San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica – So… I am in Costa Rica. By myself. Daddio and the twins are coming down to meet me in a few weeks. In the meantime, I have research to do, birds to spot, and a mountain to climb. This makes me feel excited, terrified, liberated, and lonely–all at once. Apparently I am a little out of practice for going solo.
My first stop is San Gerardo de Dota, birding mecca and home of the resplendent quetzal. This is a magical place, swirling with clouds and all aflutter with hundreds of species of birds. I stopped for lunch at a local favorite, Comidas Típicas Miriam, and wouldn’t you know it, one of these beauties alighted on a nearby avocado tree to have himself some lunch too. Welcome to the cloud forest.
Most lodges in the area are set up deliberately to attract different species of feathered friends, with viewing decks and plenty of feeders and flowers. It’s fun to just sit back and see who comes to visit. I have already started sending my photos home to Daddio so he can identify the birds.
It may come as some surprise that it’s chilly in the cloud forest, especially at night. I was lucky enough to bed down in a lodge that offered me a fireplace in my room, so this is how I ended the day. Of course I wish I had my three boys here to keep me company, but I can’t complain. Going solo isn’t so bad.
