Adios Costa Rica, arriba Argentina!!

Posted on February 11, 2014 by schdani

Wir haben uns ja mental ja schon auf unseren Transfer in Miami eingestellt und uns sogar. Strategien ausgedacht um die Wartezeit zu verkürzen, doch siehe da, fast keine anderen Flüge sind zu selben Zeit gelandet, also weder Stau beim Zoll noch bei der Sicherheitskontrolle waren Leute, sodass wir die restlichen 4 Stunden zum Weiterflug ruhig verbrachten.

Aber natürlich konnte unser Transporttag nicht ohne Zwischenfälle verlaufen und so starteten wir eine Stunde später aufgrund eines technischen Defekts am Flugzeug und wir hatten dann gleich zwei Kinder eine Reihe vor uns, die ein ziemlich lautes Organ hatten, sodass insgesamt sich die Schlafstunden in Grenzen hielten….aber gut, am a Morgen kamen wir dann in Buenos Aires an, wo uns unser vom Hostel bestelltes Taxi natürlich nicht abgeholt hat.

Auch das Hostel an sich war und ist einfach nur grauenhaft! Die Wände und Bettwäsche voller Flecken und der Boden und das Bad dreckig. Nun gut das heißt mit Flip Flops duschen und im Schlafsack schlafen. Und…auf der Mauer auf der Mauer sitzt a kleine W…. die mich auch trotz Schlafsack 3 Mal gebissen hat!!

Am nächsten Tag mussten wir dann weiter mit dem Flieger nach El Calafate und sagten Bescheid, dass wir um 8h frühstücken wollten. Selbstverständlich war das Frühstück nicht fertig und wir beschlossen dann um 8.30h zum Flughafen zu fahren bzw zu schwimmen, da es gerade in Strömen regnete.

Aber gut, wir hatten Glück im Unglück und flogen nicht mit Aerolineas Argentinas die alle Flüge aufgrund des Gewitters absagte, sondern hatten dann nur insgesamt 4 Stunden Verspätung. Leider wurde unser Flug aber auf keinem Bildschirm angezeigt und auch keine Lautsprecherdurchsagen hielten uns am neuesten Stand. Aber gut, schlussendlich zog das Gewitter ab, das Flugzeug konnte aufgetankt werden und wir kamen spät aber doch in El Calafate an!

Und keine Angst, obwohl unser erster Tag in Argentinien etwas anstrengend war, von da an gings bergauf! Mehr dazu später….

Costa Riquissssima - Essen in Mittelamerika

Posted on February 6, 2014 by schdani

Delicious and cheap food in Costa Rica

In the 17 days we spent in Costa Rica, we had the opportunity to taste the national dishes. This also does not take too long, because that is the same for breakfast, lunch and dinner here .... mostly rice and beans ...

Gallo Pinto, das Landesgericht

The most famous dish in Costa Rica consists of prepared the day before rice with red beans. Both ingredients with the addition of some spices fried with a little oil in a pan and then together with other side dishes such as scrambled eggs and / or bananas (below) served.

Ceviche – Roher Fisch als Suhsi-Alternative

When Ceviche is a seafood dish that has its origins actually in countries such as Peru, but has been transformed in Costa Rica to a food that is offered almost everywhere.

Kochbananen

At virtually every dish in Costa Rica are served as a side dish plantains.

The second method of preparation is also part of almost every meal. Here the bananas are roasted in the oven on both sides, added a little oil or butter and then cut lengthwise according to taste and add cheese. Above all, this version is for breakfast very popular.

Otherwise, we also eat a lot of fried or deep-fried fish eaten as here, the fajitas into strips.

Since it is mainly consumed in Costa Rica, what is grown in their own country, there is the typical food stalls, the "soda" rather little varied dishes as above.

Aber natürlich gibt es fast überall auch internationale Restaurants mit Essen aus aller Welt, wobei man hier tiefer in die Tasche greifen muss. Während man in Sodas für ca. 5 Euro ein Hauptgericht bekommt, muss man dafür in einem Restaurant fast das doppelte einrechnen.

Are very popular in Costa Rica and the fresh fruit juices and milkshakes which are available everywhere for about 2 euros. You fit especially in the hot months to excellent salads.

