Moteverde - The Cloud Forest

We only had one full day in Monteverde, so we packed in a lot. Started the day with the El Trapiche Tour where we got to see sugar cane, coffee and chocolate plants. We learned all about each from growing and harvesting to how the process each to make what we buy in the store. It was interesting and everyone learned a lot. We even saw some of the equipment for how they processed the harvest 70 years ago compared to now. There was even a "sugar-shine" set up - so I got to try some 120 proof sugar cane moonshine. :-)

Next we went to the Frog Pond and Butterfly Exhibit. I was surprised that this was a guided tour, but quickly figured out why -  without the guide, there is no way one could find the frogs! They hide so well! He had a flashlight and we could find them when he was telling us where to look. There were over 30 kinds of frogs, many poisonous. What was surprising to learn is that most of the world's frogs are nocturnal! Apparently our pass was good to come back tonight to see them out and active and not sleeping but we already had tickets for a night hike, otherwise we would have come back!

We asked our guide where a good place to eat was. He recommended Tico y Rico as his cousin runs the restaurant. He gave us cards worth a free fruit juice, so off we went to find it. The food was good and reasonably priced. It was late enough, we were calling it lunch and dinner together.

Back at the hotel, we left John and Jacob with the grandparents and Mommy and Daddy went off for a night hike at Ficus Trails to see what creatures would be out. We didn't see any sloths or scorpions, but the guide really did look hard for them. Our guide did show us a very large cutter ant mound (approx 10m x 10m) and we saw several highways where the ants were bringing in leaves and berries. In the woods he found several birds (don't remember what kind), an owl and one viper snake. We went by a pond and saw several frogs crocking away. At the end of the tour, he walked along the road and he found/showed us several tarantula spiders. The females live in holes and he'd take a stick and coax them out thinking they may have dinner. I believe he said they were blind and went by feel. 

Tomorrow we go home and the Grandparents go back to San Jose for their trip back home.