San Gerardo

San Gerardo Biological Station sits in a premontane rain forest at 1200 m elevation on the Atlantic slope of the Tilarán mountain range. It forms part of the largest private nature reserve in Costa Rica, administered by the Monteverde Conservation League.

top image: Arenal Volcano peeking through the clouds, taken by Allana Havernick

pausing on the trail to San Gerardo, Arenal volcano in the background

we heard the startling BONK call of the Three-wattled bellbird, thought to be one of the loudest bird calls on Earth, audible from over half a mile away

Alex sniffing millipede to see if it was one of the cyanide-releasing species

Azteca ants coming out of their chambers in the Cercropia stem to attack us

Bésame mucho: the hot lips plant (Psychotria poeppigiana) was irresistible

Sean crossing makeshift bridge on Catarata trail

the Catarata trail went right through this tree

the waterfall's temperature was actually warmer than in the unheated showers at the station, which came from well water

siesta time

limoncillo fruits (Siparuna): their intense terpenoid aroma was likened by some to Lemon Pledge furniture polish; to others, it evoked the smell of Fruit Loops

aroid leaf along the trail: big enough to stand under

there was a small cattle herd near the station, and at night vampire bats came to feed on them

bridge over the Rio Caño Negro

studying nature at the Rio Caño Negro