Even though we are now a long time no rice to eat more beans, tasted it to us anyway in Costa Rica!

Vulkane Poas und Irazú

Posted on February 6, 2014 by schdani

Excursions to the volcanoes

In unseren letzten zwei Tagen in Costa Rica, wollten wir in zwei Tagesausflügen von der Hauptstadt San Jose aus zwei Vulkane der Umgebung erkunden. Es war zu Beginn trotz Karte vom Tourismusbüro gar nicht so einfach herauszufinden wo genau die Busse abfahren, doch mit etwas Geduld und guten Spanischkenntnissen haben wir es dann doch geschafft!

After a tiring bus journey of 3 hours we reached finally the peak of the first volcano, the Poas, which is 2704 meters high and 1953 is the last time erupted. As before, a smelly sulfur from the crater cloud rises, it is however compensated by the view.

On a 60 minute scenic walk through a grove of trees to get past the beautiful Botos Laguna, just green shimmers in the sunlight.

Direkt am Eingang gibt es ein interessantes Visitor Center mit einem netten Geschäft für Souvenirs und Sanitäranlagen. Wie fast überall in Costa Rica ist alles sehr gepflegt sodass man gut versorgt ist.

Ohne Rast und ohne Ruh ging es dann am nächsten Tag weiter zum zweiten Aussichtspunkt.

Mit 3432 Metern ist der Vulkan Irazu der höchste in Costa Rica der seit dem 18. Jahrhundert 15 Mal ausgebrochen ist. Schon bei der Busfahrt kann es einem aufgrund der Höhe relativ schwindelig werden, obwohl die Straße wirklich nicht sehr steil und breit gebaut ist. Gott sei Dank wir am Hinweg ein kleiner Stopp in einem Souvenir- und Snackshop eingelegt, sodass man auch den Höhenunterschied etwas besser wegsteckt.

The crater of the Irazu Volcano is 1050 meters wide and 300 meters deep. The landscape around the volcano is impressive, especially the view down to the city of Cartago, or when fill the valleys with clouds.

After a short but due to the amount strenuous climb to the lookout point, we have our snack really deserves, at least we thought ..... but we did not expect the hungry anteaters, has made us a Stricht by the bill! Na meal!

Manzanillo National Park - Frogs and more!

Posted on February 3, 2014 by schdani

Why the Manzanillo National Park

Now we are back and already traveled almost 1.5 weeks across Costa Rica and have not seen the "national animal" the frog. There was on the West Coast was the dry season, the colorful little things are not really to be found, but they had given us the tip, but our happiness in times National Wildlife Refuge Gandoca Manzanillo to try and since we already had before to look at the Caribbean coast, this fitted in well with our plans.

Already in Corcovado National Park, we found that we're screwed without a guide in the rainforest. You would then have to give it night not extend to or be concerned to meet unknown perhaps poisonous animals that you do not happen to look for what you want to see!

That is why we booked here in Manzanillo a guided half-day tour and we got one of the most best guides in the area, Ricky, who is descended from the indigenous people of Costa Rica.

Again, we met again to the Jesus Christ lizard with its cool mohawk look.

And in the rest of the bushes as always cavorted any amount of other reptiles and insects .... like this little gecko or this spider with its beautiful network.

Also this Bananenfalter-couple we discovered on a tree. Both males and females are characterized by the dark eye spot on the up to 10 cm large wings.

It was very interesting to go into a hollowed out tree and see from the inside how high it actually is.

I can not actually see the rain forest and tired so I could walk long hours and photograph the smallest details, like this mushroom for example.

The "poison dart frogs"

But now we come to the real stars of the hike, the frogs!

Erroneously, most of these frogs are known as poison arrow frogs although the natives of these regions used the poison of 3 types for their arrows. There are various Variantes the poison known, such as batrachotoxin, a cramp poison, which leads to muscle and respiratory paralysis, which can result in severe cases in humans in 20 minutes to death.

The second conspecific, the Phyllobates lugubris, referred to in German as the Dusky Leaf Steiger can match the colors forth with his colleagues, although this species is relatively non-toxic.

