The Story of Monteverde,Costa Rica's Golden Toad

[caption id="attachment_1906" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Monteverde Cloud Forest's Extinct Golden Toad"][/caption]

"Since 1989 not a single golden toad has been found anywhere in the world."

A small, shiny bright orange colored toad, about two inches in diameter was once abundant in a 3.9 square mile radius  (1o square km) in the high altitudes of the wet Monteverde Cloud Forests of Costa Rica, thus given the name the Monteverde Golden Toad.  It was last seen twenty years ago and is now declared an extinct species.  The reason for it's extinction is not known but scientist speculate that it is from the world's climate change due to global warming, causing disruptions in weather patterns.   Or possibly a fungal which adheres to the toad's skin.   The female is slightly larger than the male and has a color of dark olive to black with scarlet spots encircled in yellow.

These toads burrow deep into the earth and can be seen only when they come out at night. The golden toad's breeding season is April through June , when there is very heavy rainfall forming small pools of water where the toads gather in enormous numbers.  The males out number the females by 8:1.  Successful mating produces about 200-400 eggs, taking around five weeks to metamorphose.

In 1987 there was much lesser rainfall due to a phenomenon called "el Nino".  This caused these small pools of water to dry up before the larvae had time to mature.  Out of a possible 30,000 toads only 29 toads were found to have survived.

Today this area where the toads once reproduced is protected, and there are hopes that one day the golden toad will return.

Recently a group of British scientist from Manchester University and Manchester Zoo came to the Monteverde Cloud Reserve to again look for the infamous golden toad.  They spent two weeks but were not able to locate a single golden toad.

Ann welcomes your comments.  If you have a story about the golden toad, please share it with us.   Click on no comments at bottom of this post.  Thanks for choosing costaricalearn.com

Guide to Driving from San Jose International Airport to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna l

If you are planning to travel to Costa Rica and plan to drive to the Arenal Volcano, here are some detailed  driving directions from San Jose  international airport to the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna, going through  San Ramon, the shortest route,  and the roads are in good condition all the way.

I wrote this because roads in Costa Rica are not always well marked and directional signs often are missing.  Distances look short when really the driving time takes longer than it looks .

From San Jose  international airport head north on the inter american highway (Highway 1)  Go 33.5 km -21 miles to the San Ramon exit..here you exit to the right. Go straight on through and you will see a hugh Cathedral on your left..keep on going  straight about 8 blocks until the road dead ends-take a left and then an immediate right- here there is a sign that says to San Juan and Villa Blanca.  Now you continue on straight until you see a green church- here you take a left.   A sign says San Juan-Villa Blanca.  The road becomes narrow and very winding passing thru areas with small homes.  You will come to a little community called Los Angeles,  also the  small community of Villa Blanca. Keep going (it is usually foggy in these areas)   You will see on the right a tourism destination called Lands in Love and a small restaurant on the right hand side of the road called Loves Eat in a lovely setting.  This is a good place to have breakfast or lunch.  Full breakfast is around $6 and looked delicious.  We had coffee-very good for $1 per cup. Service was excellent.  A young woman from Israel  was the waitress,  very friendly and efficient.  Place was spotless. Up to now you have been driving around 1.5 -2 hours.

Just down the road on the left is a Tico soda if you want tortillas and cheese, or something light.  Now from the  San Jose  international airport you have been driving around 1.5-2 hours.

You come to a town called La Tigre (no signs to let you know its name) but a sign says 41 km -26 miles to Arenal Volcano. Here you turn right , then an immediate left.  Follow this road and it takes you to La Fortuna.  You will pass a small community called Chachagua, just keep going on same road.  In Chachagua there is a gas station, if you need to gas up.

In La Fortun, a very small town, look to the northwest and you will see the mighty Arenal Volcano.  There is a road that heads out of La Fortuna- the main road thru town which goes along the base of the volcano for about 6 miles  -3.7 km  until you come to Lake Arenal.  Along this road  are  located most of the hotels and attractions.   La Fortuna also has a good number of small hotels.

