Costa Rica: Pacha Mama - Tamandua

After our visit to the cloud forest at Monte Verde Reserve we continued on to a self sustaining eco community called Pacha Mama. We got a nice tour of the grounds and the various community gathering areas and common areas and some of the gardens where they grew all their own food. Then we checked in to one of the guest houses up on the hill. Just like in Rise the food was great and there was wildlife everywhere. There was even howler monkeys and Coatimundi right outside of our own window.

There were also a lot of different species of birds including Trogons, Parrots, Orioles etc flying around. Even some Collared Aracari. So now we had seen all six toucan species native to Costa Rica. 

There was also a meditation centre in a beautiful round bamboo building and every night there was an optional 45 minute meditation session. At first I was quite hesitant to try it because I didn't want to mess up everyone else by leaving halfway through but I gave it a try and it was amazing. So Kaden, Dad, Mom and I all did it every night for the rest of the stay. During one of the sessions I saw a Northern Tamandua run across the path leading to the meditation hall. It was kind of dark out but it was really cool to see. Since I don't have any photos of it heres one from google to show what it looks like. 

Northern Tamanduas are a species of anteaters native to Central and South America they can be quite elusive and are great climbers. 

We also visited a nearby beach which is famous for its sea turtles. If you visit at the right time of the year there are hundreds of Leatherback Sea Turtles laying their eggs. And then if you are lucky you can also see the hatchlings on their way to the ocean. Sadly we were too late and all the eggs had already hatched and the vultures were picking through the rest of the eggs that didn't hatch. Nonetheless it was still a nice beach so we went for a walk and watched the sunset.

After a week we had gone to the beach with some kids who lived there and had visited the village nearby. Everyone had enjoyed the communal meals and meditations. Then it was time to move on to a house by the beach a little further north in Guanacaste.