Costa Rica was the first goal of my trip around the world well chosen sure as many Wild Animals I'll probably see in any other country. The Manazanillo National Parks is therefore recommended because you can see him well within a day or half-day excursion and the paths without much physical effort are well accessible.

Caribbean flair in Costa Rica - between palm trees and wild animals

Posted on February 2, 2014 by schdani

Die Ost-bzw Karibikküste Costa Ricas

Costa Rica is probably one of the countries where one has the shortest distance between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, so you can bathe himself within a few hours in two different oceans, and that's what we did!

Our "base camp" we pitched in hippie village of Puerto Viejo, which will be known to sell for his dealer's Marijuana on the road. In any case, it is warned in the guidebook before them and the aggressive sales methods. Perhaps this is because we just do not look like this at night or do not go away, but we were in the four days we were there offered drugs even once. While it looks at the loose passage of many Bob Marley imitations that this grass could be in the game but they smoke it myself than to sell 😉

Otherwise, the houses of the Caribbean are certainly more colorful than the other coast, but also all a bit of tourism and of course more expensive.

Unfortunately, not oh-so-eco-conscious Costa Rica be garbage problem under control, so that on the one hand leave mainly domestic tourists a lot of trash on the beach and on the other hand, the garbage disposal is not really organized, well, freuts the vultures!

Around Puerto Viejo you will find several beaches which are a real paradise and especially for surfers. Here you go white with black beaches from, but one thing is always the same, the rainforest equal right behind it!

The Jaguar Rescue Center

The road between Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo is full of hostels and bed & breakfasts, mostly run by American expatriates who turned smokes with their huge all-wheel drive cars to make the gravel roads unsafe. Jaguar Rescue Center be included in a visit to the injured animals, maintained and prepared again for their release.

Furthermore, the station also serves as a research center especially for snakes are milked also there to produce antisera. To View a yellow Viper and a rattlesnake that any noise made in Costa Rica, since its rattle because of the high Luftfreuchtigkeit not work.

Unfortunately, the waves were too high bathe properly or to snorkel, but we enjoyed the afternoon on the beach of Punta Uva.

And lo and behold what is buzzing with such a beach walk in the scrub, green iguanas, very nice bright-colored males and females.

On the whole, the West Coast of Costa Rica has us a little like better, but there is a reason why it has been definitely worth it to visit the Caribbean as part of my trip around the world, but more on that in the next article.

Nationalpark Corcovado – Welcome to the Dschungle!!

Posted on January 31, 2014 by schdani

Der einzigartige Corcovado National Park

The most species-rich, according to National Geographic National Parks now holds the world what it promises, here an overview of us sighted in the 3 days in January 2014, animals and plants. Even if such here described not so easy is to organize a tour or get a place to sleep on the Sirena station, you can not miss the Corcovado in any case.

Here is the so-called Costa Rice Airforce to see a flock of pelicans.

The Corcovado Nationalpark is the only Costa Rica, in which all four native species of monkeys can be observed: Capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys.

The capuchin monkeys are omnivores and medium in size with 3-4 kg. Do not use in contrast to the spider their tail for gripping and holding.

The spider monkey (no, this is not the @ meant, but the animal) moves very skilled at dizzying heights continuously and is an active day and territorial tree dwellers. These monkeys have hook-shaped hands, the thumbs are regressed and weigh between 7-9 kg. The preferred area of life are the deeper rainforests.

The howler monkeys are known by their loud cries in the early morning, the barking of dogs is similar and is made possible by its pronounced larynx. Also, they took us to sleep in as many nights.

The White Elephant trunk raccoon, also called Koatie is known by its extended movable snout and elongated head.

The Tapier is up to 2 meters in length, the largest mammal that may be encountered with the Corcovado National Park. This genus has been known for 14 million years, to be honest it looked like even a dinosaur. Tapiere are solitary animals and herbivores, the further they are nocturnal and pull during the day back into the undergrowth. We had the morning to see the happiness the same Tapier while eating and then still be observed at noon at the Siesta.

The agoutis belongs to the family of rodents, is a rabbit dwelling and at the same toe walkers, allowing a rapid Weggallopieren at risk.

