Read day 5 here.

This morning there was another optional bird walk for those that were interested and as I mentioned before Pedro has a faithful group that gets up early every morning.  Breakfast is at 7:00 and we all enjoy a typical breakfast buffet in the upstairs dining room. Pedro lets us know to meet in the lobby at 9:00 so we can take the bus to the point in the river where we’ll put in. Dress for this activity is bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, Tevas or Keens, plenty of sunscreen, hats and sunglasses. If wearing your sunglasses, a Croakie or lanyard would probably be a good idea. Once the whole group gets to the lobby everybody gets on the bus and off we go.

Once we arrive at the put in point we walk down a river rock strewn path to the Sarapiquí River. We are met by our rafting guides/instructors who happen to be young, fit and also really funny. We are all fitted with life vests and helmets and then given instructions on rafting. Some in our group are first timers and the instructions given are clear and easily understood - how to get in and out of the raft, when and how to paddle, and what to do if you happen to fall out. Our instructor also lets us know that due to lower than average rainfall this year, the rapids will only be class 1 or 2 – normally they are a 2 or 3. Our group is divided into 3 smaller groups and I end up in a group of all ladies. We all get into the raft without mishap and off we go. Our rafting guide Wilmer puts us through practice runs of forward paddle, back paddle, lean in, and in. At first we’re not very synchronized but soon we’re paddling in almost the same rhythm.  Pretty soon the guides have initiated raft wars and we do our best to get our fellow rafters sopping wet by splashing them! All in all, a good time is had by all and nobody falls in.

About halfway through our ride we pull over to the river bank and we are treated to fresh cold pineapple (not as good as yesterday’s Finca Corsicana, but pretty close) and watermelon – so refreshing! After our break, it’s back into the rafts for the rest of our trip down the river. As we paddle along our guides point out different birds and wildlife. I just can’t believe how many different species of wildlife we’ve seen in such a short time in Costa Rica. Soon we are at the end of our ride and we have ended up right next to our lodge. It’s just a short hike from the river up to our rooms.

*** Each raft has a dry bag for things like cameras, room keys, prescription glasses, etc. – basically anything that you don’t want to get wet.

Everybody heads up to their rooms to change into dry clothes and then we head on over to the dining room for lunch. At lunch Pedro reminds us that we have an afternoon hike through the rainforest across the river scheduled for a bit later. After lunch we have a bit of free time on our own. Luckily it’s really warm outside so I take some time to wring out my wet clothes and bathing suit and just hang them over the railing outside my room. (Note – though it’s hot it’s also really humid and my clothes didn’t dry nearly as quickly as you might think they would) After that I head out with my camera to take pictures of the beautiful flowers that are all over the grounds of the lodge.

Selva Verde Lodge is located on 500 acres of rainforest reserve.  Literally translated Selva Verde means “Green Forest.” At a little before 2:00 we all meet at the head of the hanging bridge to cross over the river and into the rainforest.

Since it was mid afternoon and humid we were advised to make sure we brought water along with us. Pedro reminds us – stay on the trail because there are poisonous frogs as well as snakes here. The trail itself is unpaved and uneven and also at an uphill incline in many places. Shoes with good grip are a must and a good sense of balance is needed also. Pedro pointed out all sorts of flora and fauna.

We saw lines of leaf cutter ants taking their bounty of pieces of leaves back to their home, large centipedes, blue jean frogs, poison dart frogs, golden orb spiders, and much more. We are in the forest about an hour and a half and then we head back to the lodge.

We have a little bit of free time so I take the opportunity to head down to the lodge swimming pool for a quick dip. The pool water is nice and cool so it is really refreshing. After my dip I head back to my room to get ready for a social hour with the group before dinner. We all meet in the downstairs dining area for home made pizza that is made in the big outdoor oven located there. Giovanna Holbrook, the owner and founder of Selva Verde, as well as the general manager, Graziano Marengo, are both from Italy thus the pizza oven!  We also enjoy some nice cool beverages that are available from the lodge bar. After a bit, it’s upstairs for dinner.

After dinner it’s back to my room to repack – tomorrow we head to Arenal.

Suitcase needs to be outside the door by 7:45!

Day 7 >