As we climb through the foothills we get a view of the verdant cloud forest along the continental divide, with Monteverde at center.
On arrival, Benjamin took us to visit a local waterfall.
A waterfall near to the Hooke's house.
Our first morning in Monteverde, after a night of rain, brought a beautiful rainbow.
A flower in the Hookes' garden.
Sunset over the Gulfo de Nicoya, as we head out for a night hike in the Bajo del Tigre forest.
The guide coaxes a tarantula out of its hole in a tree trunk.
The tarantula is not poisonous, though its bite can hurt!
An "emerald toucanette" bird clings to a branch in the windy evening, while asleep!
A "turquoise-browed motmot" bird clings to a branch in the windy evening, while asleep!
A "rhinocerous katydid" -- look at that horn!
Andy captured many photos of the cloud forest with his iPhone.
Andy sits under an "elephant ear" plant.
The cloud forest is home to many beautiful flowers, even in this "dry season".
Ricardo Guindon, our guide, has led tours of the cloud forest for nearly 20 years and grew up playing in this forest.
This plant opens one row of flowers at a time, for pollenation.
Andy tries to get the best angle.
These plants catch water and provide an ecosystem for insects. The bright red are actually leaves, which attract birds to pollenate the yellow flowers.
The kids discuss the flowers.
A tiny orchid.
A black guan - the size of a turkey - rests among the clouds in the canopy.
A bridge over a deep ravine gives us a good view of the tree canopy.