Very often antreffbar in Costa Rica is a small collar Abel pig, also called peccary. These pigs have glands on their backs, which can release musky secretions. Most live up to 20 animals in the herd, we observed two who were crossing a river and then even a whole family of about 15 animals.

Probably the most beautiful insect in Costa Rica is called the Blue Mophofalter, or Himmelsfalter. They came to meet us flown to the hiking trails and its beautiful color makes a stunning contrast to the green rainforest. Unfortunately they are a bit camera shy, but then I could scan but still one sitting. The exterior color is brownish with eye patch.

Many different butterflies dancing in the rain forest to himself, art is just only, to catch them in a quiet moment!

From this little monster should be best not stung, because the bloodsuckers leaves droppings in the wound, which contains bacteria that can cause even the death of the bitten person up to 20 years later. Thanks to our effective insect spray but no animal dared already ran on a radius of 3 meters to us.

As one can see on the following photo, fall in Costa Rica even the grasshoppers slightly larger than in their home soil!

The major networks in Costa Rica anywhere to place networks of the golden silk spider are so strong and tear-resistant, they are used by the population as fishing nets. These insects are up to 4 inches tall and have a very nice drawing.

It continues now in the realm of birds that it really is also a dime a dozen here. Here a white Ibis looking for food in the river.

The crax rubra we noticed through his constant hum, a very beautiful bird, which is this is a male because the females are more brown.

A true showpiece, this Schwarzkehltrogon, which is particularly noticeable by its striped tail.

Also in this evening mood is a bird of the star who crowned night herons obviously feels due to the abundance of food in Costa Rica well.

But our absolute favorite animals among birds in Corcovado were undoubtedly the scarlet macaws, one of the largest parrots in the world, which can be up to 90 cm and feed on nuts, buds and other fruits.

Now, however, generally one of my favorite animals, reptiles, of whom there are also teeming here. At the beginning here a harmless lined snake, which barred our way.

As a picture book to us this Lizard is presented, how lucky considering how fast they really are!

Also a very nice drawing, the Emerald Basilisk, which belongs to the genus of iguanas.

And here is the famous Jesus Christ lizards that can run across the water at a speed of 8 km / h.

Following are a few impressions from the animal and plant world.

Costa Rica up in the AIR!

Posted on January 29, 2014 by schdani

As we are in our jungle tour had a flight case, we used the course to take pictures and to be honest, was the 15 minute flight of the previously best experiences during the trip and not as strenuous as 7 hours of walking for same route!

That was quite a surprise as virtually out of nothing, the small plane landed in front of the ranger station. The fact that here the runway consists of a meadow and is not even paved, must indeed be a disadvantage ..... Anyway pilot Alvaro makes the job for 25 years and flies daily always the same 4-5 routes.

In the plane fit a maximum of 5 people, but he also brings always food etc. to the station. We started towards the sea and then made a loop over the national park so we now again could anything we've brought in the last 2 days walking behind us admire from the air. As Alvaro opened the window so my photos have no reflections, I thought that the wind carries me off the plane.

What have we found on our hike, it was confirmed again now, Costa Rica is seen scenically breathtaking, or can anyone in these photos say something else?

Endless and pristine beaches, not for nothing that 25% of the total area of Costa Rica are protected. What you can imagine the sight of the dense rainforest of the air also, is the species richness in both flora and fauna.

First, it is different and as you think - Tour in Corcovado National Park

Posted on January 29, 2014 by schdani

Zum Corcovado National Park

The Nationalpark Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica is the most biodiverse spot on the earth, National Geographic. Of course, we did not want to miss and decided to start the trip around the world with a jungle trip.

The small town of Puerto Jimenez is the perfect starting point, we thought anyway!! Upon arrival at the hostel, a leader offered to us, but we wanted to definitely again to check with an agency. We wanted if possible to spend 2 nights at the Sirena Ranger Station, so three days walking in the rain forest in search of clues.

In the agency we were told that there is only one night sleeping possibilities, everything was fully booked, both the campground and the cabins. Thus we called the leader and this immediately came over at the hostel. He told us that the National Park would like to limit the number of visitors and thus made everything as complicated as possible.

