Nothing wrong
Business as usual. No shooting or gas explosion, but just an ordinary volcanic eruption. Alberto tells the guide casually and shrugs. Volcano Turrialba needed to blow off some steam and got rid of some ash and rock. The volcano lies well as 60 kilometers away. "This happens all the time," says Alberto and continues "since 2014, the crater is closed to the public due to the increased activity of the troubled Turrialba. Now he comes back to life. "
Volcanoes and Costa Rica, like the Netherlands and its mills.
Lazy
They are inseparable. More than one hundred volcanoes counts the land, of which five are active. And one now very active. From San Jose, which is already at an altitude of about 1,100 meters, it is a steep climb through several small villages to the crater of one of the closest volcanoes, Poáz. Two years ago, growled and spat Poáz last. Rattling devours the engine of the small white van the altitude. Prompt kicks the driver hit the brakes and points to overhead power lines along the way. On his travels Enjoyed a sloth is already hanging on the thick black cable. The hairy beast with its friendly headline does its name. Centimeter by centimeter it moves on.
120160919-costa-rica-048Tad slow moving sloth is hanging on a rope
sneak peek
Very often the crater Poáz is shrouded in mist. Especially in the rainy season. Disappointment can dominate when you walk in a suit clouds after a short walk at 2500 meters altitude. I'm lucky. Clearly visible is the crater with liquid substance. Looks almost alien landscape. weather across the crater no instant later floating clouds and block your view. As if we could look briefly. At the Botos Lagoon, a short distance from the crater is not a cloud in the sky. The lagoon is actually a second crater completely filled with rainwater.
120160919-costa-rica-071Clouds float just over the crater around, the setting is invisible 120160919-costa-rica-091Until the clouds above Poáz breaks 120160919-costa-rica-103Idyllic, but not suitable for swimming
Surrounded by nature
One hundred percent humidity. It is always wet in the cloud forest. The counterpart of the tropical rainforest is situated at an average height of 1,500 meters and is thus literally in the clouds. Villa Blanca is a self-sustaining eco-lodge at this altitude. Volatile passing clouds fields make the world is sometimes very small. From the asphalt is a kilometer or eight bumping over boulders covered with dirt roads with potholes too much. Just before darkness falls I arrive at Villa Blanca after a tiring journey. This really is the middle of nature. Panoramic seems to be the view on a clear day reaching to seventy kilometers away Arenal Volcano. This must be a special sunrise tomorrow morning.
untitled-5
untitled-4Villa Blanca is an oasis of nature
Hiding in tree
Quarter past five in the morning the alarm goes off. Another fifteen minutes until the round globe appears on the horizon. Around the equator, it is always early light. In a jerk I pull open the curtains. Still dark. And out to the outside. In a few minutes time frame is darkness into daylight. A thick layer of clouds hanging around the gazebo and does not intend the sun to give some leeway. Empty-handed, I return to my block hut. High in the trees sounds a melody that is repeated every few seconds. A colorful toucan is hidden in a safe branch to study the area. With the naked eye is the beast unfortunately almost invisible. This makes getting up this inhuman hour still worthwhile.
120160920-costa-rica-181Nothing to see; the cloud forest its name to 120160920-costa-rica-186High and dry in the tree Toucan disturbs the serene morning silence
Cloud Forest
Esteban gets confident the first Helecho trail on. He has already walked this path hundreds of times, but it remains his favorite. Just over half a kilometer through the dense cloud forest. Once a week they go out with the two of them, armed with sharp machetes. To curb sprawl and maintain passable trail they cut free the path. Because of the wet conditions flora grows namely fast. Typically, the cloud forest is practically and plants grow back on every tree. Although not even raining, I see water droplets on the leaves of a fern covered. Actually we again just walk through the clouds. All around me is teeming with life. Rustling branches, cackling and screeching. A small part of the cause is just visible. Butterflies, beetles, frogs and howler monkey. "Wait till after sunset, then the cloud forest brought to life", assures me Esteban. He smiles at me. "The particular plant world, you should have seen anyway. He's right in.
The rainy season, from May to October, is known as the Green Season. Often falls in the afternoon a strong refreshing mood. Nature is at her best.
120160920-costa-rica-288Here, no falling leaves in the autumn months nameless-2Special, sometimes unreal plants surround 120160920-costa-rica-328Perfectly camouflaged, but just visible 1naamloos-3Trunks are again a breeding ground for many other plants
nerve-racking
With a tiny flashlight that comes a huge beam of light we follow Esteban again the cloud forest. It's so dark that you literally can not see a thing. Little bit frightening even. A concert of sounds around me. I stand motionless. Right past my face makes a bat a swan dive at high speed. Esteban laughs. Then he stops and points to the trunk of a tree, which are several holes. One is inhabited. A black with orange tinted tarantula guard in the attack posture in a passing prey. With a stick Estoban lures the hunter from his home. Now it only shows how big this spider is. A little further on we come across a small grass snake. A centipede, stick insect and many crickets you will come across. Just before we get in the 'civilized world' Estoban sees with his eagle is one of the most characteristic inhabitants of Costa Rica. Green bodice, light shades and orange eyes. The Agalychnis callidryas is a brightly colored frog. Satisfied I turn the flashlight off and let the dark clouds wonderful world behind me.
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