Costa Rica - La Fortuna - Frog Walk

Tonight was a treat. At 6:30ish pm, Kevin, our intrepid Costan Rican naturalist, took just me and Steven on a night walk through the jungle. It included three types of frogs (one poisonous), two snakes (one poisonous!) one spider, one grasshopper, tadpoles, an army of ants and three spectacular flowers. Kevin did warn us that the lack of rain might hinder our sightings tonight, but it did not. And frankly, when he said the more poisonous snakes come out after a rain, I was also for drier weather.

There was the masked frog, that likes to be close to the ground. Brown, yes, but with green on the face. We first saw a girl masked frog (the girl frogs are always bigger), and then a smaller male. The girl frog seemed not bothered at all by Kevin's bright flashlight.

Then the red eyed frog, smaller and stunning. It resembles another frog of the same markings that is indeed poisonous, though this one is not. Clever camouflage! Then the spider wrapping the ant Kevin had offered it earlier in the day. Then the calvacade of ants on the forest floor, busy carrying bits of leaves five times the size of each ant, with a soldier ant in the midst, to do battle if the worker ants needed it.

Above the ants, in a bromelied, was a calico-colored snake, the width of two pencils. Not poisonous Kevin assured us.

Then the Queen of the Night blossom, a long white bell, which only blooms for three day. Then the collection of pink flowers that each sit on a single five-foot stalk, with petals that have a thick plastic feel. When the pink blooms fades, seeds the size of grapes are left behind.

Near the pink blossoms, Kevin spied the little snake he'd been searching for. Poisonous? Yes! But really only to frogs and insects Kevin assured us. Still, I confess I hid behind Steven when Kevin lasso'd it in his hands. Kevin said these non-lethal snakes do bite, and if you are bitten he suggests a visit to the hospital to get the wound cleaned as the snakes carry bacteria! So, I think it's safe to recommend you not mess with snakes in Costa Rica at all.

And last, Kevin took us to the "frog spot" where the poisonous frogs hang out. He waded into the bushes and found a bright red and blue frog for us. Smaller than a penny, and very jumpy. He ended up catching it with a bare hand. It stung his fingers a little, he told us. But nothing too serious, he was used to it. What you shouldn't do is rub your eyes after touching a poisonous frog, he said. And of course, if you ATE one, well that would kill you. (Another recommendation - don't touch the frogs in Costa Rica.) All while walking us around, Kevin was snapping pictures of the creatures he found. He shared his pictures with us, and you see these amazing shots here. This frog walk was complimentary to those staying at either Ti-Fakara or its sister hotel, Noah's Forest by Tifakara (we're staying at the latter). Both are in La Fortuna.