His friend the pilot (the only one in the area) could us still book his relationships a place to sleep, but of course only if we fly a distance with him. After drafting a budget, we all agreed that this was the best solution:

Day 1: Flight from Puerto Jimenez to Sirena and there hiking
Day 2: Hike around Sirena
Day 3: Hike back to the coast by Carate and a taxi back to Puerto Jimenez

We had to bring your own food, there, everything was booked in the restaurant where every dish costs 25 USD and the Guide should provide for the camping gear he should have on site.

First, it is different and as you think ....... as we should the morning to take our flight 10h, it was announced to us that there will be no flights on that day, as the motor of the airplane has reached the maximum number of hours and thus be replaced had ....

..... So we decided to make the trip the other way around and took a taxi to Carate to sadly a bit late with the approximately 8 hours to begin trek. The road to Carate is a hilly gravel road, so you have to einrechnen 1.5 hour drive for about 40 km here. Thus, we had to hike in 7 hours to make, so we arrived at our hostel before sunset. That was hard but we made it!

Sirena Ranger Station im Nationalpark Corcovado

And then the next surprise - the campsite was not a campground but a kind of roofed wooden floor, where normally sometimes a few moldy foam mattresses lying around free for the taking, but which have already taken advantage of the guests that have arrived before us. So much for camping equipment our Guides .....! He had then still distended us a mattress and we stretched our mosquito net on - pretty close to second on a mattress to lie .....

Anyway, then another (something bemühtere) Guide so kind to give us his tent, as he was not on the station for the night. What a luxury!

On the second night, in the supposedly everything was fully booked, no one was almost at the "campsite". Apparently reservations agencies often places in advance and the tourists take this then is not it.

In these two days we were able to hike all the trails and observe many animals (more about that in a separate article).

However, to want to last but not least was not sure if and when our friend, the pilot, because would pick us up (no matter if we had stayed also like an extra night) .... and our guide seemed like forever for anything to take responsibility Although promising much as ever, but has almost nothing of the retained what he had promised us.

To 13h on 3

Conclusion: Our guide Vilmar was as they say a "Dampfplauderer" much bla bla and nothing behind it. We also had the opportunity to speak with other leaders at the station over the course of the tour, however, and have found that these incidents in Costa Rica are on the agenda and the Lord guides each amount of Proffessionalität missing .... Well, anyway, our guide was with distance the one who has shown us most of the animals and thus our trip was followed by a memorable experience .... photos!

Flutterby - one of the most original hostels in the world!

Posted on January 29, 2014 by schdani

Im kleinen Dorf Uvita, nahe des Nationalparks Ballenas gleich direkt am Strand, findet man eines der originellsten Hostels der Welt – das Flutterby Hostel. Ob dieses auf meiner Weltreise noch übertroffen werden wird – wir werden es sehen!

Schon die Anfahrt über die holprige Schotterstraße läßt ahnen, dass wir hier auf kein normales Hostel treffen werden. Aber so übertrieben wie der Lonely Planet davon schwärmt, muss doch was dahinter sein….

The hostel, which in American hands is noticeably (in this case there is no chaos in the rest of Costa Rica), and already at the front desk, which is the bar at the same time, it comes in front of a as if one would plunge into another world. The hostel consists namely of tree houses! Below are only a kitchen, a small lounge and the bathroom facilities.

Reached the house, the house largely shared dormitories, on a fairly steep wooden ladder, which can be a real challenge depending on luggage already.

The bunk beds made of wood and are not for everyone, and because the rooms are not completely sealed, is recommended to have at hand as his own mosquito net in our case.

In addition to the communal kitchen is also a professional, is boiled in 2x per day. In addition, always hangs a banana tree at the entrance, for free for the taking of the fruit. The garden, with its houses and hammocks invites you to relax.

Und obwohl die Gäste des Flutterby Hostels eine Mischung aus internationalen Surfern und Hippies sind (auch Yoga wird um 7 Uhr morgens angeboten), herrscht ab 22 Uhr Nachtruhe, die auch sehr streng eingehalten wird. Ein weiterer Vorteil ist, dass sämtliche Ausflüge in der Umgebung direkt von der Rezeption aus gebucht werden können und das Hostel auch ein Waschservice hat (ein Pluspunkt vor allem, wenn man gerade eine Dschungeltour hinter sich gebracht hat).

