Costa Rica

Brian and I just got back from Costa Rica. We used the local bus system to get around quite cheaply and fairly comfortably. We traveled from San Jose to Quepos and spent a day exploring Manuel Antonio. Then we headed south to Hacienda Baru outside of Dominical. Hacienda Baru is an American-owned cattle ranch that has morphed over 30 years into an amazing preservation effort. We spent a day there exploring with a guide and then a night in the jungle with a guide and translator. From there, we headed back to San Jose via San Isidro and then back home. Pictures are below:

The beaches inside Manuel Antonio are beautiful.

All of the beaches were covered with crabs.

Brian exploring the beach.

The paths in Manuel Antonio were covered with these crabs. There seemed to be millions of them and their scampering made for eery noise.

The views of the Pacific were beautiful from Manuel Antonio.

Jen enjoying those views.

Brian found an interesting fish in a tide pool.

An iguana was casually eating fruit as we came out of Manuel Antonio.

There's a sloth in that tree somewhere.

This is one of the main streets in Quepos.

The drive from Quepos to Dominical was pretty heinous on the bus.

But the ride was worth it for the sunset on the beach at Hacienda Baru.

Another view of the sunset.

A tree frog in Hacienda Baru's butterfly garden.

Butterflys laying eggs in Hacienda Baru's butterfly garden.

Hacienda Baru has a pretty amazing orchid garden too.

One of many monkeys we saw at Hacienda Baru.

A poison dart frog seen on our night hike at Hacienda Baru.

A tarantula also seen on the night hike.

The reason you only go on those night hikes with a guide: a poisonous snake.

Just for reference, here are some links to the places we stayed:
Kap's Place in San Jose (http://www.kapsplace.com/)
Mono Azul in Quepos/Manuel Antonio (http://www.monoazul.com/)
Hacienda Baru outside Dominical (http://www.haciendabaru.com/)

This trip cost about $700 per person with food, lodging, and transportation. May is a great time to go because it is only the very beginning of the green (aka rainy) season so it's cheaper but the roads aren't completely washed out yet. Plus there aren't as many tourists.