the volcano and the extensive grounds include acres of land and trails to explore, bird watching is supperb here. Lago Arenal is also excellent for fishing, I managed to pull a 10 lb Wapote out of the lake on one of my trips, use the local guide ,Gato Negro from the Lake Arenal Lodge. I saw 2 species of Toucan and also Toucanets while visiting for just a few days and I am not a big birder, we also saw Kinkajou and a Margay as shot above. The area is home to monkeys, Red Eyed Tree frogs, Pizotes, Sloth, Hummingbirds, Poison Dart Frogs and a large variety of exotic animals. I have visited here 4 times and still not come away with a good image of the volcano, weather usually being the part that kills it, maybe next time.

More info: Arenal.net.
Ross Murphy Images In Light

2 comments:

  1. If you want to seee Arenal you need to hang out about 2 weeks and get up EARLY I see lava right this moment at 348 AM but I bet the clouds will move in by 530.
    Pura Vida from the .........Oasis of the Toucans dot com.

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