Really worth are still the sanitary facilities that are designed with great attention to detail and very creative. Colourful and varied - as you like to take a shower, even if there are like almost everywhere in cheap accommodation in Costa Rica only cold water.

The whole thing is to have for the very reasonable price of 10 USD, and only about 100 meters from the beach. You can eat then in nearby Soda (small, mostly family-run restaurant in Costa Rica), where there are also as almost everywhere very delicious freshly made fruit juices and milk shakes.

So, now the question remains: Why must treehouses it?? A close look at the about 20 meters from the hostel made photo says it all ....

Puerto Jimenez und die Mangroventour

Posted on January 27, 2014 by schdani

Puerto Jimenez, mehr als der Gateway in den Corcovado

Die in den letzten 5 Jahren um 75 % auf 6000 Einwohner angestiegene Stadt Puerto Jimenez hat zwar nur eine asphaltierte Straße, diese führt jedoch zum, laut National Geografic, artenreichsten Regenwald der Welt – dem Corcovado National Park.

Nach unserer Ankunft mit der Fähre und einem sehr mühsamen Vormittag, an dem wir versucht haben unsere Dschungeltour zu organisieren (dazu später here), wollten wir am Nachmittag noch ein wenig das Städtchen erkunden und dann eine Magroventour im Kayak machen.

Der Strand ist wirklich sehr schön und lädt bei lauwarmem Wasser zum Baden ein. Von dort hat man einen Ausblick über den gesamten Golf und kann im seichten Meer vor sich hintreiben. Auch die Strandbar umgeben von großen Palmen ist zu empfehlen, vor allem weil ich wie immer in den ersten Tagen in den tropischen Regionen etwas mit meinem Kreislauf zu tun habe und deshalb Unmengen von Coca-Cola zu mir nehmen muss!

Hier sieht man fast nur Einheimische, nur wenige Touristen schaffen es hierher bis in den Süden, zugegeben, auch der Transport ist nicht ganz einfach und die meisten wollen zwar Regenwald sehen, aber dann vielleicht doch nicht so wild und extrem wie im Corcovado wo aufgrund der eingeschränkten Übernachtungsmöglichkeiten jeder Komfort fehlt.

Nur wenige Gehminuten davon entfernt befindet sich eine Lagune, in der sich Süß- mit Salzwasser mischt, und wo sich die Stars von Puerto Jimenez aufhalten – die Kaimane und Krokodile. Vor Jahren befand sich dort ein Hotel, das immer wieder die Essensreste den Tieren gefüttert hat. Heute kommen sie meist schon angeschwommen, wenn man nur ein wenig Lärm mit einer Plastiktüte macht.

Dann ging endlich unsere Mangroventour los, mit der Hoffnung, die in der Bucht lebenden Delfine zu sehen. Leider wurden wir hier enttäuscht, da sich nicht einmal einer blicken ließ! Trotzdem genossen wir die Ruhe in den Mangroven, die frischen Früchte die uns als Snack gereicht wurden und natürlich wieder einmal den Sonnenuntergang!

World Tour 2014 I My travel blog

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Tag Archives: Costa Rica

Adios Costa Rica, arriba Argentina!!

Costa Riquissssima - Essen in Mittelamerika

Delicious and cheap food in Costa Rica

Gallo Pinto, das Landesgericht

Ceviche – Roher Fisch als Suhsi-Alternative

Kochbananen

Vulkane Poas und Irazú

Excursions to the volcanoes

Manzanillo National Park - Frogs and more!

Why the Manzanillo National Park

The "poison dart frogs"

Caribbean flair in Costa Rica - between palm trees and wild animals

Die Ost-bzw Karibikküste Costa Ricas

The Jaguar Rescue Center

Nationalpark Corcovado – Welcome to the Dschungle!!

Der einzigartige Corcovado National Park

Costa Rica up in the AIR!

First, it is different and as you think - Tour in Corcovado National Park

Zum Corcovado National Park

Sirena Ranger Station im Nationalpark Corcovado

Flutterby - one of the most original hostels in the world!

Puerto Jimenez und die Mangroventour

Puerto Jimenez, mehr als der Gateway in den Corcovado