Driving at a moderate speed the trip from the international SJO airport to La Fortuna is around 3.5 hours.

In the small communities the speed limit is 45 km per hour and when you see a school it is reduced to 25 km per hour. And there are usually hugh speed bumps just before the school.

What do I see along the way?  After you leave San Ramon the scenery gets nice with mountainous terrain.  Large farms which grow many varieties of ornamental plants can be seen along the way.  This region is very lush and tropical because of the vast amount of rainfall and the rich volcanic soil.  You see coconut trees, banana trees, papaya, pineapple, platanos, and hundreds of varieties  of flowers.  You may even see a toucan.  These birds are prevalent in this  region.

Driving Tips:

1. Road conditions-good all the way.  Some mountainous terrain

2. Try not to drive after sunset.  Mountainous areas are foggy

3. Drive the speed limit in the small towns and school districts- 45km per hour -30 miles per hour   Speed limit in school districts is 25 km per hour  or  16 miles per hour

4. People walk in the road, animals such as dogs and chickens walk in the road so be watchful and aware of this.

5. Costa Ricans don't drive like north Americans and Europeans.  They tend to be more reckless and break the driving rules.  So keep this in mind.

6. Stop and ask directions if you feel lost.  Costa Ricans are very helpful and friendly.

7. Don't leave car unlocked if you stop.  Don't leave cameras and such in the car where they are visible.  Petty theft is common.  And breaking a window to enter the car can happen.

8.  Very good  detailed maps of San Ramon area as well as La Fortuna and Arenal can be found:

www.costa-rica-guide.com Go to the sections on maps of Costa Rica-on left hand side of page one.  Also your car rental company should have given you a map of Costa Rica.  These areas are easily viewed on these maps.

Here at costaricalearn we would like to hear if you had a good experience driving from the central valley of San Jose international airport to Arenal and La Fortuna.  We would love to share this with our readers.  At the end of this post simply click on comment or reply.

Figurative Wood Sculptures by Maria Fonseca

[caption id="attachment_1818" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""Confianza" by Maria Fonseca"][/caption]

"Amparo" by Maria Fonseca

"The wood is transformed in my hands and it absorbs my emotions, my joy."  Maria Fonseca,   July 2009

Maria Fonseca began her work in wood sculpture at the School of Fine Arts at the University of Costa Rica.  Today she works from her  outdoor studio located on a coffee farm, near the small  hillside town of Naranjo.

What are the characteristics of Maria's work, her personal style and what are her subjects?  People, animals and birds,    inspired by nature and  human emotions are her subjects.   Her sculptures of indigenous men and women of Costa Rica express  family warmth, kinship, and tenderness between mother and child,  husband and wife.  Her forms are round and voluptuous, often arms, legs, hands, and feet are entwined ..a mother embracing her child, two lovers in a warm embrace.

When the tourism season is highest-January through March-Maria can be found working out of her studio/gallery at Hotel Martinos in La Garita  de Alajuela.   Her work is found in collections in the United States, Europe, Mexico, South and Central America as well as in Costa Rica.

For more information on how to obtain one of Maria's  sculptures contact Ann by clicking on contact us at the very top of the page.

Costa Rica's Own Maria Fonseca

This  series on Women Artist  is designed to give recognition to the enormous amount of talent among women who are working artist  here in Costa Rica.
Maria Fonseca was born in Costa Rica on a coffee farm near the town of Naranjo.  Today  she still lives there with her husband and children.  As a child she loved to play outside in the coffee fields and passed her leisure time drawing.  Maria states, “When I drew I felt free.  Her teachers at school soon recognized Maria’s special talent and encouraged her to develop it.  After graduation from high school, Maria entered the Program of Fine Arts at the University of Costa Rica.  There for the first time, she was able to consider the art of sculpting.  She began with shaping stone and then came the opportunity to work with wood.  And in Maria’s words, “ At that moment I felt an internal transformation take place, an irrepressible desire to shape this marvelous material of unparalleled

[caption id="attachment_1807" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Maria at her home near  Naranjo"][/caption]

beauty.”  Thus her work in wood sculpture was born.  Maria stresses that an artist never stops learning, with each new design, with each stroke of the chisel a unique and different work of art is created.

