Costa Rica - Cloud Forest

 Costa Rica is famous as an ideal place to view unique wildlife so we were all keen to sample what it had to offer.  For our first foray  we booked a two hour walking tour of the eight swing bridges in the cloud forest. We were hoping to see some of Costa Rica's famed wildlife.  To be honest we didn't see as much wild life as we expected but the walk was enjoyable and interesting nonetheless. 

High above the forest floor

Cloud forests are an unusual phenomenom.  They occur in high altitudes where there is constant humidity enabling the vegetation to capture water from the clouds. The humidity occurs when warm air combines with cool mountain temperatures making the forest the ideal place for orchids, ferns. mosses and bromeliads to grow.

Photos above: Left, believe it or not that is a well camouflaged insect. On the right one of many tiny orchids.  Both photos by Thomas Bauer

Our guide showed us various plants and insects along the way.  I found the strangler fig vine fascinating. We were shown several examples of its malicious work.  The strangler fig wraps itself around a perfectly healthy tree and literally squeezes it to death. Seeds of the strangler are dropped into the canopy of the tree and the fig grows downwards entwining the tree in a latticed cage. The tree rots away and the fig remains self supporting. Despite its dire work the strangler fig is valued for its fruit which is a source of food for bats, reptiles, mammals and insects.

Above: Two photos of the Strangler Fig.  On the left the intricate framework it uses to strangle a tree.  On the right looking up through the centre of where the tree used to be

The beauty of this walk, and one of its key features, is the eight bridges you traverse high in the trees enabling you to experience the cloud forest in an intimate way. Some of the bridges are as high as 164ft (50mtrs) above the forest floor and the longest bridge is 984ft (300mtrs) long making it  a really immersive experience.  The 1.7ml (3k) walk is generally flat and not strenuous so it is suitable for most levels of fitness. 

 We paid $55US for a guide but you could just as easily do the walk by yourself.  If you do you may not get to see some of the finer details we were shown, though.