La Paz Waterfall Gardens

On Saturday we took a trip to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, about an hour outside of San Jose.  The travel just to get there was beautiful!  We drove through mile after mile of coffee plantations and fern farms.  We climbed to nearly 5000 feet in altitude, and the scenery grew more and more green as we traveled.  The trip included a Tico breakfast- scrambled eggs, rice and beans, cheese and toast, along with strawberry juice and cafe con leche; and later a buffet lunch.  Mmmm!

Once at La Paz, we were able to view, be right next to, all kinds of birds, animals, plants, flowers, and of course, waterfalls.  We walked through the bird house, and all the kids had their photo taken wtih the toucans.  We watched the life cycle of the butterfly up close, from emerging to death.  We watited patiently, trying to capture the hummingbirds on film, as they zipped and zoomed all around us, hardly still for a moment.  We could have reached out to pet the wildcats, but we didn't.  I was hoping the frogs would not hop on top of me! 

We arrived in the morning sun, but as the morning turned to afternoon, the sun turned to storms, and we experienced the afternoon rains, and then the downpour.  My pictures only begin to capture how gorgeous and serene the rain forest appears. On the way home, we stopped for coffee at a shop along the roadside, a tourist stop, yes, but a tasty cafecito nonetheless.

And, I got to get out the camera and snap away the entire day!  It was a wonderful adventure, and makes me want to see even more of this beautiful country soon!

(all of the pictures can be seen upclose at on my Picassa album of "La Paz Waterfall Gardens")