Please read on:  The next article talks more about Maria's sculptures.  It is titled Figurative Wood Sculptures by Costa Rica's own Maria Fonseca

Costa Rica Spotlight: Unusual Frog Exhibit at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica

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small transparent green frog with baby

Costa Rica Spotlight:  Yes, the La Paz Waterfall Gardens is open for visitors!   A few days ago I was lucky to be able to spend a few hours. One of the exhibits which impressed me most was the frog exhibit.  The colorful tropical frogs climbing  freely in a natural setting amid tropical plants and small rocky water falls.   My knowledgeable guide , Carlos explained all about each frog. The poison dart frog, the tiny red one with black feet is prevalent in the tropical lowland of Costa Rica's rain forest.  So watch where you step when you are out there hiking.   This poisonous frog comes in many different colors and sizes.  One of the most beautiful is the orange and black spotted poison  dart frog.

Under  a hugh banana tree leaf I spotted a large green transparent frog with its baby on its back.  In all my travels into the Costa Rica jungle I had never seen anything like this one.  You could actually see the tiny veins and organs inside the frog.

Of course the red eyed tree frog (the poster frog of Costa Rica) is more beautiful than any photo. I was so excited to actually see one close up.

I highly recommend this exhibit for adults as well as children, a fun as well as educational experience. Please go to the web for more information about La Paz Waterfall Gardens   www.waterfallgardens.com

You may contact Ann, the Costa Rica Travel Expert  for further information or travel advice by going to top of page and clicking on contact us.

Thanks for choosing costaricalearn.com

Costa Rica Spotlight: Unusual Flowering Plants of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica

[caption id="attachment_1768" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="rare "fan" bromeliad"][/caption]

carnivoras plant, eats insects

rare orchid "species stamnopea wardi"

Costa Rica Spotlight: The La Paz Waterfall Gardens, now open, is not only about waterfalls.  It is about exotic and unusual flowering plants.

Lets start with the orchid species stamnopea wardi or "torito" .  This orchid pictured above is rare orchid species and  blooms only once a year in the month of July, and the bloom lasts only one week.   It has a smell, which is uncommon for an orchid.  It smells like vanilla, mint, and chocolate.  Costa Rica is home to ten different species of this rare and exotic flowering plant.

Also I was enchanted with a plant that is carnivorous (eats insects).  Pictured above, this plant holds water inside its bell shaped blooms.  The unlucky insect enters to drink  water and never comes out again!

La Paz Waterfall Gardens has an extensive collection of miniature orchids which I was unable to photograph because I don't have the telephoto lens.  These orchids were really tiny, so small that I had to look really hard to see their blooms.

A special treat is the many species of bromeliads, in all shapes and colors.

For the orchid and exotic plant lover, this area of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens is not to be missed!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY ANN, the Costa Rica Travel Expert go to www.waterfallgardens.com for further information

If you would like further information or help with your travel plans to Costa Rica you can contact Ann.  Go to page one at the top of the page  click on " contact us"  Thanks for choosing costaricalearn.com

Costa Rica Spotlight: La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace Lodge Are Now Open!

[caption id="attachment_1753" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Blue Morpho Butterfly"][/caption]

Costa Rica Spotlight:It has  been six months since the January 8th earthquake which caused damage in and around La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace Lodge.   Major restorations have been under way and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace Lodge are now open!

And I had the pleasure to visit the Gardens a few days ago.  And it never ceases to amaze me.  It is not just a garden with waterfalls. It is a education unto itself for the entire family.  Yes, it is the perfect place to bring children of all ages. The Gardens have added "Monkey Pass"   Here you see white face monkeys, spider monkeys, and the added treat of a very small monkey from Brazil, the white tufted eared Marmoset.  I tried without success to get a photo of this strange looking little creature but it would not stop darting from one limb to another.

