Posted to RiverWired by Marcus Ricci
I know what you’re thinking- “But Costa Rica is so oversaturated with eco-tourists already. Won’t it be impossible to get a truly authentic experience?” And I mean, there is certainly merit to your skepticism. Costa Rica has really banked on its popularity among backpackers in recent years, making it one of the hottest destinations for eco-travel in the world. That said, there is plenty of glorious natural beauty untouched by high-rise condo developments or surfers and college kids looking to catch some rays and make some bad decisions.
Which is what brings me to Rara Avis, a relatively hidden gem nestled high in the rainforest, 40 km due north of San Jose, the nation’s capital. This July, I traveled to Rara Avis with my friend, colleague and traveling companion, Matt Pearson, and we embarked on an eco-adventure that neither of us would soon forget.
The relative obscurity of Rara Avis (which, by the way, translates to “Rare Birds” in Spanish) is fairly surprising, especially considering that it is the oldest Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica, in operation since 1983. So how has Rara Avis maintained its off-the-beaten-path reputation? Part of it is inevitably due to the commitment it takes to actually get to the reserve. The Rara Avis base office is located in the small town of Las Horquetas, which is only 15 km from the lodge itself, but to get there, you have to endure a three hour tractor ride up a mountain on the on the most treacherous unpaved “road” I’ve ever experienced.
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