3 replies to this topic

[Freebird]

A friend and colleague recently offered us the chance to use her vacation home in Costa Rica. It's raised on stilts and has great gardens, a deck, all mod cons etc and knowing just the amount of diffrent hummingbird species in CR drives me crazy with the idea I could go and photograph them.

I would love to go - how often does someone offer this! But, I am terrible with buggy places, critters I am not familiar with (even ones I am, I still dread running into a skunk or a raccoon) .

Has anyone been, do you have any insights to offer? The range of birds available seems to make everything else worthwhile but I am still nervous, so I wondered if anyone could share details or their trip, or what they think more generally to help me look at this in different ways.

Thanks,

FB

[spookyjimjams]

A friend and birder of mine went to Costa Rica within the last year and she was very happy with the new birds she was able to see. If you don't like bugs, take DEET. She didn't run into any critters worth mentioning. I don't think that either should concern you enough to not go! This is a chance of a lifetime...don't miss it for such trivial reasons as these!

[ColoTomo]

Unfortunately it's one of the places I haven't been, but have heard lots of amazing things about. Of all the people I've ever known who have been there, they say it's one of the most beautiful places they've been to. If you hate things like amazing birds, beautiful nature scenery, fresh delicious fruit right off the trees.... you probably shouldn't go, let me go in your place Kidding aside, a girl I dated many years ago -very afraid of bugs, spiders, etc- loved Costa Rica. Bugs are everywhere, but nothing there that couldn't be 'handled'

[WrensFriend]

I was in Costa Rica last year - mostly Guanacaste but we also spent some time in the more central area. I didn't find the bugs much of a problem, but I took deet bug spray with me and used it when we were touring around. There were Mosquitos ( super tiny ) when we toured river/ mangrove areas and I was glad to have the deet that day.. But i dont recall any other bug concerns. No bothersome critters.. Lots of little lizards came out on the hotel walls in the common areas at night, but I never seen a single one inside the hotel or rooms..

My biggest regret is that we didn't go for longer... So I've booked another trip and am planning to go back... Beautiful birds, monkeys, sloths, flowers.. The ocean.. There is so much to do and see... I can't wait!