A few steps away is the Aviary filled with exotic colorful birds.  Toucans, scarlet macaws, tanagers, and many more small colorful birds flying freely within the aviary

The Butterfly Observatory is home to over twenty different species of butterflies, the blue morpho being the most beautiful.  Exotic tropical plant and flowers provide a sanctuary for all these wonderful creatures.  The life cycle of the butterfly is beautifully displayed and as well as an extensive collection of butterflies found in Costa Rica.

The Humming Bird Garden adds a special treat especially for the children as well as the adults.    Here the hummingbirds  come in all sizes and colors, twenty four different species in all.   Some of them,  fluttering briskly around your head, are tame enough to eat from your hand.

My favorite is the Serpentarium, where thirty of the most beautiful but the most deadly snakes found in Costa Rica are housed in large glass cases.  The ten foot long Boa had just had a baby rabbit for lunch.  My guide explained that the boa will not eat again for one month.  I wish I had been there to see the snake swallow the rabbit!  Of course it strangled the rabbit first by squeezing it's neck.   The most deadly snake in Costa Rica ,the Fer de Lance was quietly sleeping. My guide said that if one is bitten by this snake, the only hope is to get the victim to a medical clinic as  rapidly as possible.

Then I took a walk through the Ranarium, thats where the frogs live. There were very small red poison dart frogs,  the red eyed tree frogs , and a large green frog that was transparent.  You could actually see thru it.

The newest addition to the Gardens is are the  Jungle Cats.   Yes, these are cats that make their home in the jungles of Costa Rica.  Beautiful creatures with large yellow green eyes.  The Ocelot, the Margay, and the Jaguarundi  (big names for small cats)

By now I had really worked up an appetite and had lunch in the Colibries Restaurant.  What a delight!  Everything was tipico from the black beans and rice to the fried plaintains, and of course rice pudding for desert topped off with a hot cup of Costa Rican coffee.

I ended my adventure by walking the steps down to two of the waterfalls.  Still pristine and beautiful,  so be sure you have your camera along for this.

The Peace Lodge, adjacent to the waterfall gardens,  is now open for guests.  Each room has a jacuzzi tub, stone fireplace,  and handcrafted canopy bed.  Here you can awaken to the sounds and smell of the rain forest  just outside your balcony door.

Ann, the Costa Rica Travel Expert gives  the La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace Lodge  her HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.

Location and driving directions Central Valley of Costa Rica..from Juan Sanata Maria International Airport travel straight thru the adjacent town of Alajuela  and connect to the road to the Poas Volcano.  approx 19  km ( 12  miles)  miles up this  road you will turn right (see the sign for the Waterfall Gardens or the restaurant Churrascos  Steaks is there on the right.   Then go  5.7 km (3.56 miles)  down this road you will make a left turn at a gas station...(only gas station around there) This little settlement is named Vara Blanca. Then 6 km (3.75 miles) or 10 minutes drive ..you will see the entrance to the Gardens and Peach Lodge.

Weather at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Costa Rica:  dry season of mid December through mid April there is less rain.  The temperature is cool since the elevation is around 8,000 feet.  Rainy season is good also.  ( May through November)  September and October are very rainy months.  Try to go in the morning when there more sunshine.

How long does it take to see all these things at the Waterfall Gardens? Plan on three hours and have lunch there.  Great typical Costa Rican food and cost $12 for a delicious buffet.   There is a golf cart available to transport the older people to and from the restaurant .  There are a lot of steps to climb here..but the guides are great help with  the older people.

To further information or help with travel advice or travel plans  you can communicate  with Ann, the Costa Rica Travel Expert - go to the very top of this page - click on  contact us.

For Prices and reservations to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace Lodge is on the web  www.waterfallgardens.

You do not need reservations for the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, but it is best to make reservations for the Peace Lodge. For further information on The Peace Lodge go to   www.peacelodge.com